"All Black People Need is Vaseline, Watermelon, Baby-oil, Hair-grease, Fried chicken, and Booty."Huh???

Stereotypes of African Americans are generalizations about the behavior of African American groups or individuals. Developed in American culture since the colonial years of settlement, particularly after slavery became a racial institution that was heritable. Historically some African American stereotypes labeled African Americans as ignorant, uncivilized and simple-minded. These African American stereotypes created negative stigmas for African Americans and since then these African American stereotypes have been upgraded and unfortunately expanded. The current African American stereotypes include criminal, poor, athletic, religious and musically gifted. Though some of these African American stereotypes seem to be positive, it does not make the practice of perpetuating these African American stereotypes right. African American stereotypes are often times used to mask real issues. For example: it is said that is twice as hard for an African American to get a job, when the fact is that these men are severely marginalized. Even though African American stereotypes seem to have quite a negative influence upon the young African Americans, African American stereotypes can be used in positive ways to tell historically of where the African Americas are coming from and where they needs to go.
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Stereotypes in Popular Culture

In today's fast paced, modern society media can mean a number of things. It could refer to the traditional newspaper, or it may refer too more updated forms of media like pod-casts. Regardless of the type of media, one thing is certain; the fact that media is biased. Due to the nature of media (to report recent news, events, trends and etc) it is certain that all parties of interest, all those involved, will not be represented equally. More often than naught, we find that said parties are separated by race and the stereotypes, which accompany them, which is to say that races are not represented equally in American popular culture. We frequently observe the entertainment industry abuse current stereotypes for monetary gain. Oftentimes, the perpetrators are members of the very party whose presence, on a national and global scale, they stand to damage and in certain cases, destroy. An example of this common occurrence can be the current situations facing three of the main minority races in the United States. African -Americans (Blacks), Latinos, and Native Americans (more commonly called Indians). Due to the fact that stereotypes about the three are so public and accepted, many members buy into the lies themselves. African-Americans feel like they have to be thug-like to be accepted, and that school is a waste of time. Latinos share a similar, oftentimes, worse disposition, while Native Americans are still painted as the savage, warlike, anarchic clans of yesteryear. Rather than risk ridicule and worse yet, bankruptcy, many companies further said stereotypes for the sole purpose of making a profit. The unintended side effect of this however is that the lines between reality and fiction become blurred in a sense.

Eliminating the Thin Line that Divides the Colored People

Urban Dictionary states that Howard is an “Excellent place of study for those in favor of the uplifting of fellow black people, and place of preparation for excellence in the real world, as well as grassroots in the nation's capital for matchless career opportunities.” With knowing that Howard is an HBCU most other races don’t consider attending. We are then surrounded by an immense number of people who are African American. People who come from mostly black areas don’t get the chance to interact with and learn about other communities, Native Americans and Latinos. The same for the Latino and Native American communities, they have limited interaction with the people of the African American race. It is imperative that all three races learn about each other. It would help to steer from stereotyping and misunderstandings. Howard University produces students who will go forth into the world breaking the mold.