FAQ's
Define stereotypes
The formal definition of a stereotype is a preconceived notion, especially about a group of people. Many stereotypes are racist, sexist, or homophobic from the Vocabulary.com. Stereotypes put certain people in categories that are not always true for these certain people . Some examples of basic stereotypes is black people always eat fried chicken, drink kool aid, and eat watermelon. These are the very basic stereotype that generalizes the black community as a whole. Where as others who watch movies, Television shows, and how the media portrays people of color. To be more specific,African Americans. These forms of visual entertainment are some of the birthplaces of these stereotypes. They marginalized the African American community where they socially conditioned to think a certain way about African Americans.
What is racial profiling?
Racial profiling is similar to stereotypes but, it is more direct to how people act in certain situations. It is commonly used in our law enforcement that is why we fear the police so much. So again racial profiling is when someone believes the stereotypes that they have heard in the media and, use this information to generalize a group of people. Who all look, act,and sound the same. According to the National Institutes of justice it says, “Racial profiling by law enforcement is commonly defined as a practice that targets people for suspicion of crime based on their race, ethnicity, religion or national origin.” Which means that the law enforcement is looking for anyone who fits a certain description. This leads to harassment from the police, which is why there is a huge threat in the African American communities when dealing with police. That African Americans are walking targets in society to be pressed or question about something. Racial profiling has been the one of the main reason why so many unarmed African Americans are being killed by police. Racial profiling isn’t the only type of profiling, there is also profiling against religious, ethnic and national origins.
What is the school to prison pipeline?
The school to prison pipeline is exactly how its sound, schools pushing students out of the classroom and into the Streets where they are most likely to be consumed by the system. When I say the “system” I mean the criminal Justice system. This is where stereotypes and racial profiling comes into play when dealing with our education system. Statistics show that Black students are three times more likely to be sent out of class or suspended from school then a white student. Schools have taken on the Zero tolerance rule where the school is to expel a student if they are caught with a weapon or any other illegal substance. The schools have been very broad when talking about a weapon because you can mistakenly think anything is a weapon. Instead of this rule, schools should start to practice more restorative justice when disciplining students. Therefore both parties are able to learn the full situation before throwing a kid out. Every child deserves an equal opportunity for education.
What does it mean to be Socially conditioned to think in a certain way?
What it means to be socially condition is to believe in the everything that you see and or here in the media. But the reason why you would believe it because you see it in your everyday life. Therefore it becomes the norm and you have a reason to believe it. I would also say it means to be socially condition is to believe what has been passed down from generation to generation. For example as a child you would listen to your parents because you have the trust that what they are saying is the truth. So you grow up thinking in a certain way already.
What are examples of stereotypes that affect the African American males?
Some of the frequent examples of stereotypes that African Americans males have to face on a daily basis while coming to school is if the student is a troublemaker. Someone who is going to disrupt the class and make it hard for the teacher to teach. With this type of mindset heading into class from a teacher, as an African American male it is hard to navigate through the system of education. The teacher isn’t thinking of that child as a student but as a threat to the learning environment. This is not true for every teacher. It is hard to motivate yourself while in school if there is no one there to support you. African American males are look as to be thuggish, defiant, disruptive, disrespectful, and talkative. Which causes a lot of tension between the student and the teacher.
What is prejudice?
The formal definition of prejudice is an unfavorable opinion or feeling formed beforehand or without knowledge, thought, or reason (From dictionary.com). Usually using prejudice in a negative connotation is about someone or a group of people. Being prejudice is to false or misconception about or towards someone. It is our job not to ridicule that person but to only help and uplift the persons beliefs to be able to correct them.
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Are there any programs that help and support African American males?
There is a program that helps and supports African Americans Males. They are called the African American Male Achievement(AAMA) originated in Oakland, CA. Now has spread to over 25 different schools including schools in San Francisco also developing the program in New Orleans and in Seattle. AAMA has created an movement that is sparking interest all across America when finding ways to improve the status quo of African American males in today's society.
In the program, what do they do to help African American males?
They are the back bones of African American males in school they are there to help, support, and guide those who need to be guided on the right path. In AAMA the facilitators and leaders refer to you as a king, where they say that we come from greatness and royalty. AAMA is now an elective called Manhood Development (MDP) in all of the OUSD school district where by taking this class you are able to get your A-G requirements. While in taking the class they preach the programs motto, Which Engage, Encourage, and Empower one another. With mindset that is given to the students gives a lot of motivation to keep moving forward in their education. Also gives them a sense of hope for their future as they know that they have people that look like them to help them reach the destination that they desire.
What do African Americans experience while they are in the school on a daily basis?
All of the questions that were answered above is what African American go through on a day to day basis. Then the student to teacher relationship isn't strong so there is not a sense of community within the classroom. Which creates a lot of tension and feelings between the students. Which can lead to a consequence for the student that only hurts them. Which is not always the best lesson to learn in that situation. Again every student has the right to equitable education and it is the teachers job to provide that.
What are the consequences that most African American males suffer while in school?
The types of the consequences that African Americans males face are suspensions, referrals, and or sent out of class. Which is honestly normal for students in these grade levels but when it is consistently the same groups of students that suffer these consequences then there is a problem. These types of disciplinary actions destroys the self esteem and motivation in continuing to go to class if you are going to be sent out for doing something so small.
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Controversy
Some people will say that doing this seems as though that we are only focusing on African America males and not everyone who has their own challenges and injustices that are faced in schools. I would say because of AAMA's actions and ambition with young African American young males have sparked a revolution of empowerment of the youth of color. Where more and more people started to create their own programs for example the African American Female Excellence. They have taken on the idea of AAMA and was able to do the same for our Queens. Also AAMA's practices has been acknowledge at the website as a blueprint for national equity practices.
Work Cited
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“African American Male Achievement.” African American Male Achievement / About Us, www.ousd.org/Page/12225.
Libby Nelson & Dara Lind Published: February 24, 2015. “The School to Prison Pipeline, Explained — Justice Policy Institute.” — Justice Policy Institute, www.justicepolicy.org/news/8775.
Natarajan, Ranjana. “Racial Profiling Has Destroyed Public Trust in Police. Cops Are Exploiting Our Weak Laws against It.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 15 Dec. 2014, www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2014/12/15/racial-profiling-has-destroyed-public-trust-in-police-cops-are-exploiting-our-weak-laws-against-it/?utm_term=.58bf5999
1532.
“Prejudice.” Dictionary.com, Dictionary.com, www.dictionary.com/browse/prejudices.
“Stereotype - Dictionary Definition.” Vocabulary.com, www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/stereotype.