A: I'm Atiyah
T: hi i'm Teeyana
A: and today we're going to talk about racial stereotypes.
Stereotypes are used to describe the behavior of certain groups
of people but they're often wrong because they're not based on fact. They make
assumptions about a whole group of people, and what stereotypes are, are people's
own opinion and feelings. So, Teeyana, have you experienced any kind of stereotyping?
T: the first time I experienced it was when I went to uni and I was working like a
restaurant job and I think one of my colleagues he came, and he came to
fist-bump me. And I was just like why do you assume I do that? Why do you think
I do that? Is it because you've seen things like online? Obviously people see
like the hip-hop culture the rap culture...
A: movies music videos T: music video... he just
automatically assumed that I was part of that culture. Yes it is from the black
culture it is stemming from there but that doesn't automatically mean I listen
to it or I'm part of it or I speak slang they automatically think that's the way
you're gonna act that's what you're gonna do like even at work
when I spoke about something and I was a bit annoyed about a situation I
literally just told my manager something and everyone everyone went back and was
like oh she's being sassy she's kicking off and I was like I'm so confused I'm
just speak in my opinion but -
A: being assertive.
T: yeah but it was automatically seen as being aggressive and I really didn't understand why it was and it kind
of made me very uncomfortable because it's like you haven't even got to know
me you haven't taken the time to know me you didn't
A: Just judging you
T: Yeah you judged me, so then automatically kind of made me want to separate myself from them
because that makes me feel like you're not an open person you're not ready to
learn about me and the individual you just see my color and you've just thought
yeah she's sassy she's aggressive she likes hip-hop or my even me dressed now you
probably think I was... someone said I was a street dancer nd I was like what
it's just little like that
A: but even that can be really negative
because someone then has this view and it's not true
they might mean it as a compliment or in a positive way but any kind of
stereotyping is wrong T: yeah it is because now I have to think do I
have to dress a certain way for you to think I'm a professional? DO I have to look
like this for you to think... to take me seriously like
A: it's almost like you you
felt like someone was judging you because of how you dress instead of
taking the time to get to know you, to ask you questions to see what are your
feelings what are your views and then make that decision T: yeah but it lets you
know that the world is very shallow as well it's just you see someone and
you already think yes they're gonna be part of this this group. Realistically
you need to have an open mind about people because every single person is
unique every single person is different just because they look a certain way
or walk a certain way or talk a certain way, it doesn't mean anything like some people
may speak slang but that doesn't mean they don't have any wisdom. all these
things that add up and make you realise that the world is a very image image
conscious society that we live in I can't change the color of my skin I'm
never gonna not gonna go and lighten my skin even though some people do that the
thing you realize that's why some people want to become fairer that's why some
people want to try and push themselves to become accepted because you look at
someone and you look at their complexion you look at where they're from and you
automatically shut them down and discriminate them. A: the other thing with
racial stereotyping is that it can happen anywhere. It can happen when you're
out with friends it can happen at school and those experiences can then affect
you later on in life T: yeah definitely when I was at school one of the
stereotypes I always got was Africa being poor. there are a lot of questions
that I would get asked from like non black people about Africa or do you does your
house smell like stew and things like that's just like why do you think this?
it's all from the TV they see what they see on the TV they see a group of people
always set in a specific place and they assume ok they must all be like this if
this is all we're gonna see because I remember from my school days I don't
remember ever seeing Africa glamorized I always
thought the slums so that's literally why I'd never wanted to go I was like, my mom would
try and take me but I was like I don't want to go, because I don't want to just go to the slums
but she told me like no that's just a little A: There's high rise buildings, there's cinema, there's shops
A there's other parts beautiful places\
T: Yeah! there's Wi-Fi but you'd never think that because that's the literally that's the only
part I ever saw with the younger generation it's a television and social
media plays a big plays a big part of our lives so when we see that we
literally think that's it but I think it's kind of getting better because I
think they're trying to show different parts like even like role models black
role models, asian role models. you're seeing work that it's not enough, you see
more of that so it's like okay there is more to these people we can we can get
far we can get up there as well
A: we all have the responsibility as individuals
to speak up and to do things. what else can we do to challenge racial
stereotypes? T: I think there's a lot of positive influences out there but
they're not being pushed like the other big like youtubers and I think we need
to support them more because there's a lot of people in the BME community doing
different things we're not all the same A: yeah so that's black and minority
ethnic community where they are role models and people doing positive things
T:yeah I think if we all support and just push them up like these other big
youtubers or social media influences they will also be able to have like an
impact on these younger generations because those are the people they're
looking up to. I don't know why but honestly media are the things that are
glorified are the negative things but if we try and we come together to push the
positive things it will kill off the negative A: absolutely and there's so much
positivity out there it's about educating yourself yeah if you feel like
you're being targeted or people are saying things to you that are negative
and you feel like you're being stereotyped look for the things that
relate to you. Look for positive things they are out there
T:there are so many
positive influences out there. And if you can't find any, be one. You have the we
all have the opportunity to be an influencer nowadays
it's like social media has given us the platform and the ability to share and be
a positive role model so if you can't find one be one because me I didn't see
anyone he was doing what I was doing on my on my channel so I was just like I'm
just gonna do it I'm here. I'm here. A: it's good to have you here.
Remember you can talk to Childline anytime on the phone or online.
thanks for coming today T: thank you for having me
A: we'll see you next time