Racial Stereotypes and Ethnic Profiling - Essay Example

Native Son: Racial Stereotypes and Ethnic Profiling Introduction History has repeatedly shown that when a group of peoplein a given society do not fit projected societal norms, they are often subjected to discrimination, as well as subtle outline of oppressions. Thus, social grouping stereotypes are manifestations of preexisting prejudices, bigotry, and even antipathy. Ethnic stereotypes entail multifarious nature of antipathy, especially hatred, disgust, distrust, resentment, and fear. Racial stereotypes are crude and unconsciously seized heuristics which enable individuals to cut down on information processing concerning others from minor ethnic groupings, and react quickly to situations involving such by people. The novel “Native Son” by Wright identifies the cost of racial oppression, by enlightening on the cultural consideration, which supports inequities and hatred (Wright, 17). The text focuses on US racial discrimination and segregation before the Civil Rights Movement. There are many instances in the novel where ethnic paradigms depicted as heuristic devices, bring about an apprehension of boundary formation, especially racial segregation and enslavement. Hence, Wright being a critique of essentialist conception of cultural identity with ethnicity pays so much attention to ethnic and social stereotypes, as an outcome of class and gender disparities, internal disparities in power, position and migration. Furthermore, the naturalist viewpoint in the novel is evident through Wright use of crucial aspects of naturalism and determinism, in particular fear, abhorrence, as well as mob mentality. The aim of this paper is evaluate racial stereotyping and cultural identities through ethnic relations as depicted in the text Native son. Discussion To begin with, the novel embodies the foundation of social reality at that time, since both blacks and whites believed and lived a flight of the imagination, regarding the exact nature of their relationship. Hence, segregation along with group stereotypes transmitted the black phenomenon through their cognitive outcome on white elites. The simplification of social stereotyping in the novel helps to observe that the cognitive shortfalls are not owing to the white skin color, genes, or even mythical racial quintessence, but purely due to their conditional social alignment as a segregated plus advantaged social group. That is why the wealthy and the poor, natives and immigrants, the whites and disadvantaged racial groups, subsist in dissimilar neighborhoods, attended dissimilar schools, and participated in dissimilar churches or voluntary associations. Wright seems to visualize a world whereby Bigger belonging to ethnic minority groups, are entrapped in a sea of injustices without any hope of escaping. This feeling of despair and hopelessness is evident in Bigger when he was thinking about his family situation “ He hated his family….he knew that….they were suffering and that he was powerless to help them…the shame and misery of their lives…he would be swept with fear and despair” (Wright, 10). Bigger like most Black men was overwhelmed by the attacks and betrayals from his community and white people, and this created some sort of amnesiac walls and which provided a separation from his dreams and hopes. The only way for escaping such traumas was by hiding in fear and despair, which in the end concealed his strengths, talents, as well as abilities that he could have put into good use. Fundamentally, every racial stereotype strengthens preconceived perceptions, and this limit interethnic communication, as well as distorting reality. The racial stereotypes as presented by Wright in “Native Son” form barriers which block prospects and communications, resulting in unfortunate consequences. Such stereotypes help to explain why language and modern imagery play a greater influence in public opinion. The ethnicity standards just like race paradigm often focus on deeds within the nation instead of community levels. Hence, exclusion has tended to limit ethnic minorities who are judged on race terms. For instance, when Jan asks “do you know any Negros? I want to meet them…., they have so much emotion! What a people, if we could ever get them going” (Wright, 77). Jan just like most whites during 18 and 19th century considered blacks as not just mentally inferior, but physically and culturally un-progressed. Jan social desirability biases are based on lack of interaction with Blacks, and endorsement of racial stereotype regarding inborn abilities in the society. Such racial stereotypes are also based on prejudice, especially the then unwillingness to allow children of both races to attend to integrated schooling. Thus, such stereotypes build an understanding which goes beyond the area of racial plus ethnic lines, to comprise gender biases, sexual-orientation, in addition to physical plus mental attributes. Wright paints a way of life for the blacks as being restricted by racial categorization and the imprisoning of black men in the castle of their skins. In particular he argues in the introduction section that such “pattern of duplicity, including self deception … had