Genesis Diaz
Writing 001-17 RR #3
Mr. Lambert
20 November 2013
The Difficulty of What Words May Mean
A category, once formed with the aid of a symbol
of Primary potency, tends to attract more attributes than it should (326).
In the text, “The Language of Prejudice” written by Gordon Allport expresses the race of people, and how people can be prejudiced by the communication of language.
Allport speaks about people being judged by the base of their race.
As a child, I have always been judged by how I look, and by the color of my skin. The labels have been attached to me such as “Chicana” and “pierta.” People can be rude and associate the color of someone’s skin based on their personality. According to Allport, this is due to the pigmentation of the skin. I was labeled by my race and it is hurtful. People associate my Mexican heritage with immigrant parents, dark skin, and farmer labor. More often than not Mexicans are not considered wealthy people, and mostly the race is based on what people perceive. These are labels that involve prejudiced meanings “the labeled category as a defining attribute “ (326). These labels hurt individuals not only that most of the time they are incorrect.
The pigmentocracy of an individual can determine the race or the ethnicity. As a
Mexican, people stereotype certain individuals for the overall race. If people speak Spanish people automatically associate them as “Mexican.” This is offensive to people who are not
Mexican. The pre-conceived notions and labels that people judge them too judge them.
Mixed children face this dilemma; they do not face labels, but are judged by how they look.
In the English language the words associate on how someone is. I have siblings that are mixed and they are either black or Mexican. There is not a word in the English language that labels them. Often the words labeled are incorrect. Having labels construes us from being individuals they isolate people in a certain group without actually knowing themselves. Allport expresses the labels to have “primary potency” and discriminate individuals. As an individual people are faced with discrimination and prejudice all the time. Words hurt the power of words is quite meaningful. It is upsetting that in today’s society people are labeled. I was labeled and I still feel like I am labeled every day. It is a mark that is hard to remove often staying there permanently. Labels often indicate a negative connotation. Words are difficult to change the meanings are often associated by perception. I often feel isolation when words categorize the race that someone may have.
The symbol is a tag to show whom that person is and a judgment for people to believe.
Labels categorize an individual and according to Allport labels cause problems and the prejudice of words can be degrading. Anybody in someone’s life deals with prejudice and discrimination. This perception is quite difficult to ignore.

In the text, “The Language of Prejudice” written by Gordon Allport expresses the race of people, and how people can be prejudiced by the communication of language.
Allport speaks about people being judged by the base of their race.
As a child, I have always been judged by how I look, and by the color of my skin. The labels have been attached to me such as “Chicana” and “pierta.” People can be rude and associate the color of someone’s skin based on their personality. According to Allport, this is due to the pigmentation of the skin. I was labeled by my race and it is hurtful. People associate my Mexican heritage with immigrant parents, dark skin, and farmer labor. More often than not Mexicans are not considered wealthy people, and mostly the race is based on what people perceive. These are labels that involve prejudiced meanings “the labeled category as a defining attribute “ (326). These labels hurt individuals not only that most of the time they are incorrect.
The pigmentocracy of an individual can determine the race or the ethnicity. As a
Mexican, people stereotype certain individuals for the overall race. If people speak Spanish people automatically associate them as “Mexican.” This is offensive to people who are not
Mexican. The pre-conceived notions and labels that people judge them too judge them.
Mixed children face this dilemma; they do not face labels, but are judged by how they look.
In the English language the words associate on how someone is. I have siblings that are mixed and they are either black or Mexican. There is not a word in the English language that labels them. Often the words labeled are incorrect. Having labels construes us from being individuals they isolate people in a certain group without actually knowing themselves. Allport expresses the labels to have “primary potency” and discriminate individuals. As an individual people are faced with discrimination and prejudice all the

time. Words hurt the power of words is quite meaningful. It is upsetting that in today’s society people are labeled. I was labeled and I still feel like I am labeled every day. It is a mark that is hard to remove often staying there permanently. Labels often indicate a negative connotation. Words are difficult to change the meanings are often associated by perception. I often feel isolation when words categorize the race that someone may have.
Most of the time, people associate labels with the enemy such as “communist” as being an immediate threat to the government. The symbol is a tag to show whom that person is and a judgment for people to believe.
Labels categorize an individual and according to Allport labels cause problems and the prejudice of words can be degrading. Anybody in someone’s life deals with prejudice and discrimination. This perception is quite difficult to ignore.