What’s the first image in your mind when you first see someone?
When you first see someone there is always going to be a stereotypical image in your mind which I know I am guilty of doing all the time. For example, when I see someone one who is Mexican, I think of a construction worker or when I see some one from Iraq, I think of them as being a terrorist. Just because that is my first image does not mean I will treat them any different. Now these are awful images to first think of when you see someone but is it really our fault?
What are some images that pop up in your mind when you first see someone for the first time?
Perspectives on Race 
I think about this all the time actually…pretty hard to figure out but I think we do.
dtrincado
October 18, 2009 at 2:58 am
I usually do this before I meet someone, like if a friend tells me that someone is from somewhere specific I kind of have an image of what I think they will look like. It’s pretty involuntary and it never means I’m going to treat them differently, but I think it’s just how society and the media have set us to think.
brecal
October 18, 2009 at 7:29 pm
I, too, tend to do this before I meet someone, rather than after I meet that person. I think you are right – it does seem rather involuntary. It is not prejudice, nor is it racism. The images that come to my mind tend to be stereotypes that are pervasive in the media and therefore, I feel as though I have little control over the images and thoughts that I have about these people before meeting them. This reminds me of the first assignment in this class – writing down stereotypes of various groups of people. This did not indicate that we were racists, or even prejudiced, but simply, aware of the fact that the media is sending us these messages.
carlyeg
October 20, 2009 at 12:58 am