The truth is that we use stereotypes as a type of protection. Our brains are largely tasked with the job of keeping us alive, and part of doing so requires recognizing threats. The problem is that the world is an amazingly large place and our brains, although amazing, can only process so much. To help with this, our brains take shortcuts, grouping people, places, and objects based off the limited clues that the brain has.
The problem is that the brain does so even when it is not a matter of survival. The trick is to not allow ourselves to take the lazy way out by simply accepting the stereotype that our brain hands to us, especially when the situation is non-threatening. We need to allow ourselves to look past our prejudices and look deeper at the people around us.
This is not an easy task, but it is necessary if we are going to stop the rhetoric of hate and judgement that plagues the human condition.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjJQBjWYDTs