Stereotyping and American Indians

Stereotypes from  My Childhood

I remember the first time I heard the term HBO and it was not in association with the network channel. I was in grade 4 and I heard a boy say to another, “Mmm!! You have HBO!!” Kids around me laughed, “I wanted to know what it meant and I began to ask friends, “What does it mean?” I wanted to be in on the joke. “Haitian Body Odor!” Cackled a friend. At that time I thought it was hilarious. I repeated the term in my 9-year-old mind; I savored this clever pun and then I came to a conclusion - Haitians stank. This was a stereotype that I accepted about a people group.

Stereotypes are inaccurate beliefs about people groups. It impacts both the viewer and members of the group. Though conscious members of that group are able to distinguish their identity from the stereotypical image projected of them, children tend not to have this ability, thus it impacts and influences how that child views themselves and their people group.
In my experience with stereotyping, I speak from the perspective of the person who perpetuated the stereotype in my childhood and in my early teens. Throughout this time period in my life, I was hearing and repeat other stereotypical jokes about Haitians that began to build a deceptive image in my mind. I was informed that Haitians:
Cooked with too much garlic; Had LOTS of children; All came to my country by boat; Would take a mile if you gave them an inch; Did not wear deodorant; They did Obeah; Were stupid; Were not educated; Were the causes of crime problems in the country; Were deceptive; Were poor and uneducated

The list goes on.

This picture of Haitian people was something that I internalized and approved of through my laughter, whenever Haitian jokes or stories were told in my presence. I made these stereotypes the standard of this people group.

Through these stereotypes I was learning that I was better that these people; I was forming ideas that I was superior to them. Though I did not express this blatantly, these views still permeated my thoughts about them and myself.  In no way shape or form did I want to be associated with anything Haitian. I was Bahamian. If anyone tried to call me a Haitian or state that I was like them in anyway, those were fighting words.

The spell of this Haitian caricature built on these stereotypes was first broken when my friend Irannie’s mother died. I had no idea that she was Haitian until I stopped by the funeral to see her family. I felt terrible for Irannie and her loss. I felt worse because of how I viewed her people group. She was my friend and a part of our church family. I felt my shame and wondered if I had ever said the HBO joke in her presence.
Haitians and Bahamians not only look alike, but we share the same ancestrial blood. However, in my young mind, I did not take it into consideration that we were more alike than I ever imagined. Haitian and Bahamian were two siblings, separated at birth. I imagine that we had been pitted against each other, or rather one was mistreated and called the "bad one" while the other was petted and considered the better. We were told how to view each other and ourselves in this stereotypical scenario; we were bi-products of the lessons we learnt from an insidious legal guardian.

Framing and the Native American 

Framing is usually defined as the format that information is presented to persuade an audience in one direction or another. In the media, framing occurs when they focus on individuals or events placing them in a certain field of meaning towards the goal of influencing the audience's perception of self, others and the world they exist in. It is supposed in this regard that facts are not altered.
We learn that stereotypes inform us of how people are seen, while framing informs us of how information is processed.

The frames that are discussed in Miller and Ross' article, concerning the Native Americans are:
The generic Indian - Generalizes all Native Americans and does not establish any differentiation amongst the various groups.
The good/bad Indian - The good is portray as the subservient mild natured one, while the bad is portrayed as the blood thirsty wild savage.
The Indian as the "Other" - Those Native Americans that are disassociated from the dominant culture.

The generic Indian seems to be the most influential frame in main stream culture. Though many know that there is diversity amongst the various groups of Indians, they do not care to acknowledge or respect these difference which are found in their dress, practices, religion and many other traits found amongst them.

Stereotypes from My Childhood continued

    I remember the uproar amongst Bahamians concerning Haitian Flag Day. Their were various views. Some were convinced that it was a voodoo celebration and called on the government to put a stop to it. It was going around that Haitians were " Cutting of goat heads and drinking the blood. It was stated that they were bringing the devil into the Bahamas." There were other Bahamians that spoke out against such views calling their countrymen stupid and ignorant.
To put it simply, Haitian Flag Day was just a celebration of their nationality and showing their pride in it. Some still did not like this idea and I heard it said, "If they wan' celebrate they culture, then tell them to go back home!" Looking at this scenario and others like it, I do not believe that it right to discourage people from keeping or celebrating their cultural values. I feel that it expresses ones fear and prejudice against a person's cultural identity.
There is an argument often put forth by Christians that we must discourage a persons cultural values if it conflicts with the gospel. I'm sure that those Bahamians who spoke out against Haitian Flag Day would agree. However, I am not so sure. I think that if we share the truth of the gospel with people from a different culture in a loving and respectful way, through relationship, God's truth will convict their hearts and they will see the cultural values that they have to give up in order to follow Christ. I think that when we as human beings take up this responsibility, we tend to veer off tract, trying to assimilate other people groups into cultural values that we deem appropriate; Colonization is a prime example.

My wife and I were recently speaking about the current racial issues concerning black and white people. I remember stating to my wife, "You know Joy...white people don't like us. Deep down, most of then don't accept us as their equals." She wearily sighed and nodded in agreement. "And I totally understand why" I said, "I get it." She then gave me a curious look and asked, "What do you mean?" I then went on to explain, "White people will be your friend, your supporter, your defender in issues of race, but the moment you say to a white guy, "Can I marry your daughter?" Oh helllllllllll NO! Are you out of your mind?!?" Most are not ready for that and I totally understand." I continued, "I understand because I held such feelings in my heart towards Haitians only but a few years ago. We may think that we are enlightened and that we see them as equals. But I had to be honest with myself. I asked myself the question, "What would be my response should Jada (my daughter), bring home a Haitian guy from the Grove saying that she wanted to marry him?" I had to face that demon of Prejudice in my heart and say the truth."
My wife's eyes went wide then she looked down. I think she had her own moment of conviction about the matter.
"We are no better than them." I said. "Until we are honest with ourselves and face are own inner prejudices, we will never come close to finding peace or receive the answers to these issues."