Cultural Bias In America

Cultural bias is when an individual or group of people judge someone else based upon what is fundamental in his or her own culture. That being said we all are bias to certain groups of people or races. I am not saying that this is necessarily the right or wrong thing. However when people develop theories or categorize groups of people only based upon their cultural bias that is when it becomes immoral. As I was reading the book “Mistaking Africa” I began to learn more about my own cultural biases toward Africa. Growing up in a religious Jewish household my first encounter on the topic of Africa was when we were learning the bible. In the book of genesis 9:18-27 it brings up the story of when Noah exited the ark to find the world desolate.

I have also seen how my outlook has been changed due to social media, newspaper articles and commercials. I have noticed that there is no equal balance to what we see. It is extremely hard to find sources and material to change the stereotyping that we see. We have to make a conscious effort to find information and data to change the way we see Africa and Africans. A few years ago, one of my father’s close friends went to Africa to do medical charity work on some of the poorer sections of Africa. He fixed hundreds of little children’s cleft lips. When he came home he showed us hundreds of pictures and videos. I turned to my father and asked him why he never thought of going there to volunteer as a surgeon. My father said “Nechama, no matter where you look in this world you will always find someone or someplace that needs help and charity work. Most of the time all you have to do is look in your own backyard.” This message stayed with me all these years. I believe that many times people don’t want to recognize their own flaws so instead they put them on someone else. America and Americans are not as perfect as they make themselves seem. There is poverty, illness and corruption right here. However I find it is easier to point fingers at Africa and Africans and display their faults. I strongly believe that if each and every person opens his eyes and becomes consciously aware of the stereotyping that we do, the world will become an improved and more united place. So it is up to our generation to become the revolution. We can change the world’s outlook on Africa and