Should You Try to Break Stereotypes?

Pretty much all races of humans have a stereotypical image in society.  People think that Native Americans are alcoholics, Black men are muggers, Asian people study all day because of their mean parents, all Indians grow up to become doctors, the list goes on.  Some stereotypes might be true, but they are almost always the result of socio-economic differences that no on can control  One way to diminish the effect is to attempt to escape from these stereotypes and live completely differently than how people think you should.  This is not foolproof because stereotypes are much stronger to the point where despite having an education, Brent Staples was still "mistaken for a burglar" (Staples 207).  The problem with this course of action is about what happens when one wants to live up to his/her stereotype.  For example, what if a Indian boy or girl wants to be a doctor, but doesn't want to be thought of as "a doctor whose parents made them go to medical school".  Is it worth it becoming something other than what you have dreamt of becoming worth it just to stand out in the eyes of society? Of course not.  Stereotypes are unfair, but breaking them is a group effort, only time can allow all races to be present in every facet of society and mend the wounds stereotyping creates.   No one person should sacrifice their life (figuratively speaking) and live not as themselves but as someone society notices for being outside of the norm.  

Sources: "Black Men and Public Space" by Brent Staples

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC516646/