A Stereotypical Article about Stereotypes Contributing to Stereotypes. What’s the point?

Written by La Prensa San Diego
Commentary Aug 21, 2009
By Rolando Rodriguez

I’m writing an article on stereotypes about White people. I’m hoping TIME magazine might publish it.

A Latino professor recently went to Puerto Rico, where there are hardly any White people, and the island residents all came back with the same stereotypical sentiments about this group.

White people walk their children on leashes. White children run over their parents, always. White people are experts on other people’s cultures. White people are more likely to wage jihad against the American people. Oh, and they all put their parents in nursing homes instead of caring for them on their own.

Sound pretty ridiculous and racist, right? That’s because they are those things. Those stereotypes are not true and, no, I’m not really writing an article for TIME’s consideration, nor is there a Latino professor surveying Puerto Ricans on White people.

It would be absurd to write an article, and have it published for that matter, on stereotypes that aren’t true. I wouldn’t want to write an article about stereotypes, except today of course, unless it was absolutely necessary and newsworthy, because, frankly, as a journalist, the mere fact that you’re writing on unfair perceptions, reinforces them. Does one group’s speculative opinion on another group warrant coverage, especially when the first group really doesn’t know what the hell it’s talking about?

TIME wouldn’t publish an article like this, right?

Think again.

“Stereotypes Persist Even Where Immigrants Don’t,â€