Judgement

I’m often amazed by the general misconceptions created by the world’s history that some people have taken as gold. Majority of human beings have taken what they read or heard, mind you from similarly minded people, and made it their own personal misconceptions.

In my short time on this earth, I have learnt a lot. I have observed a lot. And I have made countless mistakes. I have made deadly assumptions and yes, I have carried misguided misconceptions based on what I now know to be ignorance.

There are many young men and women in this world walking around like they were born in heaven and they have diamonds for breakfast every morning.

Unfortunately, I do not see any one pouring oil into their cereal every morning; I sure do not see anybody with a sewing machine creating their own clothes. It’s appalling to know that there is somebody out in the world teaching their child that you are better because you are this and that.

There was a point in time when being an American was like having a few bars of gold in your pocket, there was a time when being of Russian or Italian descent earned you automatic respect. There was a moment in time being an Afrikaner in South Africa meant automatic Royalty. Just as there was a period in history that being white meant your poop didn’t stink.

Well times changed, the world opinion changed, the favor that fell on that special breed shifted and some mindsets where brought back to the reality of what exactly the world is. In all this, I feel there are a certain number of people who got left behind by the ship of change and tolerance when it set sail.

Everybody is quick to state that racism is alive and well yet we all seem to miss the beast called PREJUDICE. In the English dictionary, the word prejudice has several meanings and I will list just a few.

Prejudice-

1. A. An adverse judgment or opinion formed beforehand or without knowledge or examination of the facts. b. A preconceived preference or idea.

2. The act or state of holding unreasonable preconceived judgments or convictions.

3. Irrational suspicion or hatred of a particular group, race, or religion.

4. Detriment or injury caused to a person by the preconceived, unfavorable conviction of another or others.

In most occurrences, Prejudice is often covered up as ignorance. And in most cases, the most ignorant amongst us are the loudest or feel their opinions should be heard by all.

The world we are living in now is one where the look, face, tone of skin color, accent and nationality are most important. Suddenly being black is accepted if you are American. If you are Indian, tough luck, your only savior may be the little money you or your family owns.

The Indians have been the butt of everybody’s jokes for a very long time yet they have continued to study hard and work hard. In fact most Asians know what it feels like to be treated like a second class citizen purely based on the country of birth. Deemed to not be good enough to hold the true friendships of others based on something that you, as an individual, had no control over.

I guess Africans are shit out of luck.

And you may wonder why I say this, for Africans are amongst the well educated people on earth right now, we hold some of the worlds precious metals in our soils? Yes are also riddled with war, famine, hunger, violent crimes and many other things.

Easy…Africans have the “wrong accent’. This is not my view, but sadly the view of many in the Middle East. It is truly a shocking surprise to some of the desert nomads (because that is truly what they are and it is nothing to be ashamed of) to meet an African who doesn’t smell, who is clean, dresses well, is well mannered, knows more than they do, isn’t occupying an unskilled lowly paid job, has money, is well travelled, well educated and doesn’t sound “African”.

What exactly is an African supposed to sound like? Is there a speech therapist who can answer this for me?

If nationality is all you have to go on. If inheritance money is your source of wealth. If it has taken you 3.5 years to get through a 2 year diploma and your only source of purity or righteousness: I urge you to please be quiet before speaking such vile and pick up a book and do something that will expand your knowledge.

I understand that we cannot trust people on the word go and we often judge others by what we have heard. This is completely and utterly wrong. It will make you look nothing but foolish even to those you are trying to impress. It may sound like a good joke but the truth of it is its stupid. Plain and simple. There is a very thin and invisible line between ignorance and stupidity: be cautious about which you choose to show yourself to. Let every man be equal until they show themselves not to be worthy of your friendship or trust.

There is a lot we could say about each other as a people of the earth. But don’t you dare look down on others who may be less fortunate than you, when you really have nothing but your nationality to begin with. Take your lessons from history; nationality is just a piece of paper. For within your own country there are people who look at you like you are dirt. Yet you still find it in you to do the same?

There one thing I know about Africans though, when they are getting ready to pull one over your head; they give you plenty time to make a peaceful exit.

Although, I often ask myself if the African is to blame for these seemingly misguided conclusions? What is it that the Africans have done that was so bad even other dark skinned humans will not allow them to be brothers?

We are all distant relatives.