Exposing the Hilarious Hypocrisy of Stereotypes...

Let's just openly acknowledge that we all know of and use stereotypes. It's no one's fault, because socialization is an inevitable process, unless you have successfully sequestered yourself in a culture-proof bubble (congratulations...how are you reading this blog?). At best, stereotypes are an efficient way for our brains to process and organize the multitude of information we encounter each day about people, places, and things. At worst, they are incredibly offensive, truth obscuring mechanisms that serve to keep certain people/groups in their "place," whatever that place might be. The scariest thing about stereotypes, however, is their ability to creep and settle unchallenged into society's collective consciousness, and their resistance to logic in the face of truth. I feel that as A-i-T's trying to become grown-folk, we should make the conscious effort to counter stereotypes beginning with ourselves and those around us...

I could wax poetic and write an entire dissertation about stereotypes their genesis and effects, but sometimes the most effective weapon in the fight against the "isms" of society  is humor. Combating racism is not an intellectual exercise, but is rather an active lived experience. I recognize that racism is as serious as cancer, and not because it is a nice sounding written analogy, but rather because it is a literal description. There is nothing funny about it until you realize how stupid and senseless the whole enterprise really  is. Stereotypes just serve to prove the point. Think of them as four contradictory walls erected by mainstream society to box an individual/group in. Once the "oxy-moronic" nature is exposed however, the walls Berlin down...CRASH!!!

The other night on John Oliver's New York Stand-Up Show, I came across a great young comedian named, Hari Kondabolu, who is a man after my own heart. Much of his comedy has a social justice orientation, where he intelligently points out the hypocrisy in past and present race relations. He is someone I will definitely keep an eye on. Check out this clip talking about the ludicrous nature of stereotypes about Mexicans...

Live at Gotham
Hari Kondabolu - Mexican Stereotypes
www.comedycentral.com
Joke of the Day Stand-Up Comedy Free Online Games

Adults-in-Training let's expose stereotypes for what they are...absolutely ridiculous...

Peace,

A-i-T