I M Not The Indian You Had In Mind

The role that stereotypes play in assimilation is that stereotypes can oftentimes make a wrong impression on a specific group, culture etc. which can cause individuals not to have a clear understanding of that group and/or culture. Referring to the poem "I'm Not the Indian You Had in Mind", there are evident stereotypes present. In the poem, the public perception is guided by images in films and other media of 'Indians". In one part of the poem it states, "...the movies that we all adore the clichés that we can’t rewind...I’ve known him Oh, I’ve known him well, the bear-greased hair, the pungent smell the piercing eye, the startling yell thank God that he’s the friendly kind, But I’m not the Indian you had in mind. I’m that other one. The one who lives just down the street." As seen
Since the society is being guided by merely the facts of what they see in the media, one is not learning about another culture/race. And because of the media, many stereotypes can occur resulting in one possibly becoming prejudice. The effects that stereotypes have on how minorities are perceived, and how they are treated by others can be negative. Although there are positive stereotypes, there were many negative stereotypes within the poem. In the poem is states, " The doctor, the homeless bum". In the image above one of the comments about this particular quote that stood out to me was, that some people will think that Indians will either succeed gratefully in life with high paying jobs or fall in life completely. I feel that with stereotypes like the one mentioned can have a negative effect on how the minorities are perceived, as people can either think that a specific group of people are always meant to succeed and if they don't they are like a disgrace to that culture. This leads me to my next point on the effects of how the minorities are treated by others due to