Stereotypes: A Fictional Narrative

The danger of a single story is that they let the powerful downgrade the weaker because they create stereotypes, they can hurt the people, and no one gets represented from the culture.

Anyway, going back to when we were kids, sometimes Ken would babysit me and Maddie. He was 14 at the time and no one knew then how unstable he was, my parents thought that they could trust him. The first time that he crossed the line we were outside playing. It was a cold day in December, I'll always remember that because I was nervous about the upcoming Christmas pageant at school.

There was an old “CRT” TV, like the type that had littered the shelves of my brother’s pawn shop, hitched up against the corner of the convenience store I had just walked into. Although the image was blurry, I recognized immediately what was showing. I placed the hood of my sweatshirt over my head and walked in, my hands stuffed in the two pockets on either side of the sweatshirt. I cursed the fact that the sweatshirt had the words “Donovan’s Fight Club” in big, decorative cursive letters on the back, embroidered by the lady down the street from the club. I grabbed the milk I had come in for and scooped up a bag of Skittles for Margie. Then I walked up to the counter, pulling out a wad of bills from my back pocket. The attendant, much to my

When we were innocent, and young, the world was our chew toy, and we thought, as we licked our lemon lollies, and played hopscotch and jumped rope, that we could handle anything, because we were oblivious of the lies, that hung like thick sheets of smoke, a veil over the truth, that we call our world. And as we sat in our dining rooms, under crystal chandeliers, with our turkeys and blueberry pies, we didn’t know that, half a world away, lay a starving child, homeless, motherless, and lifeless, and couldn’t afford a single blueberry, much less the whole pie.

I felt my heart beating out my chest as I walked in the room for try outs for the debate team. I had always like to argue and to make people see things from my point of view. I couldn’t quite comprehend why I was so nervous though. Maybe it was the crowd I had to speak in front of. I really disliked talking in front of people especially, when I really wanted to prove myself worthy for this elite team. I would forget how to read and I stumble across words that I knew so well. Yolicia you’re up! As I began to walk to the podium to speak, I felt like everyone eyes were little beams on me.

It was a very cold and windy night, the wind was so loud it sounded like one of our members from our pack howling. The cold winter was slowly creeping up on us. The sky had never been darker than tonight it was a grey and black mix, kinda like our fur coats that everyone trembled over, but it was faintly streaked with purple. My two brothers, two sisters, and I have been our own pack since our parents died when they went out hunting following the rich smell of sickness and weakness towards town. We hadn’t eaten in days and our prey were finally outsmarting us as much as we hated to admit it and we were slowly starving to death. Usually on the prairie we could find dear or even bunny rabbits that were just waiting to be teared apart from our

When I was a toddler, I was potty-trained as most of us are. One winter break many years after I believed I had mastered the use of my bladder, my family visited my cousins. Santa Claus had been especially generous that year and given them a Wii, the most valuable gift my eleven year old self could have imagined. I was excited to race my sister, Sydney, in Mario Kart. Midway through the first lap, I realized that I desperately needed to go to the bathroom. I asked if we could pause the game, but everyone agreed that my absence would be a forfeit and Sydney would be crowned victorious. Having competed with her many times, I knew that losing was not an option. Winning meant excuses and insults to me in order to belittle the victory, but if I

As I claimed the faded, chipped three blue steps of the bus, when I looked up I saw my fellow class mates, or as I called them Idiots of the World. There was three people in a one set, making them look like rats in a small cage squealing uncontrollably to be released. They kept turning over the papers, now wet and ripped, to their friends. They must have split up to find answers, or they were hopping the other got the answers they didn't bother to even attempt to get.

We have all questioned an idea or belief at least once in our lifetime. If everyone believed what they were told, we would all think Santa is real, swallowing the seed of a watermelon will make one grow in our stomachs, and the tooth fairy was the one to put money under our pillows, not mom and dad. It is our questioning that truly makes us human. Of course, many beliefs that are questioned are not those childhood topics such as old St. Nick or intestinal gardens. The biggest idea I have ever questioned is where I stand politically. Being born into the household I was, and developing the friend group I have, made me think I was just like the rest of them. As I have gotten older, I have learned we are allowed to question those around us, and develop our own ideas and opinions.

I remember the feeling of my stomach dropping when it couldn’t be found. We looked everywhere but it was nowhere to be found. What was I gonna do? I needed it to play the game and if I didn’t play the game it might be over. I needed to get another one quick but I didn’t want to tell anyone because they would be so mad.

“Drink” it ran from the stereo “Drink, significa bebida.” My sister and I had to sit on the couch every day and listen to a painfully perfect repetitive voice teach us English. My sister caught on pretty well with the language but she still had to repeat a grade due to the language barrier. I started off in preschool when we came to Massachusetts, so I had more time to adjust. I grew up shy, after coming from Colombia, but I made friends. My whole life was changing, but I never saw it as a bad change. But slowly I came to realize how Americans, through stereotypes and the media, perceived Hispanics latinos. The Hispanics on TV were usually loud, working minimum wage jobs, and frequently not as bright as the white charming main characters. Gradually

MISCONCEPTION IS BORN OUT OF MISCOMMUNICATION. WHEN STUDENTS GRADUATE THINKING THAT TOMATOES ARE VEGETABLES AND BEING UNSURE ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN “DESSERT” AND “DESERT”, YOU’D COME TO BELIEVE THAT THEY HAVE HAD AN UNSUCCESSFUL LEARNING EXPERIENCE. IN SOME WAY, I’D DESCRIBE MY UNSUCCESSFUL LEARNING EXPERIENCE AT SCHOOL AS SUCCESSFUL.

The study of demographics and statistics is essential for a nation to thrive because it helps individuals understand what area they are lacking, so they can learn how to improve. According to the March of Dimes, there were 81, 685 infants who were born alive in Tennessee in the year 2015. The population of women who were at the child bearing age in 2015 which are the ages of 15-44 was approximately 1, 299, 690. This means that the birth rate in Tennessee was 62.8 per 1,000 women. Unfortunately, poverty is very prevalent in the United States right now, more than 16 million children or one in five were living in poverty, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. This number is higher than any other age group which is shocking because

I often sit at my desk looking at old snapshots. Some of the pictures are very old. They are brown and white. Some of them feel like they are made of metal. These photos may be around the beginning of the 20th century.

When I was four, I wanted to be a princess. My mother explained to me that I couldn’t be a princess, and I should shoot for something more realistic. Then I decided I wanted to be a fashion designer. Mom informed me that it wasn’t a satisfactory paying job, and I should think about something sterling for my future family. Next, I exclaimed that I wanted to stay home and take care of my kids; mom said that I should make money. Finally, I said I wanted to be a nurse. Mom smiles and said, “Dr. Cameron Miller. I love the sound of that.” while smiling and rubbing my head. I sipped another sip of hot cocoa and it slides down my throat. In that moment, I knew nothing. All I knew was that no matter what, I wanted to be a princess.