Stereotypes are not just ideas. They actually exist, like sinister puppeteers in our brains, pulling our strings at the sight of race, gender etc. Trying to suppress the puppeteers makes them stronger. One way to weaken them is by keeping your attention on taking perspectives: What would it be like to be that person? Not that kind of person, that specific person.

(Want convincing? See Galinsky, A. D., & Moskowitz, G. B. (2000). Perspective-taking: Decreasing expression, stereotype accessibility, and in-group favoritism. Journal or Personality and Social Psychology, 78, 708-724.)