African Stereotypes

African Stereotypes

A stereotype is a common belief around specific types or class of individuals, the simplified and standardized concepts on prior assumptions. A stereotype may also be called a bias which tends to turn into discrimination if misinterpreted especially and negative action taken (Curtis 2).

The stereotypes lists on Africa are endless. The African stereotype involves in-groups and out-groups, the concepts in the stereotyping process. In-groups, whites, are viewed to be superior and normal, and generally that group that associates with or aspires to do so. The Africans, in-groups, are said to be inferior or the lesser.

In this century, a lot of focus has been put on Africa more than ever. Although Africa is getting the attention it deserves, myths about this continent have not yet been dispelled. Regardless of world's interest in Africa currently, stereotypes on races still persist.

Africa itself as a continent, poses as a stereotype. There lay some individuals on the argument that Africa is a country. Such talks discard an essential view of Africa being the world's second largest continent. It is seen to lack distinct cultures, traditions, and/or ethics. Reference to a product from Africa, African food for example, sounds odd as the same way it would while referring to say South American food. Contrary to the stereotype, Africa has 54 countries including southern Sudan and countless islands. These countries hold diversified cultures and language with a wide range of individual customs.

A pattern observation would show African cultures seen time and again depicted as one. At some instances, Africans are prototyped on animal print, face paints, and pitch or nearly pitch black skin color (Michael 4). These practices are common but not to all Africans. Africans are also highlighted by the western world as untamed and tribal. Not all Africans are black, including those from sub-Sahara.

Looking into history of Africa, Dark Continent, naked savages taint the picture of the continent that today builds most of the stereotypes. There is a mention on Africans cooking others in pots and putting bone fragments on their noses. Whites feel that they brought civilization, which is true, but they feel that all that is falling apart since their departure at around 1960s. Ancient Egypt for example, is not indicated as part of Africa by the stereo typists.

Different views on the Africans' intelligence level of the IQ level at 70 would be used to push for this stereotype. However, if Africans were to be given similar learning platforms with the whites, performance is almost equal or at some points even better.

African black savage rules dotted in Africa should not be used to stereotype that Africa cannot sustain self-rule. Not all African leaders are on the take and cruel, excluding President Mugabe. Murder control in Africa is also in widely spaced