led…., to development of a psychology of timidity, passivity and even cowardice (Wright, 1). Such patterns of duplicity did undermine individuals’ psychology by allowing them to ignore differences between people. This resulted in misguided policies, such as Jim Crow laws that were thought to be solutions to nonexistent problems for the race of the holder by belittling other races. Even though one can argue that, Wright immediate experiences with racism made him to observe every sociopolitical angles of racism, mainly the carefully planned systemic offensive against blacks, he emphasizes on the fear both blacks and whites felt. This fear was not because of real life experienced but due to the negative stereotypical view they hold of each other. Wright seems to be reconciling the often conflicting components of racism stereotypes, and the power of the will in shaping identity. For instance, Bigger family situation attaches the regular scenario of single and poor black mothers , and this identity is taken independently, partly due to stigmatizing stereotypes linked with combination of such features, drug addiction, or welfare dependency. The image of black-male is that of an intolerable, murderous subhuman, and since both whites and blacks accept such an image, it will continue to be depicted in reality. Thus, by placing bigger as a petty thief or liar, instead of an African American man of admiration and resolve, Wright forcefully illuminate the pressing need for attention to US an race question. He constructs African Americans as the victims, and he evaluates their inter-ethnic practices to bring out the malfunction within their society. For instance, Bigger fear was that of being erroneously accused of raping. Such fear under racial discrimination and segregation laws, exemplifies their brunt on the minority race psyche, especially in foreshadowing any accusations they face. Bigger Thomas represents a group of people ensnared by class divide. Such individuals carve up an intensity and edginess that is expressed by reactionary violence. The ground for their anxieties is their segregation from society, since they are relegated to lesser socioeconomic sphere of existence. This comes out openly by Bigger blind ignorance concerning the realities of his being, when he asserts that he “did not want to see what others were doing if that doing did not feed their own desires” (Wright, 106). Bigger averse to other people situation, seems to be due to distinctiveness correlated with race, instead of race itself, and since he has been deprived of his liberty, culture, identity and language, he did not want to objectively consider what others were doing and which could help him in any self-redeeming effort. Bigger castoffs his own society in both a systemic level and individualized level. This reveals a vivid but striking illustration of black males as that of an unsubstantiated, enthusiastic men, whose terribly deprived socio-economic environment and upbringing, only serves to prepare them in loathing for sanctuary of power, in particular its values and symbols of identify. However, when such individuals overcome their fear a new feeling of elation comes about, more of an ascension to a superior consciousness. When Racism is intrinsic and facilitated through ethnic stereotypes, it gives rise to systematic discrimination, and this serves as a breeding ground for many other Bigger. To them, the white influence is everywhere they turn, and as such, their inability to escape this detrimental influence aggravates them, thus forcing them to apply violence as an opening as well as being a weapon for fighting against the oppressive white society. Bigger, just like other Black men and poor white men at that time, felt accusations coming from others that were based on suspicions, resulting in massive guilt. Moreover, their surroundings, alienation and circumstances only aggravated their aggression, and they are forced to strike back against the bigoted society. For instance, Wright asserts that “ It was all a game and white people knew how to play it….rich white people were not so hard on negroes, it was the poor whites…because they didn’t have the share of the money (Wright, 34).Wright seem to point out that many of the seeming differences between Blacks and Whites were not because of variations of color, but due to deep underlying social and economic inequalities. The poor whites felt that the blacks were a threat to their economic wellbeing, and the elites and ruling classes recognized their degradation and used it as a form of divide and rule creed between them. The prejudice from poor whites and Blacks is attributed to poverty and defenselessness arising out of the low position both of them occupied in life. Wright notes that poverty and degradations often leaves an indelible mark on the person, whatever race he belonged to. Wright in some ways defer from wholesome naturalism, since he does not permit his characters to act in response on the foundation of their surroundings, instead he uses them to articulate his personal convictions to bring out the ugly truth about America past. He argues that most of the Blacks while believing in their cultural ideals, political