Stereotypes play a role in the lives of many college students, especially students on the campus of a Historically Black College or University.
October 22, 2014, Sigma Lambda Gamma and FAMU UNIDOS (Uniting Nations to Inspire Diverse Opportunities in Society) held an event, “Breaking Stereotypes,”to educate and discuss college students about stereotypes and the impact they have on people.
Ashley Johnson, a member of Sigma Lambda Gamma and a Political Science Student from Tampa, Fla., said that her sorority decided to co-host this event because they feel that college students and all people should be culturally aware.
“It is very important that we make sure that educating not only our campus, but ourselves,” Johnson said.
Tania Diaz, a member of FAMU UNIDOS and an education student from Belle Glade, Fla., said UNIDOS decided to co-host this event because “UNIDOS is about spreading diversity.”
Stereotypes, racism, and prejudice behavior are overlooked daily because it is a social norm.
Ana Sanz, a member of Sigma Lambda Gamma and a Senior Fine Arts student from Miami, Fla., believes there are issues that impact people of color that need to be confronted, but because people are afraid of them they do not discuss them.
“We don’t want to offend anyone or find out something about ourselves we don’t want to, but I think these are things we need to talk about because it is the only way we can change the road for others in the future,” Sanz said.
UNIDOS and Sigma Lambda Gamma hope that students walked away from this event with a different opinion about people they may have stereotyped and a sense of self-pride when it comes to their race, hair, culture, and religion.