The Limitations of Stereotyping

It's ridiculous to me that, even before watching the video, I found myself anticipating the story and uncovering it in a way that would brand a stereotype! Here is why....

#1.) They must be thugs for sure. Which genuine young men hang out in dark spaces?

#2) The car alarm goes off. Red alert, not your car mister!

#3) They picked a fragile old lady................CHECK

#4.) She's in a dark, isolated parking lot......CHECK

#5.) There are 3 black men.............................CHECK

#6.) There is a car.............................................CHECK

#7) They are going to steal the car and possibly harm the poor old lady..........OFFCOURSE!

#8) She pulls out a gun......SHE NEEDS TO. THEY PROBABLY HAVE A FEW GUNS OF THEIR OWN

As we can see in this video, there is an assumed relationship to the black man and a realm of negativity.  The black males are then called to respond to their own account. Judith Butler would see this as "accountability". Even though they are not driving the so-seen stolen vehicle, their response is one of automatic fear since they become aware of the old lady's perception. The old lady here has become the presenter and the "thieves", addressees. There is a constant awareness with the presence of "self" and the "other". It Others the black man as the body that is most likely to commit activity outside the borders of normality. It then puts them as objects to be feared and the old lady, as a body that needs to be protected.