Current Event 2

What does it mean to be young , black and male?

Onnie Rogers a professor at I-LABS conducted research on how cultural stereotypes shape teenager’s understanding of themselves and their desire in lives.

"Children are constantly taking in information from people around them, and the things we say and don't say make an impact on how they figure out where they fit in the world," Rogers said. "When we make assumptions – 'He's so smart kid for a Black kid' or 'He's so emotional for a boy' – this makes an impact, it shapes how kids figure out who they are."

The effects of Minority Portrayals

• Black yougsters are more likely to believe that television portrayals of blacks and non-blacks are realistic
• White children use television as a primary source of information about black children
• Black children use information from television much more extensively in their lives

Rogers gathered changed feeling and beliefs of 21 black male teens from high school freshmen to tenth grade. Some questions she explored in her studies:

• What do you think other people think about Black people?
• Are there certain things you’re supposed to do just because you’re Black?
  

And there are their examples of answers:

“The Exception”

It’s as if boys were saying: – 'sure, those other black boys are dumb, but I'm not.'"

“The Resisters”

Stereotypes as a system of oppression that undermines Black people rather than individuals.

“The Accommodators”

They didn’t necessarily believe the stereotypes.

“The Power of Conversation”

Parents and teachers have to help children respond to stereotypes