Sometimes I find my mind wandering over various eclectic topics and occasionally I am inspired to write some of them down. Today I was thinking about discrimination.
Is there a bigger coward than the prejudiced white male?
Seriously - what exactly is there to fear in those who are
different to ourselves? And why does someone being black, brown, oriental or,
alternatively, female, transsexual or non-binary have an impact on their
right to exist or be treated any different to others?
Aside from the ridiculousness of this concept, the ideology on which it is based is also inherently flawed.
To explain this, let’s take a look at two of the main types of discrimination:
1)
Racism
The frankly sickening belief that the colour of someone’s
skin determines their worth or their right to exist.
Supposedly, this is based on this misplaced belief that
people with darker skin are in some way inferior or present a threat. However,
given there have been so many cases of white people attacking black people because
of this, it is more obviously and painfully clear to see that white people are
in fact the ‘threat’ as the violence, aggression and depravity that is so
feared by the racists is more often enacted by them. If it wasn’t so unnecessary, awful and tragic
it could perhaps be viewed as ironic.
Examples:
-
Emmett Till
-
Frank Morris
-
Jesse Thornton
-
Willie James Howard
-
Louis Allen
-
Isaac Woodard
-
Yusef Hawkins
-
James Craig Anderson
-
Ocoee Massacre
-
The Scottsboro Boys
-
Tulsa Race Riots
-
Buffalo Shooting
(This is sadly just a handful of available examples and does
not include those killed by police officers or white supremacist groups.)
Not only that but given the commonly accepted theory of the origin of life that suggests that all humans (or homo sapiens) came from Africa it could safely be presumed that the original humans were, in fact, black. Consequently, it stands to reason that black people are, in fact, the predominant race on the planet and the efforts of prejudiced white men to oppress or worse obliterate black people categorically demonstrates their determination not only to assert an unfounded superiority but also shows their own cowardice.
2)
Sexism
The extremely outdated and inherently flawed belief (which
is extremely relevant at the moment) that a person’s gender determines their
intelligence or ability to contribute to society. Historically, this contribution
cannot be fairly judged as the existing predominance of men has led women to consistently
have their input to major achievements and developments obliterated and
obscured - either by being overruled or by having their male counterparts blatantly
steal from them.
Examples:
-
Margaret E. Knight
-
Rosalind Franklin
-
Marthe Gautier
-
Esther Lederberg
-
Jocelyn Bell Burnell
-
Lise Meitner
-
Ada Harris
-
Candace Pert
-
Frieda Robscheit-Robbins
-
Trota of Salerno
-
Mary Whiton Calkins
-
Colette
-
Margaret Keene
-
Elizabeth Magie
Again, as stated above, it could be said this prejudice is
also flawed.
Biologically speaking, all human embryos start out as female
– it isn’t until around 6 weeks into gestation that any present male hormones
kick in and affect in utero development (hence why men have nipples, an
enlarged genital bud – compared to the smaller one of the female - and a raphe
line). Ergo the female of the species could be said to be the predominant
gender on this planet but, yet again, the prejudiced white male seeks to
overrule, undermine and supersede what is presumably a perceived threat.
Ultimately, it becomes clear in both cases that the average white male could in fact be viewed as the inferior or rather the subordinate species on the planet. Sadly, the overall effect is that the bigger danger seems to come from this ‘subordinate’ species (aka the prejudiced white male) in their excessive efforts to overrule and dominate those who theoretically ‘came first’ and, in doing so, inadvertently create a reversed self-fulfilling prophecy by enacting on their victims the subjugation they themselves fear.
This is sad for a number of reasons – not only because of
the mindless violence and senseless loss of life that results but also just think
what could have been achieved so far in history if women hadn’t been
continually oppressed, belittled and blocked out. If they had been allowed a
voice, to put forward their ideas and suggestions and have them heard and valued, to share the role that the said
white male seems determined to steal or hog for themselves for no reason other
than their own misplaced belief in a non-existent superiority.
Just think what heights we might have reached if black
people had been treated equally and been allowed to basically exist unscathed.
What might the lives lost through the violence perpetrated by their oppressors
have contributed to our overall development?
And all it would take would be for the prejudiced aggressors to open their eyes to look at the reality not only of the world but the impact of their discrimination upon it. To consider a point of view other than their own and display some sign of the humanity they so proudly claim and the compassion which is supposed to be deeply rooted in human nature. To realise that other people on this planet have just as much right to respect and to exist and that collaboration and cooperation presents infinitely greater benefits and requires considerably less effort than persecution and oppression.
It is, after all, not impossible for the discriminatory to change their ways – just take a look at the work of Daryl Davis – and although the prejudiced white male may have the louder voice it is by no means the only one.
So while the immediate future may perhaps look bleak there
is always the possibility of progress.
Yes, Roe vs Wade has been overturned but there was a time
before it existed – and that changed.
There was a time before the Civil Rights Act existed – and that
changed.
So maybe this is time before true equality and justice exist. And maybe
that too can change.
