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midterm exam paper on perpetuating stereotypes

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  • September 11, 2024
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  • 2024/2025
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Professor Idris

Understanding Historical Change: Africa

6 March 2024

Dismantling Perpetuating Stereotypes

Stereotypes and misconceptions of Africa have been prevalent in Western culture and

countries for centuries. From homogenous culture to stories of savagery, stereotypes, and

misrepresentations of Africa are commonly found in society today. These stereotypes are

outdated, false, and harmful to society in various ways. In this paper, I will demonstrate how

these stereotypes harm society and propose questions as to how, as individuals and as a society,

we can improve our ignorance. To accomplish this, I will first identify some of the most common

stereotypes of Africa and explain their significance. From there, I will trace back the historical

creation of these misconceptions and demonstrate how these stereotypes are false. To close, I

will explore how these stereotypes continue to infiltrate society today and what possible next

steps can be taken as individuals and in society to counteract and eliminate these stereotypes.

To examine the root of these stereotypes, we must first identify common stereotypes of

Africa. Some of the most common stereotypes of Africa are that all of the people who live in

Africa are uncivilized, live in tribal culture, and are poor. These stereotypes are constantly

perpetuated within the media and can be seen in movies such as Tarzan, Madagascar, and George

of the Jungle. While these are only a few movies out of the millions Hollywood has to offer, the

stereotypes in these movies have a profound impact. These movies are specifically for younger

audiences, creating these stereotypes for humans starting at a very young age that are perpetuated

throughout their lives. For example, a study conducted by the Learning for Justice Organization

concluded that out of their review of children's books about Africa, 90% of the books only

, 2

showed life in Africa through village life and jungles(LFJ Staff). From an early age, kids are

taught that the countries of Africa have no cities and are severely underdeveloped in relation to

Western nations. The data proves how the narratives of Africa are one-sided, biased, and

outdated and do not allow room for other stories to be told that counteract the main narrative of

uncivilized, rural Africa. These stereotypes have an expansive impact and manifest racism in the

United States and Western countries. These images fuel misconceptions that justify the history of

enslavement and colonialism, which all stem from the belief of white superiority. Later in this

paper, we will closely examine the history and creation of these stereotypes to debunk the

conceptions that are commonly accepted within society.

Another harmful stereotype of Africa is the generalization of the continent as a whole.

Throughout this paper, I have specified how I am talking about the stereotypes of Africa. While

this may seem redundant to point out, this is already an example of the generalization of Africa

as a whole that is apparent worldwide. Instead of focusing on the stereotypes of a certain country,

Africa is often generalized as a continent as a whole; thus, when talking about stereotypes, we

are able to attribute them to all of Africa. Africa.com highlights how "one of the most common

misconceptions is that Africa is one large country" ("10 Common Misconceptions & Stereotypes

About Africa"). This assumption can lead to common misconceptions that all Africans speak the

same language, practice homogenous cultures, and all of Africa experiences the same

climate(jungle/desert). These stereotypes can be traced back specifically to European

colonialism, which I will explain in the next paragraph. The generalization of Africa is arguably

the most harmful and impactful stereotype of Africa that continues to manifest within society

today as it instills a narrative that diminishes the idea of successful African countries in Western

countries.

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