The Big Picture: Products and Race


Have you ever patiently waited for your mother to come home after grocery shopping? Your waiting for her to open the door and see the brown bags that contain all the snacks that you craved to eat. Your helping your mother put away the food but also sneaking just a bit of food to hold you over until your mother gives you the okay. Your looking through the cabinets admiring all the food that you can’t wait to eat not knowing that there are some foods items that have meaning behind them. 
What is Racial Stereotyping? 

Smiling face collage- Image 1 

Racial stereotyping has been around for a very long time even before you were even born. It has been an issue for many adults, but it has also affected children your age as well.  Racial stereotyping are false images that are formed towards people of different races in a negative way (1). Racial stereotyping occurs within different races. You can be Black, White, Indian, and even the race you are now just like the people in image 1. These people may have experienced racial stereotyping in their lifetime and you may not even have known. 

Items vs. You Storytime 

Plate full of candy- Image 2 

Franklin 

Franklin who is 6 years old shown in image 2 loves candy and chocolate. He always finds a way to get his hands on his favorite snacks even when his mother and father tells him not to eat it. Franklin who still doesn't listen visits his local store to pick up his daily snacks. Franklin walks into the store and goes to the front counter as he does every day. Franklin tells the clerk, "can I have two lollipops and one Hershey's bar please". The clerk who is new to the store tells Franklin, "sorry young man but it doesn't seem like the type to like candy and chocolate, but I assume you like tasty cakes".  Franklin tell the new clerk that he always comes in the store and buys the same thing, but the clerk still tells Franklin he cannot have what he wants and can only buy a tasty cake. Franklin who is upset soon leaves the store. The next day, Franklin goes back to the store with his friend Gwen. Gwen and Franklin both walk to the counter where the same clerk from yesterday was. Gwen asked the clerk, "Can I have two lollipops and one Hershey's bar please". The clerk tells Gwen, "I'm sorry sweetheart but I can sell you anything expect for a tasty cake because you are friends with Franklin". 

Franklin thinking about what the clerk said 

Franklin and Gwen both look at each other confused but Franklin soon comes to understand why the clerk only wants to sell them tasty cakes. He explains to Gwen that "since we are close to each other and he thinks that I like something, he assumes you like the same thing. If we weren’t friends, he wouldn't think he liked the same thing". 

I hope this story with Franklin and Gwen helped you understand the connection with racial stereotyping and products. In many cases if one person from a group is told they have to be a certain way or like something, their whole group also has to like it because people assume so. Assumption is a key work that plays into what racial stereotyping really is. We have to be careful when we make assumptions because it may leave different people hurt. 

(1)-  Karen, W. M. (2019). Prejudice and stereotyping. Salem Press Encyclopedia. 2p

Smiling face collage [Photograph]. Retrieved from https://opinionfront.com/racial-stereotypes

Plate full of candy [Photograph]. Retrieved from https://parentingfromscratch.wordpress.com/2011/11/03/the-candy-dilemma/

Thinkstockphotos [Photograph]. Retrieved from ww.cefonline.com/prepared-teach-thinkers/