Betdashtoo 1

Fiorella Betdashtoo
Professor Hymes
English 114b
16 March 2015
Mansbach Positions on Rascism and Racial
Stereotypes Through Macon Detornay
Racism and racial stereotypes are very popular in the United States and around the world.
They are differences between racism and racial stereotypes, yet both are hurtful and negative for
society. The dictionary definition of racism is the belief that all members of each race possess
characteristics or abilities specific to that race, especially so as to distinguish it as inferior or
superior to another race or races while the definition of racial stereotype is any commonly
known public belief about a certain social group or a type of individual. Although I have never
experienced actual racism, I have experienced racial stereotypes. When I was eight, I had a fight
with one of my friends, forcing me to make friends with other people. Two girls in my class
were kind enough to be friends with me, yet they frequently asked my race. I told them, Im
half Costa Rican and half Assyrian. They always said, Wow, so youre Mexican and Muslim.
Later, I found out that they continued to tell people that I was Mexican and Muslim; they stated
that the only reason they were friends with me was because I was Mexican. Although we were
only children, their generalizations and stereotyping of any Latin person as Mexican and any
Middle Eastern as a Muslim really hurt my feeling because at that time, I had no friends and the
friends that I made only befriended since I was Mexican. Throughout Angry Black White Boy,
the racial stereotypes and racism were used to identify what was fair and unfair and portray who
was to blame for the unfairness.

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Throughout the novel, main racial stereotypes are towards African Americans because in
society, white people receive more benefits and rewards. When a report states that Macon is
white as well, Macon replies by saying Right. Like me. I want to talk about white people
because if I expose them for what they are, maybe theyll change. Or at least change the way
they act. (Mansbach 143). Macon states how white people are ignorant and purposefully ignore
the inequality and prejudices between them and African Americans. From Macons point of
view by ignoring the circumstances of the people around them, white people have allowed racial
stereotypes and racism to continue. He calls himself a white nigger because he wants to show
people that he doesnt approve of racial stereotypes and racism towards black people
(Mansbach 1). He called himself this because Laura Perez states that he connotes either a racist
ideology or a presumptive and unjustified identification with blackness (Perez 43). Mansbach
wants the read to step back and realize that nigger isnt a word for just African American
people any more. Racial stereotypes have caused many people to condescend and generalize
certain races in certain ways.
There are many stereotypes towards African American people. Macon, Nique, Andre,
and Logan use crude and rough slang in their dialogues. Mansbach wants the readers to
understand that Macon uses crude and vulgar language to fit in with the fascade of the people
around him such as Nique and Andre. They say words and phrases such as what the fuck and
fuck those niggers which to many people these phrases are common and completely normal
(Mansbach 231). In the beginning of the novel, Macon is shown to be wearing baggy pants and
a Malcolm X T-shirt because it is very popular and well known to be a signature style for African
American people (Mansbach 17). Macon dressed, ate, attended and smoked the same things and
areas as African American people. Cynthia Estremera states desires to revisit history and the

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racist sins of his forefather Cap Anson, by rejecting his Whiteness and embracing Black culture
(Estremera 42) He used many stereotypes about them and tried to become like a black person
because Hed retreated briefly into his own Judaism, Jewish-not-white, with its analogous
history of victimization and enslavement, but he couldnt make it fit, couldnt make himself feel
Jewish, didnt know what being Jewish felt like.(Mansbach 17). Macon even decided not to be
Jewish in order to be African American. He even rapped at the world-renowned Nuyorican
Poets Caf.(69) and tattooed on Macons biceps in small green characters was 4-29-92. It was
the day the verdict had been handed down, the day Los Angeles had burned. . . . A Jewish kid
with numbers tattooed on his arm. . . (48). By taking another races stereotypes, Macon
believed he cultured himself into the black society. Estremera states that Macon decided to
live by conventional Black experiences and through his expression of (and within) Hip Hop
culture (Estremera 42). Generalizing peoples races by their stereotypes can offend them.
Racial stereotypes are used to identify people and their personalities. When Macon was
walking in the shady neighborhood near the park, he encounters a tall, thick brother in a skull
cap and was scared witless, too afraid to run (Mansbach 85). By looking at the mans
appearance, Macon believed he would get attacked yet found out that the man was from a theater
group. Later, Macon tries to get people to release these stereotypes of African American people
from their minds. He used his interview on television and radio to show how people should
change their racists thoughts towards black people. When he was on a television interview, he
asked the host of the show Havent you ever found yourself thinking, Why are niggers always
so loud at movie theaters? Or, Im standing on this elevator with three niggers? Even though you
dont mean to? Even though you like black people? (Mansbach 197). Although Macon himself
stereotyped the man in the shady neighborhood and didnt feel bad about his reaction, he made

