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Identity
Being a young person can be a very challenging time for self-identity because you are going through a lot of changes on a physical and psychological level as you mature. Added to this is the confusion of being treated as a child at times - for instance by parents and teachers, whilst being given the extra responsibilities you would expect as you grow into adulthood. A good example of this is that your parent may chastise you for behaving childishly in one breath and then complain that you are too young for some of the things that you want to do in another. Indeed society sometimes seems somewhat confused about the identity of young people by setting the age of consent at 16 whilst restricting the age when you can first vote to 18.
Stereotyping
Young black people can also face other challenges because of racism. Stereotypes about young black people cover a range of ideas including a regular portrayal of them as generally less successful in society and educationally. When they are portrayed as successful it tends to be in a limited range of professions such as athletics or glamorous musical performers. Obviously there is nothing wrong with being successful in these fields, and indeed it is something to be very proud of, but by repeatedly limiting the number of role models you get to see to these types of professions the effect is a more subtle form of stereotyping.
At the other end of the spectrum are the less subtle and glamorous stereotypes which are based on ideas that young black people are part of an anti social sub-culture. Think about the number of times you see or read in the media about young black people as sexually promiscuous, out-of-work and on benefits, single mothers, and/or dangerous drug crazed – gun toting criminals.
Urban rap culture has its critics because of the fact that it does not shy away from these stereotypes, however it arguably attempts to take the words and images of negative racist stereotypes of black people and make them less offensive by turning them into rap lyrics and street slang which the artists control.
Awareness
Awareness of stereotypes is a powerful way of enabling yourself to deal with, challenge and dismiss them. The key is to recognise stereotypes and any possible negative messages in them about black people together with the impact that they can have on your self-confidence and vision of what you can achieve. Try to ensure that you empower yourself by acquiring more positive ideas about black people by finding out about our history and keeping abreast of the outstanding achievements of our contemporaries. Above all acknowledge and respect your own achievements - no matter how small.
Stereotyping can undoubtedly affect the way that you are treated. Research proves that stereotypes about colour can have a negative impact on the way that you are perceived and treated. See the Blue Eyed - Brown Eyed Experiment by an American school teacher which proved that what you believe about colour can affect your self-esteem and the way that others treat you. Discrimination against you because of the colour of your skin or your culture is illegal and you do not have to tolerate it. Seek help if you think that you are being discriminated against because of your colour or culture.See section on Racism in Resources and find out more about black identity by looking around the Black and Beautiful section of this website.