I started writing this post a few months ago, before the corona madness took over the world, and then it became all about that. As important as that is, there are a lot of underlying issues that still are pretty deep-rooted in humankind. This pandemic may have been the most toughest of our living lives till now, but there are still concerns all over the world that are knocking their way up to the surface, we wish did not exist. Top being racism! Definitely not cool in 2020!

The extreme to which racism that still persists in today’s times in the so-called developed countries is alarming! How can skin colour differentiate people so much, like how even? And who even gave the right to decide which colour is superior and which is not?

Excerpts from 3 months ago: March 2020

A little rewind to a little girls cry about her skin colour

Colorism (subset of racism), does it still exist in today’s world? Do we still discriminate people based on their skin colour? With all the civilisation, modernism and awareness, we still do! Why this topic today? It was anyway on my list of topics to be discussed, but I very recently saw a video of a little African girl that went viral. She was about 4 years old, crying to her mother that she was ugly just, because she was Black. It was, to say the least, heartbreaking. Somewhere down, I could feel her, I thought I was ugly when I was a child, because I was darker compared to my friends or family members. Growing up making people believe that fair/white is better, plays on your little mind and trust me it does not go away easily. It is a long hard to fight to love yourself. I literally wanted to just hug her and say that it is okay, you are beautiful, it’s not you, it’s the world.  But her mom did do a beautiful job at explaining to her though and some others too who made her feel loved, worthy and brought a smile to her face.

It had a happy ending, but why should such a situation arise even and for how long? People of colour now and again, not just being bullied for their skin colour, but also being called derogatory names, as if it is a crime to be something different than others. Why do we forget that no one is born racist, we are made to be! Remember! We probably are just not doing a good job of moving past it or fighting for it then!

Fast forward to today: May- June 2020

Every social media, every news channel, is buzzing with news of racism and worldwide protests

Why I felt the need to post on this topic still? I am sure you are all aware of what has been happening around in one of the most developed country in the world! Yes I am talking about the killings of black people in the United States, which seems to be such a normal thing that you can’t help feel sick inside. After so much talk and awareness surrounding racism and other forms of discrimination for the past many decades, centuries even, we are still at square one. It is extremely, sad, & disturbing on so many levels that it is heart breaking. How do we even begin to justify what is happening? How did we get to a place in 2020 where we still have to explain to our kids/next-gen why such things exist and happen? Why? 

Ingrained in the mindset

What is beautiful anyway? And who got to decide what is beautiful and what isn’t? How did we even end up thinking a certain colour of skin is pretty and the rest aren’t. In a world full of such variety and range in skin colour, how can you choose what is the better one? That is just so unfair. 

Who even decided who should be the slaves or what colour deserves more and what doesn’t? Why do we still have so many fairness cream ads? In a lot of parts of the world mind it, it is not just in few countries. 

It is of course not something that is new, it has been around for as long as I know and have seen it around. It is not just about the blacks (mainly but), it is about every coloured person, be it a south asian, middle eastern, asian, latinos, everyone. Centuries of conditioning and no one asked, why? No one deserves that kind of discrimination and mental bullying, especially in the 21st century. Aren’t we above all that yet? I guess not. 

We have heard so many coloured celebrities talk about their struggle in the western world, and even more normal people face it every single day. Talking on behalf of brown and other coloured people, I can definitely say that all varied forms of racism still do exist in our own societies (very conveniently calling people brown, black, yellow and what not, but it is much deeper that too). I have faced racism in person, I am sure we all have in some way of the other, even from people around us, even if it is not as an abuse hurling at us. It is so ingrained in our heads, certain stereotypes that we often fail to look beyond that and do not want to comprehend. 

The issue is conversations are so casual at times that even don’t realise what we said, until we do, that’s how much deep they are. A lot of the coloured people (and I talk for various races all over the world), have just grown up thinking that is how it is and learnt to live with it. We are a product of ignorant people, separated into races, so that some can feel better about themselves and superior to others. I really hope there is a world where we can move past this and that will take efforts from everyone, not jus people of colour, everyone! Self examining, listening, learning, & educating is the key to understanding those who are different from us. 

