Stereotyping: It Make Us Human | Akash Banerjee | TEDxYouth@Lancaster

pause let’s rewind back to when I first

pause let’s rewind back to when I first walked on stage what was going through

walked on stage what was going through

walked on stage what was going through your mind was it hmm oh gosh

your mind was it hmm oh gosh

your mind was it hmm oh gosh funny name or maybe it was oh look an

funny name or maybe it was oh look an

funny name or maybe it was oh look an Indian kid probably going to talk about

Indian kid probably going to talk about

Indian kid probably going to talk about quantum physics for half an hour perhaps

quantum physics for half an hour perhaps

quantum physics for half an hour perhaps you’re shaking your head

you’re shaking your head

you’re shaking your head I wasn’t thinking anything but you were

I wasn’t thinking anything but you were

I wasn’t thinking anything but you were whether you like it or not as soon as

whether you like it or not as soon as

whether you like it or not as soon as you saw me your brain went oh that’s

you saw me your brain went oh that’s

you saw me your brain went oh that’s something it looks like this it sounds

something it looks like this it sounds

something it looks like this it sounds like this maybe it’s this your brain

like this maybe it’s this your brain

like this maybe it’s this your brain created a giant list of assumptions

created a giant list of assumptions

created a giant list of assumptions about me within seconds

about me within seconds

about me within seconds if this didn’t happen I would be deeply

if this didn’t happen I would be deeply

if this didn’t happen I would be deeply concerned because it might infer that

concerned because it might infer that

concerned because it might infer that you’re not a human being some of the

you’re not a human being some of the

you’re not a human being some of the things your brain deduced about me were

things your brain deduced about me were

things your brain deduced about me were based on past experience maybe you’ve

based on past experience maybe you’ve

based on past experience maybe you’ve met an Indian before maybe you wanted in

met an Indian before maybe you wanted in

met an Indian before maybe you wanted in maybe and this might be a stretch but

maybe and this might be a stretch but

maybe and this might be a stretch but maybe you’ve met more than one teenager

maybe you’ve met more than one teenager

maybe you’ve met more than one teenager in your life so over the years your

in your life so over the years your

in your life so over the years your brain has taken these experiences and

brain has taken these experiences and

brain has taken these experiences and formulated stereotypes about them which

formulated stereotypes about them which

formulated stereotypes about them which you are applying to me this is very ii

you are applying to me this is very ii

you are applying to me this is very ii know you might be thinking ah I’m

know you might be thinking ah I’m

know you might be thinking ah I’m stereotyping that means I’m a terrible

stereotyping that means I’m a terrible

stereotyping that means I’m a terrible person but that’s not the case

person but that’s not the case

person but that’s not the case stereotyping is a natural process and

stereotyping is a natural process and

stereotyping is a natural process and that is what I’m here to discuss today a

that is what I’m here to discuss today a

that is what I’m here to discuss today a big problem that we have today is that

big problem that we have today is that

big problem that we have today is that not all of us realize that there is a

not all of us realize that there is a

not all of us realize that there is a difference between stereotyping and

difference between stereotyping and

difference between stereotyping and bigotry a stereotyping is an assumption

bigotry a stereotyping is an assumption

bigotry a stereotyping is an assumption about someone or something and it is

about someone or something and it is

about someone or something and it is built from past and/or current

built from past and/or current

built from past and/or current information a stereotype is most like

information a stereotype is most like

information a stereotype is most like the gala apple on your left it’s

the gala apple on your left it’s

the gala apple on your left it’s completely natural it’s got nothing

completely natural it’s got nothing

completely natural it’s got nothing funky in it it’s harmless bigotry on the

funky in it it’s harmless bigotry on the

funky in it it’s harmless bigotry on the other hand is a poisoned Apple

other hand is a poisoned Apple

other hand is a poisoned Apple bigotry occurs when someone takes us

bigotry occurs when someone takes us

bigotry occurs when someone takes us there

there

there and as things that are unjustifiable to

and as things that are unjustifiable to

and as things that are unjustifiable to it as fuel for hatred bigotry is often a

it as fuel for hatred bigotry is often a

it as fuel for hatred bigotry is often a result of this subconscious fear of the

result of this subconscious fear of the

result of this subconscious fear of the unknown from bigotry stuns a concept

unknown from bigotry stuns a concept

unknown from bigotry stuns a concept that we are all familiar with which is

that we are all familiar with which is

that we are all familiar with which is discrimination I mentioned before that

discrimination I mentioned before that

discrimination I mentioned before that some of the things that we stereotype

some of the things that we stereotype

some of the things that we stereotype about everything we star you type it’s

about everything we star you type it’s

about everything we star you type it’s all built from information if that

all built from information if that

all built from information if that information is weighted or untrue

information is weighted or untrue

information is weighted or untrue however then we no longer have this

however then we no longer have this

however then we no longer have this tasty Gala apples stereotype think about

tasty Gala apples stereotype think about

tasty Gala apples stereotype think about every terrorist attack we’ve seen on the

