“Joe the Plumber,” “Shaniqua the Hair-Braider:” Stereotypes and the Temptation to Use Them
I would argue that the single most utilized and, therefore, important sense that humans possess is sight/vision. People say, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” Of course, that is true to an extent. What one sees (even without touching, tasting, smelling, or hearing) can establish a narrative. I marvel at people who are blind like Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, Helen Keller who have made history without the gift of sight. Even Governor David A. Patterson of NY is blind in one eye and has made history as the first black governor of NY. I don’t know what I would do without being able to see. I dislike having to wear corrective lenses (eyeglasses) but I always tell myself…it could be worse. I don’t know if I would be resilient and talented enough to survive without seeing. Perhaps, I would rely on my ability to hear. That, I would posit, is the second most important sense. One of the reasons that Helen Keller is, in fact, an extraordinarily talented person was her unparalleled ability to accomplish feats like graduating from college (as she was the first deafblind person to do it according to Wikipedia) and write books. She lived up to a calling and, perhaps, her responsibility to live up to her potential. It seems that those of us that must overcome obstacles to prevail understand the power of humanity, the importance of taking responsibility, and the necessity of critical thinking. Most people (who are not deaf or blind…or deafblind) take the fact that we can see, hear, and even smell, taste, and touch for granted. We take them for granted by not living up to our potential to critically analyze information before digesting it and coming to our own conclusions. How often do people take things on face value? I saw it, I heard it…and, perhaps, I’ve heard other people say it or I know other people that see it so it must be true/right. Wrong! It seems like a basic concept not to draw conclusions based on a breadth as opposed to a depth of information but so many people are either unable or unwilling to discipline themselves to look beyond, ask questions, toss around ideas, and imagine the unimaginable that it is astounding. It is the misuse of one’s senses by not thinking critically that I argue is the definition of a stereotype. There are exceptions to every rule and sometimes the exception is more important than the rule.
So, why in a school that is comprised of ostensible critical thinkers and communicators of information/understanding that there are students who are still so undisciplined that they fall into the trap of stereotyping? I mean, perhaps, I am setting the bar too high because almost everyone stereotypes. Certainly presidential candidate John McCain did by using “Joe the Plumber” as a quintessential American. It’s unclear what McCain really meant by Joe the Plumber; however, it’s a safe assumption that this title stood for a White, lower middle-class, male who lives in a rural or, perhaps, suburban environment. This is, in fact, a stereotype loaded with hackneyed beliefs and “traditional” views that are largely based on bigotry and stereotypes. I do not believe that John McCain’s or Barack Obama’s tossing around “Joe the Plumber” had malicious intent or intentionally reflected bias. Nevertheless, good intentions don’t always lead to benevolent results or change reality. Regardless of the intent to humanize America by mentioning an average Joe in “Joe the Plumber” –it was a stereotype. A stereotype that could be considered dangerous in an election that many say is the most important election of our time and when Americans (many who don’t fit “Joe the Plumber”) will be going to the polls to vote for the presidential ticket that will bring some much needed changes to this country and abroad. What more, this election is so unique and, perhaps, the most important election of our time because there is no everyman. Instead, this election is about a lot of different people coming together for the good of the country. In fact, one of the candidate’s is different when compared to all of the other president’s in the 200 plus year history of the country. Obama’s candidacy and reasonable chance of winning is the breaking of a barrier and, ironically, is the antithesis of McCain’s “Joe the Plumber.” One could say that using “Joe the Plumber” is somewhat short-sighted and exclusionary because he does not represent the melting pot that so many describe as America. McCain may have illustrated why he is behind the times by holding onto such historical disenfranchisement of minorities in casting “Joe the Plumber” as the default for America.
I digressed…now back to the point. It was disappointing but not surprising that a classmate appeared to show insensitivity and bias in her discourse on “Joe the Plumber.” I am still unsure of the point that she was making…but in referencing “Joe the Plumber,” she through in “Shaniqua the Hair-Braider.” One could say that she was pointing out the ridiculousness of stereotypes…but that was not clear. What was clear is that her comment created a tense environment for about 5 seconds after she said it. For some reason, the words “Shaniqua the Hair-Braider” hit the air and fell like a ton of bricks on everyone’s conscious. Of course, curious eyes rotated in my direction as I am the only Black student in the class so my reaction was anticipated as if I had the lead role in a play. I didn’t say anything because I was trying not to stop what would have become a chain of stereotypes. I am Black and male so I should be angry and say something, perhaps, that shows aggression especially because it has to do with race. Also, I should be the only one in a class full of people that cares enough to speak on this issue. Really? I believe in community critique, discussion, and even contracts meaning that there is a mutual understanding of what standards of respect, sensitivity, and courtesy will be upheld. It is each person’s responsibility to speak out when a member of our microcosm of population (in the CUNY J-School) says or does something that may be questionable or does not live up to this social contract. Perhaps, I was the only one that thought that this student’s comment was questionable. Again, so stereotypical! Or maybe the argument of what is tactful and what is distasteful is a slippery slope argument. Haven’t we all said things in jest that could be considered inappropriate? Yes, this is true. I am not suggesting censorship nor do I believe that someone should be afraid to openly and honestly express his/her thoughts. I also don’t believe that people should be de-constructively criticized or shunned because of their beliefs or thoughts. However, I do believe that in a school where we understand the power of words and that we believe in stretching boundaries by healthy community discourse that when an issue comes up…that seems to at least resonate with a few based on facial expressions, eye contact, and an awkward silence that permeated the classroom, something should be said. What is said doesn’t have to be combative or confrontational…it could have simply been: ‘What do you mean by “Shaniqua the Hair-Braider?”‘ The issue isn’t the expression itself, it’s the fact that it seemed gratuitous which made it somewhat dubious.
