WHY THE STEREOTYPE?
BECAUSE I WEAR A SCARF AROUND MY HEAD, I HAVE BEEN CALLED “HOLIER THAN THOU.” THAT HAS ALWAYS PUZZLED ME BECAUSE I CUSS LIKE A SAILOR. I HAVE KNOWN “CRACK HEADS” IN MY FAMILY BUT SOME OF THEM GET OFFENDED WHEN YOU SAY IT TO THEIR FACE. IS TRUTH REALLY STRANGER THAN FICTION? DO WE REALLY SIT AROUND AND SIZE PEOPLE UP OR DO WE JUST CALL THINGS AS WE SEE THEM.
DURING THE LAST 15 YEARS, A THUG HAS BECOME SOMETHING TO ASPIRE TO AND TO BE RESPECTED. PRISONS ARE FULL OF THUGS WHO HAVE LIVED A THUG LIFE. EVEN RAPPERS WHO ARE WANNA BE THUGS WHO GREW UP IN THE PROJECTS SOMEHOW THINK THAT BEING A THUG GIVES YOU STREET CRED. THAT’S HOW EASY IT IS TO GET CAUGHT UP IN A PERPETUAL STEREOTYPE. MARTHA STEWART WENT TO PRISON WHILE RUNNING A RESPECTABLE MULTIMEDIA COMPANY AND CREATED A NEW STEREOTYPE.
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THERE IS A BLACK & WHITE PREJUDICE WITH THE SNOOP DOGG & MARTHA STEWART COMPARISON. BOTH HAVE BEEN TO PRISON. BOTH HAVE CRIMINAL RECORDS. BOTH ARE MULTIMILLIONAIRES. BUT IN MOST CONVERSATIONS IT IS SNOOP DOGG’S BACKGROUND THAT WOULD BE IMPORTANT TO MENTION AND TO SPOTLIGHT.
THE QUESTION THAT REALLY REMAINS HERE IS HOW PEOPLE TEND TO MAKE THESE LABELS SO VISUAL THAT WHEN THE STEREOTYPES ARE BEING HELD AS IMPORTANT THE IGNORANCE OF THE ENTIRE SITUATION IS OVERLOOKED.
