Racial Stereotypes Research Paper

Race is grouping people who share the same physical characteristics like skin, eye, and hair color. When dealing with race the focus tends to stick to skin color, being black or white. Race has come a long way over the years thankfully, but the concepts are still alive. I cannot believe the perception that follow being black now and days. I know the stereotypes I’ve heard them before, but this year the light really shined on the subject. People are waking up to the fact that even though slavery has been is over for years, black people still enslaved to stereotypes. Growing up in my skin has not been easy, but I am who I am today because I’ve learned to not let the stereotypes define me. I believe one’s race should not be tied to stereotypes
in order to prevent separation among races. This is shown through my experiences in life thus emphasizing the importance of not categorizing your self-worth.
According my cousins, I do not act “black” so instead they call me an Oreo.
When we get together they sometimes use slangs/terms that I don’t know, and when I ask them to explain they say I won’t understand because I’m “white”. Even when we go shopping together the stores I like to shop at are “too white” for them. I never understood how not using slangs when I speak is because I want to be white, what does that mean? After they introduce me to a “new” slang I usually hear everyone using it no matter the skin color. I do use slang sometimes but the fact is everyone does here and there, it’s not something I keep up with because I don’t really hear them that often. Since when were stores categorized by race, I can shop wherever I want and I like. I tell them all the time, we won’t all have to like the same stuff but what I like does not make me any less “black” or any more
“white”.
Urbandictionary defines an Oreo as “...
African Americans that the black community is generally offended with for betraying their roots usually for dating Caucasian girls, dressing too white, talking too white, etc. The term is branded OREO since they are "Black on the outside, White on the inside" So what I understand from this definition is that I am betraying my roots because I dress “white and talk “white”. I find this very offensive what is considered dressing “white” and talking “white”? Why do people associate “white” with being proper, intelligence, classy, and all these other positive attributes. Then associate “black” with being loud, hostile, indecent, and anything negative. Why does having skin mean I should act a certain way, and talk a certain way. Regardless of my skin color I shouldn’t have to change myself to fit societies perception of a “black” girl. I shouldn’t have to be defined by my skin tone, I shouldn’t be compared to a “white” girl. I shouldn’t have to sit here and think I’m worthless compared to a “white” girl and a “white” girl should not think she’s better than me because she is “white”. Who I am should instead be determined by my actions, attitude, and
values.
“Oh you’re pretty for a black girl” “You’re one of the beautiful black girls” Who says this? Am I supposed to feel special because even though I’m black skinned I still look attractive? I don’t know if they just don’t realize how offensive that is or if that just they way they really think. I love my skin tone I know my melanin skin is beautiful, just like any other darker skinned girl. We all are, and being told I’m one of the pretty ones makes me angry and ugly. I know what colorism is and I know my skin tone makes me more vulnerable to it, but why does being “black” mean I can’t be pretty. I really don’t understand why my skin tone my dark skin tone makes my less attractive than anyone lighter than me. Why when I type in “pretty girls” in the google search bar only light skinned girls pop up. Once again I’m being categorized by my color, once again society is telling me that because of it I am less.
I truly believe that my race has shaped my identity, because it has grouped me my whole life but I have not let it define me. I know I am black but that’s just the color of my skin, it’s part of me but not the whole me. I am a young strong independent black women and I will not let society group me. I am not an Oreo because I do value and cherish my roots, I just won’t let them illustrate my identity. I am beautiful regardless of my skin tone and color, being black is not a burden to me. Race should not be a strain on one’s identity nor should stereotypes group them. We need to embrace one in other’s races in order to prevent separation because of them. This is shown through my experiences in life, and how I refused to let them chain me or my identity.