principles as well as promises; they refuse to recognize compromises which most people make for trouble-free self-preservation. It is no doubt that American racial segregation created a volatile environment which in most instances culminated in violence. Thus, despite their inner rage, most tend to force smiles while accepting deprivation for fear of crueler repercussions, even as they learn to act that dual function if they want to eat and live. However, such a belief is an indication of ignorance and arrogance, and Wright asserts that “it affects judgment, distorts perception, and restricts intelligences” (Wright, 35). In particular, Bigger reaction and experience mirrors such a depiction, especially when he is willing to act as a petty thief in an attempt to shield himself by lying when circumstances force him to. It is a form of determinism, which is the conviction that one fate is not decided by a supernatural being or personal assertion based on free will, but through social and natural forces. Thus, one gets a sense that life under racial discrimination and segregation brings out the emotional agony of having to plot a course, through day by day humiliation, and every so often life-threatening altercations with the white society. For instance, “Thomas family got poor… Dalton family got rich….. Mr. Dalton tried to salve his feelings by giving money (Wright, 56). This shows that black social problems cannot be entirely attributed to the failures of contemporary civilization values and institutions, especially the severity of economic ravenousness and exploitation. Wright believes that this boils down to fear, a fear of the system of protocol undergirded with violence and the absolute helplessness of the individuals to transform their social reality. Evidently, people living under racial discrimination and segregation have gruesome social reality. The main concern lies in the discourse for racial emancipation and the depiction of communities that are either similar or poles apart. Wright basically narrates the huge disparities in American ethnic and cultural identities using a black subject in revealing the inherent racist doctrines that created fear. Wright observes this, when Bigger reflects such a “fear” when he travels to Dalton family for the job interview, and he reflects that “Suppose a police officer saw him wandering in a white neighborhood like this? It would be thought that he was trying to rob or rape somebody” (Wright, 44). This fear is based on the reality that Bigger comes from an oppressed people, and any wrong that he does it is taken as a community context with no consideration of their oppressed and underprivileged status. Thus, Bigger Thomas fear for being found in a white girl bedroom was logical since the severity of such an act was lynching. The fear and hate arising from racial segregation is a direct consequence of the manner the people observes society. Fear is the fundamental dilemma owing to a background of oppression. When it come whites, their fear is somewhat different. They fear loosing the authority and control they have had over the blacks. That is why they perceive that if they are made to correct socioeconomic condition of the blacks, they will be compromising their power. The white race greed is the catalyst of their misuse of black race. Hence, the invariable socioeconomic struggle involving the whites and blacks illustrates how ethnic images persist to be significant determinants of inter-group attitudes. Wright believes that ethnic images seem to be correlated to social distances which individuals wish to uphold between themselves as well as other ethnic groups. Images people have regarding racial and ethnic groups sway other attitudes, together with behaviors toward those groups (Wright, 5). That is why so many individuals are eager and able to rate other group members based on their race and ethnicity at all levels. Mrs. and Mr. Dalton symbolize liberal whites who hold back their guilt regarding racial indignities by donating monetary gifts, even though they participate in oppressive activities of the individuals they are supposedly trying to assist. This becomes apparent when Bigger Thomas lawyer identified as Max alleged that Dalton partakes in racial oppression by his rejection to rent to African Americans from outer Chicago’s Black Belt. Furthermore, he charges higher rental rates for Bigger family to stay in the one-room, rat-infested dwelling. Thus, Dalton uses charity as a means “to salve the ache of … own conscience” (Wright, 328). This quote shows that Wright blames both black and white folks for choosing to ignore their assistance of existing oppressive powers. They remain silent and permit the status quo to continue silently. It also reveals that even though stereotypes may have an effect on the self-perceptions of people belonging to the stigmatized groups, it is more apparent for individuals whose personal identities lay emphasis on relationship in that group. That is why the influence of stereotype support on a person self-perceptions are particularly stronger when that person feels strongly associated to the ethnic grouping whose such negative stereotype pertain. In particular, the media