African Americans

In today’s society words can be used to express thoughts or feelings, make statements, or give directions. However, words can also be used to complement or demean a person. There are ways a person can be offended by people’s choice of words. One of theses ways besides racism is stereotyping. Over years of African American students taking racist comments made by white people and being stereotyped, they decided to unite and create the Black Student Union (BSU) (Black Lives Matter: Cambridge is Listening to Our Community, n.d). The main discussion in this essay involves the African Americans who  built a union called the Black Student Union in response against the racism and stereotyping and how they try to make white people see them differently instead of being stereotyped.

The experiences of the African American students in this article is that they are constantly exposed to racism and violence from white people. The story behind this article is that African Americans who were continuously exposed to racism and violence got tired of the unfair treatment, and decided to take a stand against racism (Black Lives Matter: Cambridge is Listening to Our Community, n.d.). So the African American students decided to form the Black Student Union (BSU). Another name that these African American students called themselves was Black Lives Matter (BLM) Cambridge.

I wouldn’t say that I share all of the same experiences as the members of BLM Cambridge, but I can relate some. For example, in fifth grade, someone asked if my parents were white because of the way I acted. Regarding the diversity of the individuals in this article, the article doesn’t go into specific details about the differences or diversity. However, it could be assumed that the differences of the people in the BLM article would be gender, religion, upbringing, social interactions, or the environment they live in.  Success of any group or organization can come in many forms. A success for this group can be taken back to 1874 when the 13th amendment was signed and 1964 when the civil rights act was signed. However, there is still a lot of injustice today.

In my second article titled “It's Simply Because We’re Black Men: Black Men’s Experience and Responses to the Killing of Black Men,” some challenges include how some people view skin color as a social border and how some people use stereotypes to classify people by skin color. For example Brooms and Perry (2016) mentioned that white skinned people are viewed as “respectable, civil, and trustworthy” while on the other hand,  Black skinned people are seen with “poor, dangerous, and untrustworthy” (Brooms & Perry, 2016).

Above all, with regard to African American young males, one missing perspective of racism and discrimination experienced among the African Americans is that many white people don’t see African Americans as who they are. Instead, some people in general gather perspectives of African Americans based off stereotypes and assumptions. Before the African American adolescents created the BSU, they had to deal with racist systems, racist administration, racist educators, a racist school community, and their racist high school. In my opinion, if we want people to understand what African Americans go through in their lives, we would have to consider what it’s like to be in their shoes.

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People may assume some African Americans who identify with the BSU movement wouldn’t have likely experienced good, healthy, or beneficial interactions with white people, or they may have a grudge against some white people for the inaccurate and judgmental stereotypes, discrimination, and racist perspectives or treatment against African Americans.

There are many things that could be done by people in the community. One way that community members can show support to African Americans, is for them to be understanding and considerate of the fact that many African Americans are not what their first negative perspectives are of African Americans. If community members change their mindsets about African Americans such as believing that many African Americans are lazy, dangerous, and don’t have manners just based off of skin color or the way we dress, it could also help support African Americans. And if there was more education and awareness about the what it's like to live as an African American it could also support African Americans. Personally, I can help support African Americans by being educated, knowing my history, and valuing and loving myself as a young African American man. I can also help by educating other people around me.  

Words Between Coasts

In conclusion, African American students established a union called the Black Student Union in response against the racism and stereotyping. This union was created to try to make white people see them differently instead of being stereotyped. These African American students were repeatedly exposed to racism and violence and got tired of the unfair treatment, and decided to take a stand against racism. Some challenges are how some people interpret skin color as a social border and how some people may apply stereotypes to classify people by skin color. One missing perspective of racism and discrimination experienced among the African Americans is that many white people don’t see African Americans as who they are. Instead, some people in general gather perspectives of African Americans based off stereotypes and assumptions.