To begin, the word “stigma” means an unwanted/negative generalization placed upon someone or something. Although the word itself is unfamiliar to many, stigma occurs in (almost) everyone’s life on a day-to-day basis. African Americans in the good ol’ U.S.A have it the worst, and it doesn’t take movements such as Black Lives Matter to realize it.
Now, contrary to popular belief, it’s not just white people who are racist to blacks. I know, I know.
In a study on ethnic groups in Los Angeles, sociologist Camille Charles gathered data from a survey designed to measure preferences among various ethnic groups for each participant’s ideal neighborhood. She found that 40%of Asians, 32% of Latinos, and 19% of whites imagined their ideal neighborhood as one containing no blacks.
Could this be because of the stigma and deep-rooted fear that blacks are violent, animalistic, and dangerous? Most likely. The fear of blacks in our neighborhoods and our communities is a fire that has burned for far too long. Now, there are gangsters and thugs in neighborhoods all across America. This is true. But what isn’t true is assuming every black man you see is a part of a gang and is out to rob you and your family. It’s just not realistic. And, it’s racist.
In our own individual lives, I can almost guarantee that we have all witnessed a family member, friend or colleague lock the car door when a black man walks by. I can almost guarantee that we have all witnessed a family member, friend or colleague cross the street when approaching a black man walking on the same side. I can almost guarantee that we have all witnessed sly racist remarks such as “Those lazy blacks”, “This is why I hate black people”, or “Don’t date a black boy, honey,” at least once in our lives.
In a survey made public Tuesday, the General Social Survey by the National Opinion Research Center found that 3 out of 4 whites believe black and Hispanic people are more likely to prefer living on welfare. In the same survey, 62% percent thought blacks less likely to be hard-working; 56% thought blacks more violence-prone; 53% thought blacks less intelligent, and 51% thought them less patriotic. How this isn’t blatantly racist to some is appalling.
The saddest part? 4 in 10 blacks are doubtful that the U.S. will ever achieve racial equality.
The findings below are based on a national survey by Pew Research Center. The survey was conducted Feb. 29-May 8, 2016, distributed among 3,769 adults. (Approx. 799 whites, 1,004 blacks and 654 Hispanics).
All in all, the stigma around the African American race has to stop — And it begins with you.
As Michelle Obama, former FLOTUS, said:
“Color, wealth; These things that don’t really matter still play too much of a role in how we see one another. And it’s sad, because the thing that least defines us is the color of our skin.”
It’s 2017, and allowing yourself to be clouded by the long-living stigma that has followed African Americans for decades is just wrong. It’s immoral, unacceptable, and the time for change is now.