handling of language plus images played a crucial role in facilitating such misconceptions to take root in people mindset, and this is evident in the text by the media frenzy which fuelled racial hysteria after Mary murder. The media, especially the newspapers served as catalyst for sustaining stereotypical beliefs via their derogatory rhetoric. In the novel, news articles carried on barefaced racial slurs like “jungle beast,” …, sex-slayer or “negro rapist” in referring to Bigger (Wright,279). This shows that if being Black is central to an individual self-definition, then support of race stereotypes is more expected to negatively manipulate self-perceptions, than when the race is not principally imperative to the individual. Therefore, racial centrality has been classified in the novel as a protective feature buffering individuals of Black minority grouping from equity and tolerance. Such stereotypical viewpoints maintain racial segregation while condemning well before assessment. The media act in such a way that they do not offer definitive facts of reality. For instance, Bigger is given a new judgment of “sight” by the media, and this surprisingly makes him to feel superior and on top of things for the first time in his entire life. The early newspaper observed that Bigger could not be capable of devising the crime as well as its subsequent cover-up by asserting that even the “ police feel that the plan….., was too elaborate… a work of a Negro mind (Wright, 245). Bigger took this stereotypical misconception of his lower intellect as a means of evading suspicion, and the low centrality can be defensive, since racial stereotypes are more personally applicable. Also, Wright asserts that “if there had been one person…,who had viewed Bigger ….as a human being, then the crime would have been solved in half an hour…., the newspaper men could not see or admit the living clue of Bigger humanity under their very eyes” (Wright,828). Such racial stereotypes makes members of the minority ethnic race to be like victims of the surroundings, an environment formed by racial hierarchy, and which reacts naturally, just like humans often do, to sadistic conditions. As such, their human characters are never taken into account. Some will argue that such views deliberately play into black-male stereotypes so as to appease the whites, and then validate their perceptions of African Americans behavior. On the contrary, Wright view does consider that the image of Blacks or any other ethnic minorities lives in their heart also, and when they give in to such images, there can be no other likely reality. Therefore, this does not call for a revolution, but it is a substantiation of what people living in segregated communities believe of each other races (Wright, 11). The media stereotypes about blacks not only ignored the reality of racial segregation, but help bigger to destroy an abstract hurdle. In the end, this newfound capacity to observe reality provides Bigger a perverse sense of power. Thus, “There was in everyone…. hunger to believe…, and if he could see while others were blind, then he could get what he wanted…. and never be caught at it” (Wright, 107). Hence, the blindness of the white people concerning the blacks enabled Bigger to stage-manage stereotypical beliefs. Thus, once a certain group of people is portrayed as enemy, then it easily becomes socially tolerable to publicly mock, disgrace, and put down their political outlook, as well as their social values as being second-rate to their dominant culture. Such stereotypes like blacks for ghetto, or white people as rednecks, are forms of blindness which impairs character judgment. Conclusion The novel “Native Son” shows how stereotypes embody a number of cognitive biases. The substance of stereotypes mirrors historical outline of oppression as well as ideological rationalizations of disparities. Thus, Wright reveals that racial stereotypes churn out unproductive citizens, who are angry, and more militants as they violently release their suppressed emotions stifled through extensive period of oppression. The novel communicates a world full of bitter sensations, and one analogous to that in which Bigger finds himself. Furthermore, the disadvantaged and segregated races, does not describe mutually exclusive categories of individuals, but instead the dimensions of social breakdown which contrast depending on context and questions one asks. Thus, the fact that Bigger and also his mother observe that it is only poor white who tend to make life hard for the Blacks than the affluent whites, reveal that social segregation creates disadvantages. This is because the allocation of social plus cultural capital is restricted to only those who are endowed with such assets. Thus, segregation not only deprives the disadvantaged ethnic groups of the information and skills they require for advancing, but it also deprives knowledge for the two societies to understand each other, to the degree that they go ahead with their lives isolated from each other. Ethnic stereotypes make people to be fairly ignorant of the issues the latter undergoes as part of their lives. Work Cited Wright, Richard A. Native Son. HarperCollins, 1940. Read More