THE ART OF STEREOTYPING

Through the lens of a Stereotype

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The day is 10th February 2023 on a Friday. I'm traveling to Oloolua nature trail located in Karen on a bus. The window is open so I can feel the gentle breeze on my face as we drive through Ngong road. There is no traffic today so that puts a smile on my face. I would have loved to cruise to my destination in an Uber, but you know ... Mr.Politician didn't have my interest at heart and of course, he never kept his promise of lowering the high cost of living. He is still the same person that Jaguar, Charles Kanyi, sang about 12 years ago in his kigeugeu hit song. And yes, that’s no news. Today is not the day we talk about the high cost of living. Slowly, my mind drifts off to the first time I visited Karen in a JKUAT school bus accompanied by my classmates and  I remember my friend receiving a phone call and saying in a thick Dholuo accent " Omera I'm in Karen buana… " (Good times, those ones). My flashback was suddenly interrupted by a passenger who received a phone call and talked very loudly. To be honest, it was very annoying but I did not think much of it until my neighbor said(I am hesitant to say this but I think I must) " Huyo haikosi ni mkisii, those people are so primitive. They got no manners at all! Ona sasa huyu...") (Don't shoot the messenger)

Here's another story for you, my best friend was recently crowned champ in a much-contested eating competition,( I would have shared some pictures, but he'll have my head on a stick for that) anyway congrats bro. However, what took me aback was when I was asked why I did not participate. Was the question directed at me as a mere coincidence? no, it wasn't. For those who know me, I go by the name Arunga, a typical Luhya man from Kakamega with just a hint of Luo.It is said that "Waluhya na chakula , acha tu " .

I say this early in the article so I may not offend any particular ethnicity. I could give countless examples; from what is said about Kikuyus with their obsession for money, to Luo men with their natural spendthrift and bragging personalities. However, what I find interesting is how we do it so effortlessly. We have mastered both the art and habit of looking at or hearing something and immediately making a profound conclusion about it. There's a useful word for this "something incredible" that I learned; stereotyping

Stereotype is a broad spectrum of things

Let's pause for a moment on that word. It's critical and I will give you a minute to ponder about it. A stereotype is a generalized belief about a particular group or category of people. They may be inaccurate and sometimes accurate. We may simply argue that it's human nature but you see, one thing about stereotyping is that It reduces a group of people to a one-dimensional image. That single image hinders our ability to understand the history, struggles, and triumphs of individuals within that group.

Raise your hand (of course in the comment section) if at one point in your life, your parents warned you against marrying or getting married in some communities because of all the ‘valid’ reasons they gave you which later came to be your beliefs. I've heard stories about Nyeri women too,( no offense)you know I love you.

Do you ever wonder which people came up with this detailed and in-depth research and gave us that narrative that we tend to conform to? We are always quick to judge and we often have a conclusion on everything that has happened. " You mean Kelvin was clobbered by his wife... Haikosi the wife is from…

Jessica Nordel, in her book The End of Bias, writes something indelible that sums up this concept:

When we see beings as belonging to a particular group, for instance, we start to believe there's something fundamental and biological that unites all the creatures in that group. That there's some invincible essence that makes a dog a dog and a cat a cat. We do the same thing with humans: if we are told that a category is important, we infer that the people in that category share a fundamental essence. We essentially them. And the more a category is emphasized, the more we think its members have a unifying thread.

My beloved readers, this is not only true, but it's a fact that will never change no matter how much you try (maybe we try again in the afterlife).

It's no doubt stereotyping is an inherent part of our lives but for a moment let's shift our focus to YOU. Wewe, yes. I am talking to you. A perpetual stereotype. What's the first thing that you see when you stumble upon a person? Are you the type of person who already has labels about someone's appearance that may lead to the wrong view of the person or a particular group? You know what they say about Kambas and their obsession over bright colors, yellow to be precise.

We judge people based on their clothes, social class, and, dare I say, ethnicity. Our comedians make light of these stereotypes regularly, and we laugh at their accuracy.(Lecrae)

That's not a moral statement. It is simply a fact. I strongly believe there's more to a person than meets the eye. There's so much more. This person is somebody's: son or daughter, a brother or a sister, father or mother, husband, and wife. The list goes on.

ONE WORD SUMS IT ALL: DIVERSITY

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Diversity: It is the one TRUE thing we all have in common

Take a moment and look at that messy friend of yours or that noisy neighbor or even that quiet classmate of yours. One thing is sure, you all have some differences. We have differences in beliefs, ethnic backgrounds, religious perspectives, different social and economic backgrounds, and more. Despite all these differences, we all have a lot more in common. We all want to be heard. We all want to feel loved. We all have fears of people rejecting us. Most importantly, we have an inherent desire for people to see us for who we are and not a stereotype that is placed on us. We all have a vast array of differences but that's what makes you and me unique. These differences shouldn't pull us apart from each other. Let's embrace our diversity. Acknowledging and challenging these labels is essential for building coalitions across communities and eliminating harmful stereotypes for good.

There is no lesser person or group. You are not special either. There's a point where everyone matters and it doesn't have to matter to you. You now know better. Be something better. Be more compassionate. Just be a better human. I am starting with the man in the mirror and I am asking him to change his ways. And that man is… YOU.

Live and let live. Adiós.