CULTURE AND MEN OF COLOR
Ever since the age of imperialism in the world and the interaction of the white people and people of color, there has been a socially construed notion that whites are superior to blacks in every way imaginable. Physical and mental oppression of the black people by the whites has ensured a line of continuation of the culture through generations. This is because there is an intrinsic motivation by one culture to tower over the other and be above the others, even to the Latinos, and Asians. This is for instance men of color holding the belief that the only path to success in the united states is being assimilated into the white culture. The other notion is that there is a high probability of a black man carrying a backpack down an alley to be stopped by the police for a checkup than it is for white people. This is because it is believed that men of color are more likely to be into crime related professions.
Every man of color in the American continent, who has taken into considerations the black stereotypes and their culture is entangled in a perpetual circle of low self-esteem and self-hatred. The person is usually convinced that one must be in engagement with the white culture to be successful or to marry a white person to be happy in life. The united states are known for its sheer hard work and knack for progress where individualized success is the theme of professionalism. Blacks do not exploit what the society has given to them, tainted as it is being associated with the degraded people and long to have possessions which would accrue a kind of white status. For example, because dreadlocks are is associated with black culture I have been unable to get internship in one of the blue chip companies in the precept of dressing code.
Racial prejudice has been known to inform crime related situation in the united states. This is because there is the notion that black people are more inclined to indulge in drugs and substance abuse due to low educational levels and poor unspringing. This is because it has been socially construed that men of color have the highest level of illiteracy, comprise of school dropouts, they indulge in drug and substance abuse and are too lazy to engage in meaningful activity. That is why according to Early, (p.535), he argues that those who acknowledge an aspect of the black mind, or the collective black consciousness realize that issues of segregation and integration, conservation and liberalism, acceptance and rejection, redemption and inferiority are all the same immovable and relentless reality of the American blackness. An example is that I have been stopped by patrol policeman on my way home from school to frisk my backpack to check for drugs. A group of young youths of color walking in the streets is recipe for harassment by the police officers as idlers with intent.
In conclusion, racial prejudice and stereotypes labeled against the blacks have been instrumental in shaping how they behave and perceive themselves. It is highly likely that incidence of racism and racial prejudice would result to the lowering of the self-awareness and esteem of people of color. The consequence would be that they would withdraw into an inferiority complex enclave and shun progressive activities for generations.
Comments