Looking for Biases and Stereotypes about Africa
It is important
that we as educators advocate a feeling of understanding and
appreciating other cultures and societies. So many people tend to
judge other people's actions and ways of life by their own cultural
values. We need to steer away from this ethnocentric view. In
teaching about Africa, stereotypes and biases naturally creep in. Be
on guard to not perpetuate the beliefs that "seem to come to mind."
Some of the stop words concerning Africa and their alternatives are
listed here.
STOP WORD - SUBSTITUTE WORD:
jungle - rain forest
tribe - people/ethnic group
backward/primitive - traditional
bush - Savannah
savage/native - African/Kenyan, etc.
witch doctor - herbalist
native costume - national dress
pagan - traditional religion
juju/superstition - faith
-source: Originally developed and copyrighted in 1981 by Merry M. Merryfield, this is an updated version developed for the 1995 course, "Teaching About Africans and African Perspectives."
Examine materials before hand for stereotypes and biases. Don't show a collection of pictures that only show Africans dressed in little clothing or wearing masks. Make sure that you represent urban and rural areas. Talk about the people and not just the jungle and its inhabitants. Often, our seemingly subtle opinions and failure to represent the real Africa can do harm to the students who look to us as authorities on something they will probably never personally experience. This lesson is intended to create a feeling in the learner about what it is like to be a victim of stereotypes and to open their eyes to the real Africa.