Ill Of The Society
Being an immigrant it’s difficult to understand what racism is especially when you’re from a continent like Africa. You’re surrounded by people of the same colour but as soon as you move into the western world, society does not hesitate to show their animosity towards you.
The war for equality has been ongoing since the times of slavery, it’s a shame we still face this issue in present times. We lost Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and many more because of this racism & injustice. Forced to conform to society’s hindering statutes unconditionally, hoping our voices would be heard someday.
To really understand racism, you have to analyse it from a mental perspective; the semantics can be changed but the sentiment still remains. Discrimination has been going on since the biblical times, it’s the way it’s done that has changed. To be “black” has detrimental connotations of fear and repression. Fear of being denied basic human rights, fear of being racially profiled, and the most saddening: fear of our lives cut short. I could never fathom why my existence is a threat, how can I disrupt a society that never considered me and my fellow brothers and sisters equal?
To be black is to be aware that your life is viewed as inferior in comparison to those around you. It is to be aware the society does not stand for you, it is to be aware the police are your enemy, it is to be aware JUSTICE WOULD NOT BE SERVED TO US. The sons and daughters of enslavers have a long history of dictating who we are, where we stand and what we can & cannot do.
“I see no colour”, “I see everyone as equal”, “I have black friends”, does not cut it in these times of controversies. These phrases just display your ignorance and indifference to this saddening cause – I am talking to you people of privilege. How ignorant are you of the dire state of racism? We envy and respect your privilege: the privilege of having a positive relationship with the police, the privilege of being favoured by society, the privilege of favourable media biases. How much more must we sacrifice for us to be heard? You forced us to be your labour workers which resulted in the formation of your country, you steal our arts/crafts and exhibit them in your museums as your priceless artefacts, you make us dim our natural features just so we can be tolerated. Not recognised, not appreciated, not valued, but ‘tolerated’. Now, the officers who swore to protect us are actively cutting our lives short just because we “fit the description”.
I worry about racial integration for not only the present but also the future. Jane Elliot said “Racism is a learned response. No one is born a bigot; you are taught bigotry”. Society teaches racial hatred in different forms e.g. indoctrination, stereotypes, segregation, etc. They are taught the world is biracial (blacks, whites, Asians, Hispanics, Indians, etc) when the world is, in fact, uniracial (the human race). The stereotypes the white man has created for our race is more impactful/poignant than the reality of us. Thugs, thieves, apes, niggers, we are constantly insulted and called names but, I should expect that from a society that has institutionalised racism. So narrow-minded you to fail to provide service to people because of their colour, culture, or ethnic origin. Your habit of racial hatred in the economic, social and political institutions reflect in our disparities regarding justice, education, health care, political power, among other factors. Your actions are recognised as a form of backing to discriminate against the people of colour. Enough is enough.
We are tired of remaining silent and brushing your actions under the rug, we are not going to stop until those who are unaffected are as outraged as those who are. “Until the philosophy which holds one race superior and another inferior is finally and permanently discredited and abandoned, everywhere is war. And until there are no longer first-class and second-class citizens of any nation, until the colour of a man’s skin is of no more significance than the colour of his eyes. And until the basic human rights are equally guaranteed to all without regard to race, there is war. And until that day, the dream of lasting peace, world citizenship, rule of international morality, will remain but a fleeting illusion to be pursued, but never attained… now everywhere is war.” Haile Selassie said.
We shouldn’t have to protest because we are being treated wrong, we shouldn’t fight to gain your attention because we are a different colour, we shouldn’t have to seek justice to be served for our fellow brothers and sisters that are treated wrong. Your implicit bias cloud your vision and judgement so much you fail to see all we want is peace and to be viewed as equal. Victor Hugo said, “Nothing is more powerful than an idea whose time has come”. This is not a battle for black people nor is it a battle for coloured people. It is a battle of humanity.
The media has failed to expose these wrongs and have chosen the side of the oppressors. They have changed the narrative of our march. They have chosen to vilify our protest and show the riots and looting. They want to down the cause with these distractions, but we would not let them! We have their attention now; we will not lose track of the message.
NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE!
WRITTEN BY// NOVIO KAREEM
PHOTOGRAPH (BLACK & WHITE)// HECTOR OMOOBA
PHOTOGRAPH (COLOURED)// DEVON SQUIRES