RACISM THE VIRUS OF MY WORLD

 Miss USA- Nina Davuluri
 Today, on my way to work; I hear some rather disturbing news about the reigning Miss USA who has an Indian origin. When she was crowned on Sunday 15^th September, the social media went wild about her, merely because she is of Indian origin. Thus to them, she is a non-American. This triggered a thought about racism in the world. Having been brought up in Kenya and not traveled much around the world, save for the East African region, I tend to think that its only in Kenya where racism and tribalism are engraved… and may be the much talked about South Africa’s Apartheid. It, therefore, dawned on me that racism is not unique to Kenya and South Africa; in fact, it is deeply rooted in the so-called Developed countries. 

It’s a menace in the whole world and like cancer it eats its victims’ flesh of self-esteem and identity, reducing them to mere skeletons. The victims feel unfit as they live in a society where they are not welcomed, besides, despised. I bet that night Nina Davuluri was crowned Miss USA, she must have wished she could go back to her mother’s womb and make an application to be born as an American, and with no Indian origin! How many times are we reminded that none of us chooses the tribe, race, country or continent to born in? I ask you, why do you discriminate others for their race or tribe, yet they are not to blame for it?

South Africa’s apartheid and the horrendous experiences of the people are well illustrated in the grand movie Sarafina. There was no better way of telling the world about the effects of racism… kudos to the producers of the movie. But even as many people around the world have watched the movie, how many take a deep sigh and contemplate about the message put across in it? Had we all let the message sink deep in our minds, we would not have such incidents as racial hullabaloo and hate. Nina Davuluri would not have to prove that she is an American. 

 A thought about the tribal skirmishes in my own country in 2007-2008 crossed my mind. The blood that was shed, the scores that were rendered homeless…I would rather not get into the nitty-gritty of what left indelible scars in our hearts.  The undugu promise is now just a phrase in the national anthem, how sad.

All my thinking took me to Google (life cannot be easier, my folks need to tell me how they lived without Google). Racism is defined as actions, practices, or beliefs that reflect a worldview, according to which, members of a race share a set of characteristic traits, abilities, or qualities, such as personality, intellect, morality, or other cultural behavioral characteristics. This means that races can be ranked as inherently superior or inferior to others. Just by the definition of racism, I tend to think that the original aim was for us to enjoy diversity and not judge each other according to what we are ‘physically’.

No one is special or superior. Kenya may have 42 tribes but ultimately we are all Kenyans, united by our nationality. Food prices are not unique to different tribes; no one has blue blood because they speak a specific language. We go to the same schools and face the same challenges. It’s useless to turn against each other because of the color of our skin or the language we speak. 

The whole world must learn the art of togetherness and embrace a spirit of love and unity. If we learn to live together as brothers, we can soar great heights economically and socially; otherwise we will all perish as fools.

An article by Sarah Makena
Co-founder Ukabila Zi Society