The "Average Black Girl"

Throughout the course of this semester, we have discussed many different stereotypes.  More specifically, this week we have talked about Iranian stereotypes within the book “The Perfect Persepolis”.  Each of us face stereotypical judgement every day of our lives.  However, depending upon our race, ethnicity, gender, or class, some are judged more than others.  The video that I have attached above speaks to resist the idea of the stereotypical black woman.  The woman in the video, Ernestine Johnson challenges our society’s idea of the stereotypical black woman through a poem.  In the poem, she clearly identifies different elements of the stereotypical black woman.  At one point in the video, she says “they say I’m not the average black girl because I am so well spoken, poised and full of etiquette”.  This is an element of the stereotype that I believe African-American women suffer from quite often.  Society has this idea of black women and expects that all women who fall into this category act this way.  This belief that black women are not civil, and do not possess etiquette, is very negative to say the least.  Stereotypes are generally negative in nature, and that is why people suffer from them.  People can already have an idea about another person in their head without ever getting to know them.  As Ernestine Johnson continues to speak, she also discusses how when people see that she does not follow the stereotype of black women, they become surprised.  That is why they tell her that she is “not the average black girl”.  After continuing to challenge these stereotypes, she concludes her poem with how she herself would describe a black girl.  She speaks about those who fought for racial justice, and racial/gender equality.  Those women are who she believes should be considered the average black girl.  So when people then try to compliment her by saying that she is not like the average black girl, the intended compliment becomes an insult due to the negative connotation that is the stereotype of black women.  Our world is full of stereotypes.  People like Ernestine Johnson should not have to stand up and defend themselves, but as a result of the world’s negative views, some feel responsible to bring these negatives to the light.  Whether it be a result of race, gender, ethnicity, or class, stereotypes do nothing but bring people down, whereas our world should be building each other up.