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others such as his host from the television interview feel bad about her way of thinking. He
believed she and other white people were the cause of racism and inequality of black people.
These ways of thinking although impolite and rude are popular in society.
The media states the criminals race in their news reports. They must tell their audience
the race of the criminals in order to give a better description if the criminal is seen. Yet by
reporting incorrect information about what nationality the criminal, it causes people to generalize
and associate criminals and their race with innocent, hardworking citizens. He asks one of the
men he robs repeatedly Look at me. What color am I? and the man replies repeatedly white
(Mansbach 112). Macon reasoning behind robbing people is due to the fact that he decides to
put a gun to his clients and steal their items and their clothing, in a symbolic attempt to rob them
of their elitist racial privilege. (Estremera 47). By asking and robbing the men he drives around
in his cab, Macon believes that they will realize their color is the reason for the robbery. He
asked the man repeatedly what his own color of skin was to show that white and black men can
commit crimes all the same because skin color has nothing to do with committing crimes. Many
racial stereotypes are either over exaggerated and sometime turn out to be turn.
Throughout much of the novel, many stereotypes were exaggerated and proven true by
Mansbachs characters. During the Day of Apology, Nique states that white people should
apologize for imagine yourre walking home late at night and you see me coming down a dark
alley right toward you. . .Whats the first thought that crosses your scared honky mind?
Apologize for that (Mansbach 229). This quote is true because many African American people
have been accused of looking suspicious for walking down an alley with their hoods on.
Although many people who walk down an alley sometimes are dangerous, generalizing every
person as dangerous and a criminal is morally wrong and rude. Today, these types of cases in the

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United States are very popular and frequently heard about. After Nique sent the crowd to go
apologize, a lady from Iowa came to apologize to him for her racist thoughts and comments; and
when she finished apologizing, he told her if yourre so sorry gimme your watch. . .yourre so
sorry, gimme your watch. . . Thought so. (Mansbach 230-231). Nique proved his own
stereotype because many people believe that African American people steal and rob people the
most. By trying to get the ladys watch, he could cause more racism and stereotypes in her
thoughts. Macon had stereotypes as well because he stated before one of his interviews he felt
underdressed and sweaty in his track suit and Nikes, and wished he hadnt let Andre and Nique
convince him that only schmucks dressed up for TV. Why was he taking fashion advice from a
couple of Los Angelenos, anyway? People out there rocked shorts, socks, and flip-flops.
Together. Actually their homes like that. (Mansbach 195-196). Macon wanted people to
apologize for racism and stereotypes by white people, yet he had his own stereotypes and racist
comments because he wanted white people needed to apologize for years of slavery and
segregation towards black people. He never apologized himself to black people since he was
white as well.
Racism and racial stereotypes are still existent around the world. Many people are either
dont know about it or turn a blind eye to it. By generalizing every person a certain way due to
their race can affect the thought and minds of other around. Macon wanted to get stereotypes
and racism out of peoples minds yet contradicted himself by having stereotypes and prejudices
as well. Every person should do their best not to expect people to act by the racial stereotypes
heard and laughed about. By actively correcting peoples prejudices of races, harmful
stereotypes and racism can be ceased.
Works Cited

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Estremera, Cynthia. Navigating the Miscegenated Identity: Failure, Success and the PostRacial Conflict in Johnson, Hurston and Mansbach. Ann Arbor: ProQuest LLC, 2014.
Print. 42-57.
Mansbach, Adam. Angry Black White Boy. New York: Three Rivers Press, 2005. Print. 1-335.
Perez, Laura R. In the Middle, In Between: Cultural Hybridity, Community Rejection, and the
Destabilization of Race in Percival Everetts Erasure, Adam Mansbachs Angry Black
White Boy, and Danzy Sennas Caucasia. Ann Arbor: ProQuest LLC, 2011. Print.
33-75.