every terrorist attack we’ve seen on the

every terrorist attack we’ve seen on the media today they’ve all been committed

media today they’ve all been committed

media today they’ve all been committed by Muslims now this might lead me to

by Muslims now this might lead me to

by Muslims now this might lead me to believe that the majority of terrorist

believe that the majority of terrorist

believe that the majority of terrorist attacks if not all of them have to be

attacks if not all of them have to be

attacks if not all of them have to be committed by Muslims however statistics

committed by Muslims however statistics

committed by Muslims however statistics show that over the last five years in

show that over the last five years in

show that over the last five years in Europe there have been over a thousand

Europe there have been over a thousand

Europe there have been over a thousand terrorist attacks of which two percent

terrorist attacks of which two percent

terrorist attacks of which two percent have been committed by Muslims similarly

have been committed by Muslims similarly

have been committed by Muslims similarly in the u.s. only six percent of

in the u.s. only six percent of

in the u.s. only six percent of terrorist attacks are committed by

terrorist attacks are committed by

terrorist attacks are committed by Muslims on the other hand if some guy

Muslims on the other hand if some guy

Muslims on the other hand if some guy carrying a machine gun runs into my

carrying a machine gun runs into my

carrying a machine gun runs into my classroom screaming bloody murder

classroom screaming bloody murder

classroom screaming bloody murder whether he is Muslim or not it is safe

whether he is Muslim or not it is safe

whether he is Muslim or not it is safe to assume that he is not the substitute

to assume that he is not the substitute

to assume that he is not the substitute for the day do you see the conflict

for the day do you see the conflict

for the day do you see the conflict between the two assumptions one is

between the two assumptions one is

between the two assumptions one is justifiable and the other is not when

justifiable and the other is not when

justifiable and the other is not when we’re using stereotypes it is very

we’re using stereotypes it is very

we’re using stereotypes it is very important that we don’t infer deeper

important that we don’t infer deeper

important that we don’t infer deeper than is practical logical and fair

than is practical logical and fair

than is practical logical and fair weighted stereotypes often linked to

weighted stereotypes often linked to

weighted stereotypes often linked to bigotry and unfortunately we have to

bigotry and unfortunately we have to

bigotry and unfortunately we have to think on social media which should be a

think on social media which should be a

think on social media which should be a platform for good but it’s become a

platform for good but it’s become a

platform for good but it’s become a platform for spreading bigotry and

platform for spreading bigotry and

platform for spreading bigotry and hatred this picture I saw on Twitter the

hatred this picture I saw on Twitter the

hatred this picture I saw on Twitter the other day this is an example of smoke of

other day this is an example of smoke of

other day this is an example of smoke of someone

someone

someone getting information and twisting it into

getting information and twisting it into

getting information and twisting it into something that it’s not an inspiring

something that it’s not an inspiring

something that it’s not an inspiring heat from it here’s an example that’s a

heat from it here’s an example that’s a

heat from it here’s an example that’s a personal story that is not in the

personal story that is not in the

personal story that is not in the context of social media I was walking

context of social media I was walking

context of social media I was walking home the other day when a couple of

home the other day when a couple of

home the other day when a couple of teens drove by and they shouted

teens drove by and they shouted

teens drove by and they shouted something just the widow not scared then

something just the widow not scared then

something just the widow not scared then get out of our country you terrorist

okay what was painful about this

okay what was painful about this assumption this this um experience was

assumption this this um experience was

assumption this this um experience was not the fact that I was a victim of

not the fact that I was a victim of

not the fact that I was a victim of their stupidity or the fact that I was

their stupidity or the fact that I was

their stupidity or the fact that I was incorrectly being labeled as a Muslim

incorrectly being labeled as a Muslim

incorrectly being labeled as a Muslim it’s an ignorant assumption yes but not

it’s an ignorant assumption yes but not

it’s an ignorant assumption yes but not exactly harmful what was disheartening

exactly harmful what was disheartening

exactly harmful what was disheartening however was the bigotry shown towards a

however was the bigotry shown towards a

however was the bigotry shown towards a group of people of which 0.009 percent

group of people of which 0.009 percent

group of people of which 0.009 percent are terrorists

are terrorists

are terrorists raw bigotry such as these examples is

raw bigotry such as these examples is

raw bigotry such as these examples is still so prominent in today’s society

still so prominent in today’s society

still so prominent in today’s society and it’s only getting worse here’s an

and it’s only getting worse here’s an

and it’s only getting worse here’s an example however of a justifiable

example however of a justifiable

example however of a justifiable stereotype a gigantic dog is barreling

stereotype a gigantic dog is barreling

stereotype a gigantic dog is barreling towards me his eyes are wide his mouth

towards me his eyes are wide his mouth

towards me his eyes are wide his mouth is frothing his teeth razor-sharp I’m

is frothing his teeth razor-sharp I’m

is frothing his teeth razor-sharp I’m smack dab in the middle of his path okay

smack dab in the middle of his path okay

smack dab in the middle of his path okay I am by no means the smartest person in

I am by no means the smartest person in

I am by no means the smartest person in the world but I probably have the common

the world but I probably have the common

the world but I probably have the common sense to move out of the way so let’s

sense to move out of the way so let’s

sense to move out of the way so let’s pretend and I emphasize the word pretend

pretend and I emphasize the word pretend

pretend and I emphasize the word pretend that I do a perfect backflip out of the

that I do a perfect backflip out of the

that I do a perfect backflip out of the way the Beast skids to a halt turns and

way the Beast skids to a halt turns and

way the Beast skids to a halt turns and gives me a big kiss on the cheek okay

gives me a big kiss on the cheek okay

gives me a big kiss on the cheek okay okay let’s play this back scene by scene

okay let’s play this back scene by scene

okay let’s play this back scene by scene I see dog dog is big looked scary and is

