Native American Stereotypes Essay

Words: 1847
Pages: 8

Stereotypes, these have become such a common part of our lives these days. We hear people giving others a specific stereotype, every day and everywhere around us. Sometimes we even find ourselves in a situation where we are one of the people making a specific stereotype for a specific group of people we see. Everybody in the world whether they are young or old, end up having a stereotype labeled to them on their backs. It can be one of many various stereotypes people give, anywhere from “preppy”, “goody-two-shoes” to “too nice”. Stereotyping is a way that people group each other and sometimes do this to make themselves feel better about their own selves. Each group is called a specific name given with their specific stereotype they are given, …show more content…
American Indians and Alaska Natives made up about 2 percent of the total population in 2013, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The lack of accurate representation is heightened by the fact that the average U.S. resident experiences nearly no direct, daily interaction with Native Americans. Only 14 states have American Indian populations that exceed 100,000 people. According to the Native American Aid program, about 22% of our country’s 5.2 million Native Americans live on tribal lands (2010 U.S. Census). Living conditions on the reservations have been cited as “comparable to Third World”. It is impossible to concisely describe the numerous factors that have contributed to the challenges that Native Americans face today. People should not discriminate you based on your race, gender, or anything else about you that makes you, you. As Ed Koch a famous politician once stated, “stereotypes lose their power when the world is found to be more complex than the stereotype would suggest. When we learn that individuals do not fit the group stereotype, then it begins to fall apart.” Once a person learns they are being stereotyped it brings down their level of confidence, their emotions are being played with which therefore causes the person to feel like an