One look at Facebook and it is clear: people are getting more and more outspoken on race, politics and culture. As much as I am all for working towards a better, more fair future, I am not sure that this is the right platform to do it on.
There are many problems with the issue of race, and if we’re going to argue around such a broad demographic, there are going to be many flaws. Here are a few issues I have with arguing about race:
1. No one can choose the colour of their skin
We are stuck with whatever colour of skin we have. People have tried (rather unsuccessfully) to change the shade of their skin, but in the end there is nothing we can do about what shade our body is covered with. This means that as soon as the words “whites” or “blacks” or “coloureds” are used on social media, offence is almost guaranteed. It is sad how the colour of our skin has divided us and disadvantaged us all as a society. I know people want justice. But I think it is clear that classification by race has not gotten us anywhere – so why would it work now?
2. The word ‘race’ implies competition
Of course you are going to believe your own genetic makeup is awesome. If you didn’t, it would be surprising. What I find disturbing, however, is the amount of insecurity there is around the colour of our skin. Feeling part of something is very important for the human psyche. Unfortunately, we have taken the most general and least specific grouping as the most basic way of belonging. There is no “side” when it comes to race. There is no competition. The demographic you belong to is important. As important as any other demographic on the planet.
3. Things never stop with the colour of our skin when it comes to prejudice
I hate hearing people say that a certain characteristic is a “white thing” or a “black thing”. It is important that we celebrate culture – whether it is our own or someone else’s. What is frustrating is seeing how people cannot differentiate between someone’s skin colour, and their culture, ethics, beliefs, mindsets and skills.
I don’t believe we have any right to group people together according to race and then make a generalised judgement (whether it is favourable or not). It is as ludicrous as cutting off the Alphabet at “L” and saying everyone whose surname starts with the letters A-L are stronger writers than the rest; and M-Z are clueless when it comes to mathematics. You can’t choose your surname. You can’t choose your race. So think really carefully before trying to allocate any labels to a skin colour, when there are hundreds of cultures, mindsets, lifestyles and belief structures within them.
The only time I would listen to someone who wanted to say something about “black people” would be if that person had personally met and engaged with every single black person in our country. Not even the most thorough census in the world would be able to capture the diverse dreams, passions, beliefs, hopes, and perspectives that each person with that skin tone would have.
You might be emotional at the moment about things being said in the media. You may feel the urge to defend yourself, or blame something for your situation. All I ask is that you think deeper than the surface of your skin. Yes, some people are ignorant. Yes, there is definitely prejudice that should be addressed in a constructive way. Yes, the colour of your skin is important and wonderful. But don’t label yourself or others with such a two-dimensional standard.
The majority of us want the same thing. We want our respective nations and our continent to heal from years of injustice. There is a whole lot of oppression that has thrown my own country, South Africa, out of sync in the most horrible of ways. A whole lot of balance needs to be restored – economically, socially and emotionally. This is the real problem. This is what we all need to work on in our everyday lives. This is where the hard work is required. This is where sacrifices need to be made for the greater good.
Don’t leave it up to government, non-profit organisations, and the education sector. Do what you can now. The more we seek to understand how people need to be helped, the more we can actually do together.
Overthrowing systems will require us to start from scratch. Instead of swapping out leaders and systems, why can’t everyone work together? Systemic oppression is not good for anyone – whether they are directly affected by it or not.
I am excited about what is happening right now. There is a whole lot of discourse concerning justice and transformation; positive change and a new way of living. I am only asking that what we say online or in conversation does not just become noise with no effect. Let’s speak out once we have weighed up situations properly and thought about solutions, rather than only highlighting problems!