I see dog dog is big looked scary and is

I see dog dog is big looked scary and is running towards me full speed common

running towards me full speed common

running towards me full speed common sense tells me that he’s

sense tells me that he’s

sense tells me that he’s coming to give me a Teletubby hug so I

coming to give me a Teletubby hug so I

coming to give me a Teletubby hug so I move out of the way

move out of the way

move out of the way finally dog goes against the stereotype

finally dog goes against the stereotype

finally dog goes against the stereotype by being friendly consider this once I

by being friendly consider this once I

by being friendly consider this once I bigoted in my assumption and my action

bigoted in my assumption and my action

bigoted in my assumption and my action stereotypes such as these are not unfair

stereotypes such as these are not unfair

stereotypes such as these are not unfair or picketed while they are incorrect in

or picketed while they are incorrect in

or picketed while they are incorrect in some cases they’re based off of common

some cases they’re based off of common

some cases they’re based off of common sense and so it is bigoted to call them

sense and so it is bigoted to call them

sense and so it is bigoted to call them bigoted ironically another vital element

bigoted ironically another vital element

bigoted ironically another vital element in this game is understanding and

in this game is understanding and

in this game is understanding and accepting other stereotypes of us say I

accepting other stereotypes of us say I

accepting other stereotypes of us say I owned a little pharmacy in a remote

owned a little pharmacy in a remote

owned a little pharmacy in a remote village in India no one here speaks a

village in India no one here speaks a

village in India no one here speaks a word of English I just happened to move

word of English I just happened to move

word of English I just happened to move here from Pennsylvania an American

here from Pennsylvania an American

here from Pennsylvania an American tourist walks into my shop and he begins

tourist walks into my shop and he begins

tourist walks into my shop and he begins speaking like this I have fever need

speaking like this I have fever need

speaking like this I have fever need medicine hang on a minute hang on what

medicine hang on a minute hang on what

medicine hang on a minute hang on what is all of this I know what a fever is I

is all of this I know what a fever is I

is all of this I know what a fever is I know what medicine is does he really

know what medicine is does he really

know what medicine is does he really think that I don’t speak English oh wait

think that I don’t speak English oh wait

think that I don’t speak English oh wait yeah of course he does because I look

yeah of course he does because I look

yeah of course he does because I look like an Indian and I’m living in a place

like an Indian and I’m living in a place

like an Indian and I’m living in a place where no one speaks English this is a

where no one speaks English this is a

where no one speaks English this is a perfectly understandable assumption so

perfectly understandable assumption so

perfectly understandable assumption so why am I getting so worked up about it

why am I getting so worked up about it

why am I getting so worked up about it what’s stopping me from simply replying

what’s stopping me from simply replying

what’s stopping me from simply replying hey dude

hey dude

hey dude I speak English if this man had walked

I speak English if this man had walked

I speak English if this man had walked into my shop speaking as he normally

into my shop speaking as he normally

into my shop speaking as he normally does one might assume that he’s ignorant

does one might assume that he’s ignorant

does one might assume that he’s ignorant and arrogant because he assumes that the

and arrogant because he assumes that the

and arrogant because he assumes that the rest of the world speaks the same way

rest of the world speaks the same way

rest of the world speaks the same way that he does when people use stereotypes

that he does when people use stereotypes

that he does when people use stereotypes they are not always trying to be

they are not always trying to be

they are not always trying to be malicious however our pride can

malicious however our pride can

malicious however our pride can sometimes cloud our vision and that is

sometimes cloud our vision and that is

sometimes cloud our vision and that is what leads to miss

what leads to miss

what leads to miss understandings so it’s pretty clear we

understandings so it’s pretty clear we

understandings so it’s pretty clear we all make stereotypes it’s part of what

all make stereotypes it’s part of what

all make stereotypes it’s part of what makes us human yes we must be cautious

makes us human yes we must be cautious

makes us human yes we must be cautious when forming stereotypes bigots are

when forming stereotypes bigots are

when forming stereotypes bigots are bigots because they cannot honestly

bigots because they cannot honestly

bigots because they cannot honestly justify their stereotypes and this is

justify their stereotypes and this is

justify their stereotypes and this is what we must listen for when others are

what we must listen for when others are

what we must listen for when others are speaking when we are speaking if we can

speaking when we are speaking if we can

speaking when we are speaking if we can use stereotypes the right way instead of

use stereotypes the right way instead of

use stereotypes the right way instead of for bigotry instead of for hatred then

for bigotry instead of for hatred then

for bigotry instead of for hatred then we will truly unite as the human race

we will truly unite as the human race

we will truly unite as the human race instead of just as individuals this is

instead of just as individuals this is

instead of just as individuals this is why I urge you all to go home tonight

why I urge you all to go home tonight

why I urge you all to go home tonight and consider these two ideas first of

and consider these two ideas first of

and consider these two ideas first of all we must think before we react to

all we must think before we react to

all we must think before we react to stereotypes

stereotypes

stereotypes if someone stereotypes you in an

if someone stereotypes you in an

if someone stereotypes you in an innocent mistake respond with empathy

innocent mistake respond with empathy

innocent mistake respond with empathy and second of all now is the time to

and second of all now is the time to

and second of all now is the time to draw the line between bigotry and

draw the line between bigotry and

draw the line between bigotry and stereotyping every day hateful and

stereotyping every day hateful and

stereotyping every day hateful and bigoted things are being posted on

bigoted things are being posted on

bigoted things are being posted on social media and as I’ve recently

social media and as I’ve recently

social media and as I’ve recently experienced being said to people’s faces

experienced being said to people’s faces

experienced being said to people’s faces while we must accept and understand

while we must accept and understand

while we must accept and understand stereotypes for what they are we must

stereotypes for what they are we must

stereotypes for what they are we must also stand up to bigotry if we fight for

also stand up to bigotry if we fight for

also stand up to bigotry if we fight for what is right we will make the world a

what is right we will make the world a

what is right we will make the world a beautiful place to live in and perhaps

beautiful place to live in and perhaps

beautiful place to live in and perhaps we will not live to see the day where

we will not live to see the day where

we will not live to see the day where everyone accepts one another as a fellow

everyone accepts one another as a fellow

everyone accepts one another as a fellow homo sapien but we must still fight for

homo sapien but we must still fight for

homo sapien but we must still fight for that day for the good of our children

that day for the good of our children

that day for the good of our children and their children and the future of the

and their children and the future of the

and their children and the future of the human race and that is what I would want

human race and that is what I would want

human race and that is what I would want you to can

you to can

you to can that are tonight