Standing up to discrimination

It has actually taken me a while to put this together, a week or so. There are just so many things going on and so many opinions and so many ways of doing things, that it sometimes gets a tad bit too much. You do not know what you write/share might not go well with others, you do not want to hurt anyone in the process while trying to actually support, especially in these sensitive times. So, it’s really a gamble. 

What typically happens is; we hear (not listen), feel bad and move on, coz we learnt to live with it in our own ways, though not harmful. But this is where we go wrong always, even if many actually had no intent and not everyone is racist or bad, we let it slide. That is exactly what comes back to bite us again and again. Unless we actually talk about it and stand up for it, no change will be possible.

Also, while jumping on the bandwagon let’s think about how daily, knowingly or unknowingly people around you are a solid part of racism, castism and all kinds of discrimination. Don’t follow the herd, when you yourself could be the problem somewhere else! A lot of nations have their our demons to deal with. Isn’t this what the whole fight is about? Reflecting, realising that you could also be the problem, so that we can change the mindset, the system and conditioning from its root cause? We need to unlearn, refocus and get over this thing that has been taught to us.

The blip in all this

There was a tiny thing that did upset me during all this though:

I love how people are using social media to spread awareness, which is amazing and I am all for it! As heartwarming it is to see people standing up for rights everywhere, social media can be a maze & confusing! People voicing out & supporting is good enough, you don’t need to condemn them on how & what hashtags to use or have debates, even if it is to prove a point. You can educate them on why, what and how something is supposed to work, but not call out or be nasty. The world is doing the best they can (or at least the ones who are trying). So be sensitive, be kind and never stop voicing out for the right. 

In this world of social media, we sometimes feel like if not part of a trend we don’t count or exist or even care about what is happening in the world and that is not the case. I was a little skeptical to even continue writing at a point, if I write about the blacks, then what about the others? If I don’t talk about the conditioning that stems into racism all over the world, is that right? Am I just following the herd then? I don’t know. If I was in the US, I would probably be on the streets too, I care about the matter as much as the next person. I may not be a Black American experiencing those horrible things, but that doesn’t make us less susceptible or even stop me from understanding their pain. It is all our pain!

However, I also remember it being a global issue on the whole. It is great the publicity and awareness it is receiving, which is much needed of course. We need to take this as an opportunity, example and a pathway to try and fight racism in all societies, where it is interwoven deep. But I would only say let’s not put labels, hashtags and trends, or rather fight about them. This only drowns the opinions and voices supporting. Isn’t that what we are trying to stop in the first place? People are trying to make listen, or be heard or educate in their own way, even if not adhering to protocols of our social media driven world.

Whole world standing together as one

It is, nonetheless, touching, encouraging, uplifting and heartening to see the whole world standing together; humanity and light always prevails. It is going to be a long fight, but isn’t that what we are here to go, question, fight & speak up for basic rights of being a human? Yes! Our world begins to lose its value and end when we become silent about the things that matter, and racism is one such disease. If we don’t stand up for anything, we don’t get anywhere and we need to do that together, as a whole. Supporting each other is what is going to get us to the other side, hold each other, help each other and love each other when you can. Stronger together, right? Diversity is beautiful and makes the world worth living.

No one is asking anyone for a better treatment, but at least the basic human rights need to be met, just give people the right to live as much as the next person beside you, no matter who they are. That is what this fight is against. In the end all we have to remember is, we are all human, we love alike, we bleed alike, we just come in different colours, cultures and sizes, and when we move beyond that we would have truly won a battle that was long pending. Being non-racist is just not enough anymore, we have to be anti-racist!

Listen, educate, be understanding, be kind – humanity, empathy and compassion above all, that’s how we win this, today and every day. We all deserve this beautiful planet, we all deserve to breathe.

Love, strength and peace for all always.

– Until next time

P.S. There is still so much I can write about this, and I had to cut down quite a bit. I am however glad, there is enough content out there educating and creating awareness, I am just trying to do my bit. It is a long post, but I hope you guys find it within you to understand, help or be a part of this in whichever way possible to for us to move past this!