Prejudice
The Independent
COLUMN
November 16, 2001
Posted to the web November 16, 2001
Jigster, Banjul
Banjul, the Gambia
Both history and common sense attest to the possibility of evolving from a
negative state to a more positive state. Secondly, the nature of human
minds, where most of our actions have to pass through and sometimes
originate from, can and do indeed evolve.
So why should we be over-focused on our yesterday's knowledge of a person or
group to form our wholesome perception of the person or group? If we do, not
only can our perception be flawed but it can also trigger hatred and bar
possible positive unity, which can and often backfires.
Tribalism, racism, nepotism and many other intolerant attitudes between
individuals and groups sprung from prejudice, making prejudice one of the
mightiest vice. How often do we mistakenly comment or hear the following:
"Mandingoes only care about their fellow Mandingoes" "White people can never
like blacks" "Blacks are lazy or criminals" "Foreigners are taking our jobs
or are not to be trusted" "Men are terrible beings" etc.
Due to newspapers' limited space, I can't delve in to all the mentioned
quotes but I will choose racial prejudice (stereotype) against whites as a
sample.
It is true that a good percentage of white people did enslave blacks for
many centuries, but I strongly believe that there are many (countless) of
today's whites who love, respect, and are working diligently to see the
betterment of blacks.
So if we (blacks) continuously and openly castigate all whites, then we are
knowingly or unknowingly turning off some of our white friends and also
sinning against the innocent whites.
Our over focused on past wrongs is dearly costing black people not only
things we could have gained from our white friends but also it has blinded
us from seeing today's wrongs by our "white" enemies (elite conservatives).
So the real enemy is no longer white but inconsiderate hearts and minds-
which has no color but characteristics.
Can you imagine how an 18 year old innocent white boy will feel when you say
to him ' I can never trust you because of what your grandparents did ' ?
Probably how I felt when an African-American CO-worker told me "I cannot
like you because Africans did contribute to slavery." Honestly speaking, I
was not only confused but filled with rage and could have shot him if a gun
was handy at that particular second. Even if Africans did contribute to
slavery, many of today's Africans including myself are against slavery and
by no means should be held responsible or stigmatized for what our
grandparents did. Our white friends are dragging their feet because any
reasonably thinking person/people need to be cautious in helping those who
see them as "never to be trusted". So our prejudice against white people
shall continue to beget mistrust and prejudice against blacks; just as white
peoples' prejudice shall continue to beget mistrust and prejudice against
whites. When shall this cycle end? When we stop being over focused on
yesterday-the sizeless shadow witness (not the real thing nor the suspect).
Instead of starting with mistrust or full trust, I will recommend we start
with an open skeptical mind, which can give room to everyone to prove their
rightful status.
Just as it is wrong to punish anyone for others' choice, it is also a big
fallacy to perceive people based on past knowledge about them. May God bless
Showlove Trinity: Let's learn, Let's work, Let's have fun.
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