ipl-logo

The Average Black Girl Research Paper

879 Words4 Pages

A piece of text that influenced my ideas on black stereotypes and achievements was “The Average Black Girl” by Ernestine Johnson. Before I heard this performance, I used to believe it was a compliment when people talked about how I couldn’t be considered the typical black girl, despite being a pure blooded Nigerian, because I didn’t act black. Acting black was defined by speaking incorrect English, failing classes, being loud, taking drugs, having siblings from different parents, listening to rap songs about gang violence, shoplifting and above all else, hating books. When I got to the U.S and was given that mold, I immediately rejected it saying that I didn’t fit it, because I loved reading. Why else would I have had a walk-in-closet sized collection of books in Nigeria, check out books so often, my current school librarians know my name …show more content…

I couldn’t be black because I wasn’t failing my classes, I might have done a terrible job on my History Document Based Essay, but I ultimately didn’t fail the entire exam. I disavowed being black “because I [was] so well spoken [and] poised” and instead created a new caste for myself, African. Being African wasn’t the same as being black or white, no they were so different in my eyes because, being African meant you were forced to speak correct English because you were not allowed to get below an 85 on your exams. Being African meant succeeding in all your classes because you were ranked and anyone ranked lower than 10th position was punished. Being African meant you were quiet because someone in your class was always writing a list of noisemakers to scolded by your advisory teacher. And so I went forth into the world with this new caste, designed for blacks that didn’t fit the mold and was so sure of it until I heard the spoken word performance, “The Average Black Girl” by Ernestine Johnson that made me realize how much of a hypocrite I

Show More
Related

Black Boy Dialectical Journal

2081 Words | 9 Pages

The reactions from the people he knows to his story are mostly negative. They believe that a black boy should not become a writer. This heavily portrays the implications of oppression towards the black community. Instead of attempting to deviate from the stereotypes held by the white community, the black community instead succumbed to these stereotypes falling into the unequal roles designated for them by

Read More

Rhetorical Analysis Of Just Walk On By Brent Staples

651 Words | 3 Pages

Brent Staples, in the article “Just Walk On By” claims that there is a growing amount of a racist stereotype that whites, specifically white woman, have against black males. Staples supports his claims by using his own past experience evoking certain emotions of the audience. The author purpose is to retell his experiences of racism and to educate white people about what it is to be a white man, in order to really make them see how they are misjudged just by the occasion based on appearances. The author writes in a fairly calm tone towards his audience in this case, of whites of all social classes, specifically women. Staples use of pathos, diction, and ethos to effectively join his ideas to the thoughts and attitudes of his audience in his collective article.

Read More

Walk On By Brent Staples

1219 Words | 5 Pages

The Power Behind “Just Walk on By” In Brent Staples article “Just Walk on By”, Staples shares his thoughts on the way marginalized groups interact. He uses his own experiences as a young African American man to shed light on how people can have implied biases that affect the way they treat other people. Staples does this to demonstrate how society develops preconceived notions in the minds of individuals about marginalized groups, primarily African American men, which are often a flawed representation of the people within these groups. The rhetoric he uses is key to developing an understanding persona and an emotional appeal that exposes the implied biases of people without alienating or offending the audience, to whom-- among others-- he attributes these biases.

Read More

Essay On Blackface Minstrelsy

704 Words | 3 Pages

Where do we draw the lines between adoration and mockery, influence and appropriation, and individuality and stereotyping? Accordingly, the racial subject has always been a touchy topic to discuss, but with the lasting effects that the black minstrelsy has left in the society, we most definitely need to deal with the racial subject. Only this way can the American society move forward both as a nation and as a species, and through such efforts, only then can we ensure that such history can never repeat

Read More

Patrica Smith What It Is Like To Be A Black Girl Summary

1017 Words | 5 Pages

In the poem “ What it is like to be a black girl”, Patrica Smith uses metaphorical language to show us how young black girls are being judge in society based on stereotypes . It’s describing how she wants to change and become like other people in the racial society because she’s having a hard time accepting who she is. In the beginning of “What it’s like to be a black girl” it gives you a view of a young black girl who doesn’t feel accepted in society. It emphasis the fact that many young black girls want the world to accept them for who they are.

