We foster a feeling of "otherness" when we assume things about someone based on stereotypes. This indicates that we view them as different from ourselves, often in a bad way.

In literature and other media, stereotypes and stigmatizations about Africa have been reinforced. For example, Wainana's 2005 piece, a parody of how Africa is commonly written about, emphasizes how the continent is often seen from a single, limited perspective. This representation ignores the complexity and depth of African cultures and experiences in favor of emphasizing poverty, violence, and exotic wild life.

Satire is used in Horace Miners 1956 essay " Body Ritual Among the Nacirema" to highlight how absurd it is that we consider other cultures to be weird or old. By characterizing American customs as foreign, Miner shows how our biases can skew our perception of other cultures.

In her " The Danger if a single Story" TED talk, Ngozi addresses the misconceptions and stereotypes that can arise from viewing Africa just from one point of view. In order to obtain a more complete and accurate picture of any location or people, Ngozi's talk highlights the significance of acknowledging many narratives. She explains how stories have the ability to change our perceptions and cautions against taking a single narrative as the whole truth.

Through engaging with these works, I have become more aware of my own biases and the stereotypes I might unconsciously hold. For instance, I realized that my knowledge about certain cultures was often based on limited and one dimensional portrayals in the media.

Understanding how language constructs " otherness" is crucial in challenging stereotypes and promoting a more nuanced and respectful view of different cultures. By critically examining our assumptions and the media we consume, we can work towards a more inclusive and empathetic world.