Rising Above Stereotypes

If you haven't had a chance to read my previous entries entitled TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR CHOICES and WHY I'VE COME TO DESPISE LABELING, please do as those posts are kind of related to what this post will be about.

According to the dictionary, a stereotype is "a widely held but fixed image or idea of a particular type of person or thing." What this means is that a stereotype about a person entails a view about people or things that many people believe. There are many negative stereotypes that are prevalent within our society that is especially magnified by the mainstream media. According to these stereotypes, a Muslim has a great chance of being a terrorist or linked to one, Black females have attitudes, Asians only care about money, Christians hate homosexuals, etc.

While the negative stereotypes will be there and aren't going anywhere soon, we as individuals do not have to live up to any of them. It is a choice that all of us can make. As a black man, I could have chosen to give in to many of the terrible stereotypes that involve the men of my race. But I refuse to do it. As a result, I do not fit those stereotypes and I can take comfort in the fact that I am not contributing to them. I give a lot of credit to my parents, who also do not fit the negative stereotypes involving black people. But it is a choice that people must make.

The photo that you are viewing to your right is of a young 14-year-old girl by the name of Thessalonika Arzu-Embry. At the age of 14, she is getting ready to graduate from college with a bachelor's degree in psychology with an impressive 3.9 GPA. She has been attending Chicago State University since she was 11 years old! Unbelievable. After graduating, she plans to continue her education. What a breath of fresh air it was coming across her story. You can check out an article for yourself HERE.

This is a black girl who is going against the negative stereotypes of black girls and paving her own way in life. She is not carrying an attitude, not caught up in teenage pregnancy and other wiles that are to the detriment of young black females. Most importantly, she has a relationship with God and I am sure that allows her to have a very strong anchor in her life. Thessalonika is off and running and I couldn't be more proud of what she has accomplished and what she will accomplish. She has overcome the negative stereotypes and is an intelligent, bright young lady. We don't have to give in and live up to the negative stereotypes. We can topple them by being the best that we can be.

Just because men are portrayed as being stupid and irresponsible doesn't mean that all men have to be that way. Just because many popular women of our culture are inappropriate doesn't mean that all women have to be that way. We each have choices to make as individuals in terms of how we want to be and how we want to be portrayed. Choose to portray yourself in a positive way and beat the stereotypes that are designed to wrongly categorize you and predict who you are to be. Don't even give those stereotypes even a bit of luxury of being able to be applied to you.

Rise above negative stereotypes. Don't let them hold you down. Don't let them define you. You are better than that.

Be the best you can be,

LandoRigs