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Nov 24, 2024
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Chimera as a Racist Stereotype
Society's obsession with identifying and classifying people according to race has
increased harmful stereotypes about individuals who do not fit into the 'preferred' racial groups.
The chimera stereotypes refer to negative thoughts and ideas that seize people's minds regarding
people from various racial backgrounds, making individuals from multiracial backgrounds feel
confused and without a sense of belonging. These stereotypes create confusion and a sense of a
lack of belonging to the affected individuals. Moreover, the chimera racial stereotype makes
people have a false perception of reality, making the people experience shame and self-doubt.
Mainstream cinema often establishes its storyline based on social observation regarding
contemporary issues like racial stereotypes, as seen in the Netflix comedy special "Homecoming
King," the HBO documentary "38 at the Garden," and the Netflix documentary "White Hot: The
Rise & Fall of Abercombie & Fitch." This essay analyzes chimera as a racial stereotype by
examining its negative consequences, as highlighted in the mentioned films, emphasizing the
need for a culture that celebrates diversity and acknowledges the significance of multiracial
identity.
People look for evidence that affirms their beliefs regarding the stereotypes they have
about a particular racial category. They make immediate judgments based on a person's
appearance, such as their racial identity. These judgments often stem from the stereotypes one
developed as a child or when growing up, mostly due to the external environment. Interactions
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with others significantly impact how one perceives individuals based on their race. The
stereotyping of racial minority groups usually makes individuals from these categories get
discriminated against, leading to exclusion and a sense of detachment. People from multiracial or
minority racial backgrounds are often subjected to the chimera of racial stereotyping, making
them feel inferior and disregarded. This stereotype adversely affects these individuals since their
real-life experiences are often discredited or unconsidered, making them excluded and
misunderstood.
Hasan Minhaj's "Homecoming King" is a political stand-up comedy that explores his
journey and identity as an Indian-American Muslim. Minhaj highlights the challenges he faces
due to the chimera of racial stereotyping and how these stereotypes create a distorted image of a
person's identity. Minhaj also fearlessly presents a thought-provoking presentation about racism
and racial prejudice, especially from his perspective as a son of Muslim Indian immigrants. His
narrative shows how a chimera, such as racial stereotyping, usually diminishes our power of
reason.
For instance, Minhaj recounts how after the 9/11 incident, they experienced a
traumatizing event of racial prejudice as a fellow student accused him of being a terrorist and
even breaking their car windows. In response, Minhaj's father had advised him to avoid any
confrontations to avoid more trouble. This response shows how this chimera may misrepresent
people's identities, making them distance themselves from their true identities. As a result, the
people affected by the chimera may feel the need to distance themselves from others and
conform to societal standards on what is expected of them.
Similarly, the "38 at the Garden" documentary film emphasizes the importance of
celebrating diversity and embracing the richness that results from acknowledging and embracing
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various identities. Basketball player Jeremy Lin experienced discrimination when he was starting
the game due to his Asian ethnicity. The documentary explores institutional racism by
highlighting how Lin was stereotyped based on his Asian American identity. The stereotypical
portrayal of Asian Americans in film and television usually depicts them as "passive." However,
this documentary film illustrates how harmful these stereotypes can be.
For instance, Lin's teammate, Tyson Chandler, recalls his preconceived assumptions
about Lin before he even met him or witnessed him play. Coaches also made the same mistakes
of making conclusions about Lin even before they met him, questioning or underestimating his
talent and basketball player abilities. These instances demonstrate the danger of stereotyping
people using their racial backgrounds without getting to know them individually and how this
may cause discomfort and feelings of inferiority in the affected individuals. The documentary
examines Lin's experiences as a stereotyped Asian-American basketball player, highlighting how
negative racial stereotypes affect a person's self-worth.
The film documentary "White Hot: The Rise & Fall of Abercrombie & Fitch" examines
how Abercrombie & Fitch company stereotypes people. The documentary highlights how the
company refused to hire minorities for some positions, such as sales positions. The minorities'
working hours were also fewer if they did not meet the required "Abercrombie image." This
highlights how racial stereotype creates a misleading perception of people's identity, such as their
ability to occupy particular positions in the workplace. This stereotype is a chimera as it
manipulates people's minds, leading to feelings of self-doubt and inadequacy. By facing such
stereotypes, individuals may internalize these false perceptions of themselves, resulting in shame
and a desire for self-abnegation.
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Racial stereotyping has an adverse effect on the people it is directed towards. It makes
them feel like they do not belong to a certain culture, community, or group. The chimera of racial
stereotypes can make individuals feel uncertain or disconnected from their racial identities, and
they may sometimes lack pride in their racial backgrounds. The uncertainty and disconnection
from identities often result in a sense of exclusion and a negative self-image. Racial stereotypes
can also be so overpowering that it hijacks a person's thoughts, creating a false identity that may
make an individual ashamed of their identity and develop a desire to diminish it.
Constant exposure to negative racial stereotypes may have long-lasting negative effects
on an individual's self-esteem and sense of belonging. People who internalize these negative
racial stereotypes are more likely to feel inferior, flawed, or inadequate as if something is wrong
with them. As a result, these individuals may distance themselves from their racial, cultural, or
ethnic identity in an attempt to avoid discrimination or fit in. However, this can perpetuate a
cycle of shame and self-doubt, which may be difficult to break.
One of the most efficient ways to confront and deal with negative stereotypes, especially
racial stereotypes, is to regain a sense of genuine pride, identity, and hope for new possibilities.
This approach requires individuals to gain awareness and self-reflection to allow them to accept
and love themselves and their identities. Cultivating a positive self-image enables people to deal
with the negative effects of the chimera of racial stereotypes and escape the cycle of shame,
inferiority, and self-doubt.
Additionally, it is important to establish a culture that respects and values diversity. This
culture should also work to take down systematic racism in systems reinforcing negative racial
stereotypes. An inclusive culture is essential as it helps individuals feel seen, appreciated,
listened to, and valued for who they are instead of being judged based on stereotypes.
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Therefore, the chimera of racial stereotype is a harmful and damaging stereotype that
mostly targets individuals from multiracial or mixed-race backgrounds. This chimera stereotype
can cause shame and self-doubt since it can make individuals feel inferior or inadequate.
Mainstream media, through films such as Homecoming King," "38 at the Garden," and "White
Hot: The Rise & Fall of Abercombie & Fitch," effectively demonstrate the prevalence of racial
stereotyping in society and its adverse effects. The solution for the adverse impact of this
chimera is cultivating a positive image and establishing a culture that embraces diversity. As a
society, it is time to acknowledge and embrace the beauty of racial diversity.
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Works Cited
38 at the Garden
. Directed by Frank Chi, performances by Jeremy Lin. HBO, 2022.
Homecoming King
. Directed by Christopher Storer, performances by Hasan Minhaj. Netflix,
2017.
White Hot: The Rise & Fall of Abercombie & Fitch
. Directed by Alison Klayman, Netflix, 2022.
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