Although I’m not an African American, I’m a legally blind woman, raised in the 60’s, who happens to be a catholic too, so I do have a clue of what stereotypical views can do. What we resist will persist, and when we choose to look through a stereotypical view, this limits our view of the truth. Still, what we survive within our stereotype can make us wise and help us see the light of truth. That’s why I believe and I now see the way we can change what stereotypes do to our society. That’s why I hope you’ll agree, or at least try, to look through my view.

WHY PEOPLE SEE THROUGH A STEREOTYPICAL VIEW:

You see, the reason it’s a challenge to change our view of any group is due to the fact that Americans are a diverse group of people who come from an endless list of cultures, religions and traditions. Within this mix, we’ve evolved into stereotypical Americans, which is why we use the phrase, “African Americans,” in the first place. We typically seem to need to indicate which type of American we are to set ourselves apart from the rest, and unless we are American Indians, our heritage came from somewhere else. Since our culture and traditions were set in stone a long time ago, we are born to look through a stereotypical view.

Our views and social values come from the experience of those who raise us, and the fact remains that it takes a long time to change the facts that remained the same for decades. Still, the USA was based on hope and faith in the first place. Liberty means that we need to embrace diversity, and that’s why we have no right to stereotype. United we stand, but divided, we all fall. The challenge will be to change our stereotypical views, so that we can see what liberty means and what it can bring to American’s, once and for all.

WAYS TO CHANGE AND CHALLENGE STEREOTYPES ABOUT AFRICAN AMERICANS:

1. Face what makes you afraid.

The fate of hate comes from what makes us afraid. Fear is why the stereotypical Caucasian hates what they perceive as the stereotypical African American, but fear is also why some African American’s think each and every Caucasian is a bigoted human being. Neither are true and neither side is right. Fear lies to the mind and hides the truth, because you see, hate makes you look through a fearful view. It has nothing to do with the truth.

When we refuse to face what makes us afraid, we create monsters in our minds that bite our behinds all the time. Thoughts become things which create our destiny. Fear leads to hate and hate leads to strife which creates the demise of stereotypes. When we believe that we lack, that fact will increase the fact of lack. That’s why it’s wise to keep in mind that fear does not discriminate by race. The monsters we create derive from any mind that holds fear inside, so whether you are black or white, strive to see beyond what makes you afraid. That’s what Martin Luther King did, and in the end, he changed what hate creates through his view of hope and faith. That’s why his dream changed strife to civil rights and hate to hope for future lives.

2. Look through a view of hope and faith.

What we think and believe is what we communicate, but what we communicate tends to lead to debates that create change. What we resist will persist, and people will only be enslaved for just so long before a rebellion comes along. Still, it’s also true that in fact, history taught us what just one human being can do to improve an entire nation’s view. If we recall, Martin Luther King never used hate to manipulate a debate at all. He refused to use hate and race as an excuse not to look through a view of truth. He knew that with hope and faith, God provides the amazing grace it takes to create change and bridge the gaps between each race. Although he didn’t live to see his dream achieved, his life shed all doubts that we’d ever face what made us afraid or see the need to build a bridge at all.

You see, Martin Luther King was just one human being, but since he dreamed through a view of hope and faith, everything changed for all. He taught us how to see beyond what made us afraid, and because that’s true, Obama became the President in 2008. With the amazing grace that comes from hope and faith, we become united as one group who achieves impossible dreams. History proves this truth. That’s why Roosevelt advised, “The only thing we need to fear is fear itself.” Instead of being afraid, look through a view of hope and faith. When you do, you’ll find an attitude of gratitude.

3. Find and attitude of gratitude.

Gratitude leads to even more to be grateful for. It changes minds and lives, so choose to be grateful for what men did before you arrived, to improve the reality of today. As JFK explained, “Ask not what your country can do for you, but ask what you can do for your country.” That’s exactly what Obama did, and in the end, hope and faith always wins.

4. Be FOR more and against less.

Speak more about what gives you faith and less about what you hate. Fear based debates make people afraid, which creates hate. Then again, debates based on hope and faith inspire others to see through your view of hope and faith too, which leads to the truth. It’s true. Positive thoughts create positive things, so be for more and against less. Instead of fighting against drugs, crime or stereotypes, try changing one life at a time. Change always begins with you and what you choose to do. The fact remains that you have the right to achieve any dream that you believe you are worthy to receive. So, go out on a limb and begin to achieve your dream. Choose to be who you have the right to be.

Strive to inspire me to see through your view of hope and fath. If you do, you’ll be for more and against less, which decreases my need to fight against you and I’ll find no need to be afraid of you. Keep in mind that hate creates what makes people afraid, while hope and faith leads to change and improves the whole word’s view. Faith makes us embrace what used to make us afraid.

5. Don’t use stereotypes as an excuse not to be who you have the right to be.

The cultures, religions and traditions of our ancestors came with us when we arrived in life, and it takes a long time to change what remained the same for decades of time. Still, in the end, it only takes one changed mind at a time to decrease what stereotypes do to society. You see, men like Martin Luther King challenged our stereotypes by changing one mind at a time. He discussed the stuff that gave him faith, instead of what made him afraid, so if you need a way to challenge stereotypes about African American’s, keep Martin Luther King in mind when you communicate your views of the truth. When you do, you’ll change one mind at a time.

The fact that the Civil Rights Act was passed means that we all have the right to achieve, “The American dream,” but whatever that dream means to you, must come from you. You are free to choose what you think, say and do. If you use the fact that others tend to place you into a stereotypical view as an excuse not to be who you have the right to be, you’ll only prove what stereotypes do. Change that fact by taking the Civil Rights Act seriously, as something that was meant to be true for you. Liberty means that in fact, the Civil Rights Act was passed. There is nothing holding you back, that is, unless you choose to dwell within the hell of past facts.

It takes hope, faith and dreams to change what made a slave into someone who’s free, and it takes time to decrease what created hate in the first place. No race can go from no opportunity at all to endless possibilities over night. That’s why change takes time and stereotypes take the patience of saints to overcome, but amazing grace comes when we find the hope and faith it takes to change one life at a time. In the mean time, we have to believe in our dreams.

TO CONCLUDE: A NEW VIEW OF THE TRUTH

Stereotypes took the life of Martin Luther King in 1969, but then again, because he lived and died when he did, the first African American has become the leader of our nation today. That’s why in 2009, no one can say we haven’t come a long way. We remain based on hope and faith, so keep hope and faith in mind at all times. Be grateful for what men and women did before we arrived to improve society’s view. Be patient with closed minds and blind eyes, and dare to dream beyond what makes you afraid. When you do, you’ll change one mind and life at a time. You’ll open blind eyes and closed minds. If you get confused, just look at history’s truth. You see, it’s history that gave me the hope and faith it takes to believe that soon, stereotypical views will fade away in the USA and be replaced with amazing grace.