Note: This is a class assignment for my MCO 425 class.
Growing up, I was often called an “Oreo” by my peers. If you’re unsure what that means, “Oreo” is a term used against black people who are seen as “rejecting” their culture. It just means “Black on the outside, White on the inside.” But how was I rejecting my culture? According to my own classmates, it was because I was polite, I didn’t know the latest rap artists, I was in honors classes, and I was a little on the slender side. The most disheartening thing about this was that my peers were also black, and they associated those traits with “rejecting” my culture. It shows that generalizations and stereotypes that appear in the media can even affect the perception of the people they’re stereotyping.
In case you’re unaware: I’m a black woman. Black women have many negative stereotypes that stem from decades of media portrayals. The one most prevalent stereotype—and one of the reasons I was labeled an Oreo—is the “Angry Black Woman.” Black women are depicted as aggressive, sassy women with attitude problems.
This couldn’t be further from the truth. Aggression and attitude problems are not a specific issue of a particular race. Anyone can have these issues regardless of their identity. And yet, it’s black women who face the majority of these depictions. A notable example of this is the way Serena Williams has been portrayed in the media due to her expression of anger and frustration. A racist depiction of the tennis player angrily stomping on a racket was even drawn by an Australian cartoonist in response to these depictions. It’s cases like Williams’, and the depictions of black women in media, that make black women hesitant to publicly express anger. It’s not only harmful for black women, but also unhealthy for them mentally.
Another stereotype black women face is the Jezebel. Being seen as promiscuous and sex-addicted has been a prevalent generalization since slavery. This also manifests in how our bodies are supposed to look; black women are often shown to be curvy or “thick.” Having a large butt and breasts—while also having a tiny waist—has been the way black women have been depicted for some time.
The way the Jezebel stereotype affects black women is that they are less likely to be taken seriously in cases of abuse and sexual assault. After Megan Thee Stallion accused Tory Lanez of shooting her, many said her claims were false due to the nature of her music and aesthetic. They would post pictures of her revealing outfits and videos of her partying to undermine her allegations. The Jezebel stereotypes further inflame the already misogynistic “asking for it” narrative, which harms black women the most.
So, how does this circle back to me being compared to a cookie? As I mentioned earlier, sometimes stereotypes become so prevalent that they begin to influence the perception of the people being stereotyped. Many of these generalizations are still being pushed in media created by black people. They’re in the music we listen to, the shows we watch and the beauty standards pushed onto us. The lines between stereotype and identity begin to blur, and people start to see stereotypes as an integral part of their identity.
This leads to people who do not fit these stereotypes being the ones isolated by others. And it creates a cycle: Either these people accept isolation from others who share their identity, or they adapt to these stereotypes as an attempt to conform. No one wins in the end.
I ended up choosing the former, so I was a little lonely until I had to transfer to a new high school. However, I discovered a new community of people who shared my identity, without labeling me for being different. The term “Oreo” no longer affects me, because I know I am not defined by how others perceive me.
Akiyah's Diary 