I’ve discussed this issue with a few students already and I’ve heard a common argument that I believe may have some truth but, again, doesn’t quite live up to the standard of what we call ourselves…journalists. So, there is the argument that most hair braiders that I have heard of or know are Black. No…perhaps I am giving the argument too much specificity. Even if someone sees two or three hair braiders through a shop window in a predominantly Black neighborhood…suddenly most hair braiders are Black. Just like most people on welfare must be Black, most rappers are Black, and Blacks as a whole are more gifted and talented in basketball and football than other sports. While these generalizations are based on some observation, they are in no way conclusive as they are not based on in-depth research. In a school where we learn how to research…in fact, one of our classes is called Craft of Research where we spend countless hours learning how to quote, source, and utilize databases for independent fact-checking and research, of all people–journalism students as a whole should not be resorting to generalizations and stereotypes. I think by journalistic standards that this is lazy and, perhaps, unprofessional. I’m not suggesting that in order to say anything…one must spout off statistics and demonstrate encyclopedic knowledge with appropriate sourcing for every topic. However, since these issues seem to recur over and over again so much so that they become stereotypes, why doesn’t someone do the research? If you are one that believes “most this” and “most that” and are, furthermore, preoccupied with trends (either actual or perceived)…find them! I admit that I haven’t done this research. Understanding that I haven’t done the research, I am careful not to talk in generalities and make stereotypes because I realize my ignorance. If I want to say something that may reflect a perceived trend or pattern…I usually insert words like “appears to,” “seems as though,” etc. Just the insertion of those words can, to an extent, free someone from the danger of blanket categorizations.
I cannot have a complete discussion on this issue of stereotyping without giving a little more analysis to the stereotype itself. Why does it seem as though, “Shaniqua the Hair-Braider” must have been talking about Blacks. Couldn’t there be a White Shaniqua who braids hair? Of course. However, the combination of Shaniqua which, undoubtedly, pokes fun at some of the names that the majority of America categorize as Black and the profession of “hair-braiding,” another categorization because the only people that either braid their hair or have hair braiding shops must be Black (judged by cursory observance of some people who may walk into Black neighborhoods and see a preponderance of barber shops, beauty salons, and hair-braiding shops) makes this a targeted and insensitive stereotype.
I still play around with the notion that this stereotype may have been okay in a casual one-on-one discussion or even group discussion in the privacy of one’s home and the fact that it was said in a classroom setting made it inappropriate. I don’t believe that people should walk on eggshells but I do believe that there should be a level of tact observed in community environments. The most obvious reason is that when you start making stereotypes about race, religion, ethnicity, political beliefs, gender, sexual orientation, etc…you start hitting on different aspects of identity. I don’t think that anyone should be singled out in uncomfortable ways just for the sake of it. It’s not just the fact that this stereotype seemed to target Blacks that it is wrong…it’s that it made identity an issue in a way that seemed unnecessary. There will be those that say that everyone has their turn when it comes to issues like this…but once again, I don’t believe that argument holds water. Just because you’re of another identity and at some point you’ve had some aspect of your identity stereotyped–does not mean that it’s desirable particularly in certain environments like college classrooms. I understand that most of us have our biases and stereotype people, places, and even things. However, there needs to be at least a vague notion of relevance and, perhaps, even necessity for a stereotype not to raise concern.
Although I took “Joe the Plumber” to be a White man…Obama and McCain did not even go as far in this stereotype as this student did with “Shaniqua the Hair-Braider.” At first glance, Joe seems much more like an everyman in terms of race than Shaniqua. I do not believe that McCain and Obama were referring to race. Maybe I am stereotyping though to say that Joe seems much more like an everyman than Shaniqua. Whatever the case, I believe that the addition of race into the equation does not prove a point. What is the point? “Joe the Plumber” was supposed to represent the average American struggling through tough economic times. Who or what does “Shaniqua the Hair-Braider” represent? The student who made the comparison didn’t seem to make this corollary. I’ll answer for her though. “Shaniqua the Hair-Braider” may represent one of the many disenfranchised minorities in this country. Even if she’s not disenfranchised (or even minority)…because to say so may be suggesting that hair braiding is not an admirable profession or that people only do it when they are kept out of the mainstream which is again—a generalization/stereotype, stereotyping (and maybe even poking fun at) someone because of their name, profession, race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, origin, socio-economic status is part of the change from the status quo that I believe Obama may achieve. A Black president is certainly not a stereotype.
