Do stereotypes shape or our perceptions as individuals? Most definitely! I can attest to this because I have witnessed that though myself.

In an essay titled: “How to write about Africa” the writer, Wainina (2019), expresses his exasperation for stereotypes made about the African continent such as: Africa being characterized as being “dark”, Africans suffering from undernutrition and Africans living in poor conditions. Growing up I used to have a negative perception about my own continent. I used to think that we lack resources, we were suffering and that we were the only continent that consisted of people that were suffering from kwashiorkor, but studies have proven this to be false. This serves as proof that there is danger in a single narrative and that stereotypes do indeed shape our perceptions, hence majority of Americans in this day and age still believe that we keep wild animals as pets or better yet we still run around with spears hunting for food. (I find that absurd to say the least)

Being an individual that was born and bred in the township that is predominantly black people, I unfortunately had (emphasis on the word “had”) stereotypes about children that went to public schools in the township. I thought that if they went to schools in the township, received lessons in their mother tongue and didn’t have “white” educators then they aren’t able to comprehend nor express themselves in English. My entire perspective changed when I got to university and met people from all walks of life and this created a sense of otherness.

The writings of Wainana (2019), have taught me not to make assumptions about other individuals if I don’t even know them from a bar of soap.