Comparing Stereotypes and Stereotyping in Measuring My Blood and The Ar

Conformity and Stereotypes in Measuring My Blood and The Artificial Nigger Adults frequently make conscious attempts to pass on their values and judgments concerning a number of matters to younger generations by sharing their own views. Generally, the advice they pass on is helpful for one to become a successful, productive member of the general macrocosm however, this process of indoctrination can be harmful if the views shared by the elder are racist. Gerald Vizenors Measuring My Blood and Flannery OConnors The Artificial Nigger explore the circumstances in which racist individuals try to induce others into following stereotypical ideas and how their influence can lead to a negative outcome. One reason older people hear their negative, racist attitudes is so that they may boost their own self-image. For example, in OConnors The Artificial Nigger, Mr. Head acts as if he were the worlds foremost authority on African-American issues since he has interacted with them d uring several brief occasions in the past. In Nelsons uncultured opinion, his grandfathers seemingly unendless knowledge about black people is impressive, and for the first time in his life, he understood that his grandfather was indispensable to him (257). The elderly grandfather enjoys the rare occurrence of having Nelson look up to him and respect his authority. Generally, Nelson merely looks at his caretaker as just other poor, impartial country redneck incapable of furthering his own well-being however, when the issue of black people is brought to attention, he is finally taken seriously. Otherwise, Mr. Head is just an unsophisticated man who gains his sense of self-worth by abusing minorities. ... ...is the transfer of racist ideas through the use of indoctrination. While the main difference between the two stories lies in the way a seemingly trustworthy source shares its stereotypical ideas with either a single individual or a large group, indoctrination, as e videnced in both stories, can be hurtful and damaging. Some individuals, such as Gerald Vizenor are able to see the racism often associated with the sharing of ideas, but other, less apt or caring people simply accept other peoples opinions as their own. Works Cited OConnor, Flannery. The Artificial Nigger. The Complete Stories of Flannery OConnor. New York Farrar, Strauss and Giroux, 1971. 249-70. Vizenor, Gerald. Measuring My Blood. Native American publications A Brief Introduction and Anthology. Ed. Gerald Vizenor. New York Harper Collins, 1996. 69-74.