Read More

Comparison Of Just Walk On By: Black Men And Public Space

611 Words | 3 Pages

Judith Cofer and Brent Staples both express their experiences of being judged and stereotyped in the public sphere. Cofer’s essay, “The Myth of the Latin Woman: I Just Met a Girl Named Maria,” explains how she was typically stereotyped as an uneducated Latina. In Staples’ essay, “Just Walk on By: Black Men and Public Space,” elaborates on how he is seen as a threat in the community due to his race. Although both essays express similar material based on judgement, each essayist presents their write up differently. Cofer has an aggrieved tone and uses experiences where she responds actively to being mistreated to express how she feels, whereas Staples’ tone is much more passive and he utilizes his experiences of mistreatment with humbleness.

Read More

Stereotyping In Black Men And Public Spaces And Parallel Time

682 Words | 3 Pages

In Black Men and Public Spaces, Brent Staples handles the stereotyping and ridicule he receives from white individuals serenely. Staples vividly describes one occasion in the essay when a woman was on the same street as him, she looked back at him and observed him, and then she began to run. It was the

Read More

Stereotypes In William Watts's 'The Color Of Success'

504 Words | 3 Pages

Society stereotypes. In Watts’s memoir “The Color of Success” he remembers the struggles of attending a primarily white school as a black student. The public judge’s people without even knowing the person or people they are judging. Watts explains that he knew about the stereotypes, and says “I occasionally confronted the stereotypes.” (Watts).

Read More

Stereotypes In The Film Imitation Of Life

418 Words | 2 Pages

These stereotypes are labels that evoke images of oppression, segregation and exploitation of minorities in America. Meanwhile reinforcing the dominance in a social hierarchy. The film Imitation of Life (1959) indicates the power behind stereotypes. It strongly depicts the relationship between a Black American woman, Annie Johnson

Read More

To Kill A Mockingbird, By Harper Lee

642 Words | 3 Pages

When did you first start to question the injustice of the world? In the To Kill a Mockingbird passage, author Harper Lee uses Scout's realization of the unfairness in the justice system during Tom Robinson's trial and bravery with Mrs. Dubos' fight against addiction to symbolize the racial inequality at that time and the characterization of understanding others to help develop the theme of racism and prejudice. Harper Lee's novel, Tom Robinson's Trial, displays the racism black people endured during that time. For example: “Tom Robinson was her daily reminder of what she did. What did she do?.

Read More

African American Stereotypes Paper

1396 Words | 6 Pages

Mass media has played and will continue to play a crucial role in the way white Americans perceive African-Americans. As a result of the overwhelming media focus on crime, drug use, gang violence and other forms of anti-social behavior among African-Americans, the media has fostered a distorted and pernicious public perception of African-Americans (Balkaran). In this paper I will look at some concerns about how African-American and people of color are portrayed and stereotyped in the media according to Balkaran and Orelus. Also, this paper will draw attention to the impact social media has reshaped religion and how we worship.

Read More

African American Students Struggle In The Eurocentric Education System

1704 Words | 7 Pages

This is the first time that I have the opportunity to look into a culture that is different from my own. Today I have the privilege to think outside of my normal view and step into a culture that has so much history and culture. In addition, since I am part of a minority group in the US, I feel that I can understand and relate with the triple difficulties that Boykin states mainstream, black culture, and the oppression of minorities. Before attending Bowie, I did not know what “Black culture” meant. Even now, I am struggling to understand the concept.

Read More

Summary Of Just Walk On By Brent Staples

756 Words | 4 Pages

Throughout his essay, Staples is able to make the audience understand what he has to deal with as a black man. Staples does this by using words and phrases such as, “...her flight made me feel like an accomplice in tyranny” and “... I was indistinguishable from the muggers who occasionally seeped into the area…” (542). By writing and describing how he (Staples) feels, the audience is able to get an inside look into how black men are treated and better understand why society’s teachings, play a vital role in how we see each other. Staples’ powerful writing also allows the reader to take a step back and see how as a society, people make judgements on others based on appearance alone.

Read More

Personal Story Of A Black Girl-Personal Narrative

380 Words | 2 Pages

Growing up my parents instilled in me that I was beautiful and my skin was beautiful. It was clear to me that everyone else didn’t feel the same way. I went to a couple different schools throughout my life starting with a predominantly black school then a predominantly white school then a very diverse school and at each one I still experienced colorism. At the black school I was not liked because I was darkskin and my hair was kinky and I was just not as pretty as the light skinned girls.

Read More

Black Girls Vs White Schools Essay

745 Words | 3 Pages

Do you think black children are better off at a predominantly white school or a predominantly black school? Black children are facing different problems in the school system. Kids get in trouble all the time but it seems Black kids get in trouble more? It might be that the teachers may not know how to handle them. Hair for instance, is a problem some black girls are dealing with.

Read More

More about The Average Black Girl Research Paper

Related Topics

Open Document