The Danger and Negativity of Misconceptions

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Misconceptions are false ideas or beliefs that often root from pre-mature assumptions, or inherited point of views. These misconceptions exist, and will be eternally present. Misconceptions can be formed about topics such as race, gender, politics, and culture. The results of minor misconceptions could be harmless. However, misconceptions can be dangerous when they are major or widespread. After performing a subject analysis on A Lesson Before Dying, Persepolis, and “Exploring the Negative Consequences of Stereotyping”; I conclude that when an individual person or party is subjected to a misconception, they will react negatively. Stereotypes are one form of misconceptions. A stereotype is an “unfair belief that all people or things with a particular characteristic are the same” (Merriam-Webster). In Ernest J. Gaines’ novel A Lesson Before Dying, racial stereotypes are plentiful. The white men are under the misconception that all black people are uneducated and inferior. This misconception can be categorized as a racial stereotype because; it is associating the trait of being uneducated and inferior with the entirety of the black population. The first sign of this misconceptions’ existence arrived during Jefferson’s trial when his defense said, “Look at him. Do you see a man sitting here? ... Do you see a modicum of intelligence? Do you see anyone here who could plan a murder, a robbery, can plan–can plan-can plan anything? … Why, I would just as soon put a hog in the electric chair as this.”(Gaines 7-8). The defense is simply stating that Jefferson is not worthy of being deemed a human. Instead he compares Jefferson to an impulsive and wild animal such as a hog. The defense’s degrading words towards Jefferson’s wo... ... middle of paper ... ...ept of “stereotype threat” at universities and colleges such as Princeton, the University of Michigan, and the University of Arizona ("Exploring the Negative Consequences of Stereotyping"). After performing a subject analysis on the three supplied sources it reasonable to state that; when an individual person or party is subjected to a misconception, they will react negatively. This claim stands constant no matter the type of misconception, or the form of the subjected parties’ reaction. The diverse range of supporting details given encompasses this very concept. Works Cited Gaines, Ernest J. A Lesson before Dying. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print. Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 9 Nov. 2013. Satrapi, Marjane. Persepolis. New York, NY: Pantheon, 2003. Print. "Exploring the Negative Consequences of Stereotyping". UANews. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2013.

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