Stereotypes: Double Consciousness

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Across the US, many children get picked on, or made fun of. It can be for small things, such as size, likability, and their weaknesses. However, being picked on as an adult is much more serious, and instead involves problems such as race, ethnicity, and social status. As a kid, or as an adult, both experience double consciousness, which means that, while they could think about themselves a certain way, they also find what others think about them to be very important as well. If others think of someone in a negative way, this can lead to changes in how one acts or behaves. Double consciousness highly affected Judith Ortiz Cofer and Brent Staples, who both even wrote in periodicals, which were publicly read, to spread awareness about issues involving racism and double consciousness. In the articles, it clearly shows how others view Staples and Cofer as “a character in [a] cartoon populated universe” (Cofer 4) or muggers and murderers (Staples 2). Yet their own viewpoint of themselves are as …show more content…
But it also changed how they live their life. Staples and Cofer aren’t the only ones who are affected by double consciousness. However, they brought awareness to stereotypes placed on people from different ethnicity’s and races. Others view Staples and Cofer as “a character in [a] cartoon populated universe” (Cofer 4) or muggers and murderers (Staples 2). Yet their own viewpoint of themselves are as graduate students who are trying to be like everyone else. This results in them changing themselves by “growing accustomed” to the uncomfortableness of others (Staples 3), and beginning to “[practice] reserve and cool” (Cofer 1). In conclusion, many people around the world must change the way how they act because of how other people think of them, and can’t even be themselves. For the better or the worst, double consciousness has affected everyone, in one way or
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