Aren't we all prejudiced?

It’s hard not to talk about the racial tensions in the US. The continued killing of mostly Black men by Police reminds us that racism is alive and well and not that we need any reminder because there are way too many monkey chants at African and Black football players across Europe and the Developed World in general even in 2016 but when some continue to dismiss Black people’s complaints about racial profiling or open segregation, we can’t just fold our arms and expect it to go away. We need to talk about this sensitive subject. Are all Black people without fault? Definitely not. Are all Policemen racist? Of course not. But there are enough bad apples on both sides and anyone who chooses to ignore that that is lying to themselves. I think it’s also fair to point out that we’re all prejudiced. Weren’t people protesting just a couple of weeks ago about “foreigners” taking up NGO top positions in Kenya? How about the widely reported xenophobic attacks in South Africa against citizens of other African countries? I’m not colour-blind either and while I wouldn’t say I’m racist, I will notice the minute I walk into an Indian-owned Supermarket or come across a Caucasian or someone of Asian descent. And right away, albeit inadvertently, your mind goes to every stereotype of that person’s ethnicity. I know people who have used some choice words against those they think are gay. Then there’s the gender issue. Equal pay is still something many women are fighting for and that’s not even the biggest challenge. You have to think twice before starting a family because maternity leave often means you might lose your job. And even when you don’t have children, society hounds you. Britain’s new Prime Minister Theresa May has not even been in office for a week and already, some people are more interested in the fact that she doesn’t have children than her policies. And how many people look down on the disabled or those with HIV at a time when these groups shouldn’t be stigmatized? Then there’s faith. We befriend people depending on their first name and whether they pray on Friday, Saturday, Sunday or not at all. And in the spirit of being completely honest, if I had to walk past anyone on a deserted road after midnight, I would prefer it to be a woman because I don’t need to remind anyone about robbery and rape statistics. How about South Sudan where two selfish leaders have failed to deliver even basic services to their people? Millions have been living in dilapidated refugee camps for years. People are eating grass and watching their children starve to death and it will not stop because there are enough loyal soldiers on both sides willing to die for their respective tribe! So like I said, we’re all prejudiced but that should not be an excuse. We need to make a conscious effort to make this world a better place for everybody, regardless of race, religion, age or gender. And we can do this by becoming more tolerant of one another. Malice, violence and hatred have no place in 2016.

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Aren't we all prejudiced?