Have you ever experienced jokes related to your skin tone or seen someone around you having a nickname linked to their complexion? Racism has been running down in our history for centuries, to the extent it is now considered an everyday act.
Racism or racial discrimination refers to the prejudice against a human race, considering one race to be inferior to another based on skin colour or ethnic origin. People often discriminate by refusing to carry out business deals, marital relations and socialising with a certain group of people.
In many countries, leaders have started prioritising people of their “own” religion or ethnicity and have internally designated higher and lower races. Those who are considered of a lower status are deprived of their basic human rights which caused them to develop a deep-seated grudge against their leaders which eventually led to riots throughout the country.
Recently, we all witnessed the huge outcry all around the world on the tragic death of George Floyd, who was brutally killed just because he belonged to the Black community. Not only did the west and Africans stand up against this racial act, but a lot of Asian countries showed their support for this campaign. However, while standing up for the rights of people around the world, we tend to forget the people living next door. In our society, people with dark complexions or those belonging to a minority suffer the most at the hands of sometimes the same individuals who shout “Black Lives Matter”. A very common example of racial discrimination in our society is the preference of “white” girls over the darker skin toned ones during marriage proposals.
We have associated beauty with being fair which has resulted in the majority of the people with dark complexions to suffer from an inferiority complex. Another unfortunate issue is the intolerance towards ethnic minorities found in our society. For more than two decades, Shia Muslims have been practically subject to ethnic cleansing, especially the Hazara community. Thousands of Shias are killed every year in target killings, bomb blasts or large massacres just because of their beliefs being different from the common ones. Not only are Shias targeted, but various other minorities like the Ahmadiyya community, Sikhs and various others also experience similar discrimination due to their religious beliefs.
Although, in the past, many great legends like Nelson Mandela have worked towards ending this prejudice from the world, we still have a long way to go. We can begin by correcting our own self and teaching our coming generations about the importance of understanding the value of every human around us. Schools should carry out awareness campaigns and provide an environment where everyone is treated equally and no biased opinions are stated or encouraged. Moreover, we should examine our inner biases, try to consider where they originate from and then work towards eliminating them.
Calling out any racial comments or jokes that you may hear either at your workplace or at educational institutions and standing against any act of bullying faced by minorities around us can not only provide a sense of equality in the targeted communities, but would also develop confidence in them and could help bring forward people of great potential who could in turn help towards the betterment of our yet-to-develop country. Another aspect that we need to work on is the acceptance and tolerance towards people of various races and ethnicities. We need to come to terms with the fact that regardless of skin tones, religious beliefs and culture, everyone has the right to live their lives according to their own will and want. We have no rights to discriminate against a person based on their beliefs or even on something they have no control over.
With increasing awareness through online media blogs, protests and continuous discussions, people are willing to step out of their own bubble and accept individuals of other races into their communities, social lives and work spaces which has provided opportunities for these communities to excel too. However, we still have a long journey to cover before we can free ourselves completely of this issue.