Also Love, Culture and Dedication
It hit me in the airport toilet that the lady cleaning the toilets probably never gets to fly out of the country. Neither, probably, does the security guard. Yet here I am on my way to fly to Ethiopia. I am a product of racism in an extremely unequal society.
say no to racism
My British accent jars me into realization that I am partly a product of imperialism. My British school never cared to teach me about Kenyan history, never taught me Kiswahili. I know what I do of my country’s history from my own reading. My spoken Kiswahili is laughable, so I prefer to reply to people in English, so they don’t mock me.
I am a product of racism in a Kenyan Indian population who refuse to acknowledge their ingratitude to the local indigenous Kenyans, whom they abuse and assume higher status over.
I am a product of colonialism as many land injustices today stem from colonial land grabs and redistribution. Any building I enter, any large-scale farm from which I get my food, I do not know who was displaced for that many years ago, whom the land was given to, whom title deeds were created for.
I am a product of the flawed capitalist unequal system that places me and others born into opportunity above those equally deserving people who are not so lucky.
On the other hand, I am not entirely made from a negative history.
I am a product of a generation of hardworking Indians who settled here as hard labourers and poor merchants, and built their wealth through sweat and persistence.
I am a product of welcoming Kenyans who let the original Indians into their land, along with several other populations from countries across the globe.
I am a product of worthy cultures, both Indian and Kenyan – whose traditions need be valued, histories be revisited, and positive aspects be learned from and brought into today’s society.
I am a product of the love innate to humans, which we often forget in our robotic, enslaved lives. This love emanates from so many humans that I am privileged to have in my life, inspires me, and has made me who I am.
In re-shaping our future, we must learn from our collective histories, identities, cultures, and knowledge. We must acknowledge positive and negative past events. And we must not assume that just because we inherited something, we deserve it.
Love this one, Narissa 🙂
That was a quick reply! Aw thanks!!
Nicely expressed!
Certainly made me think about myself and society in general. Very thought provoking. Thank you.
From: People in the Margins Reply-To: People in the Margins Date: Wed, 21 Jan 2015 19:19:50 +0000 To: Microsoft Office User Subject: [New post] I am a product of Racism, Imperialism and Inequality; also Love, Culture and Dedication.
WordPress.com narissaallibhai posted: “It hit me in the airport toilet that the lady cleaning the toilets probably never gets to fly out of the country. Neither, probably, does the security guard. Yet here I am on my way to fly to Ethiopia. I am a product of an extremely unequal society. My B”
Thanks Glo!
Thanks Mum! Exactly my aim with this blog, to inspire thinking, challenging, discussion,..
I totally love the reflections and the spin to the positive side of who you are. Nicely done bravo
Thanks Jura! 🙂
Nice writing and idea. Interesting to know a bit about Kenia Too. Thanks for writing it 🙂
Got me thinking…thanks!
Greetings! Very helpful advice within this article!
It’s the little changes that produce the most important changes.
Thanks for sharing!
You actually make it seem so easy with your presentation but I find this topic
to be actually something which I think I would never understand.
It seems too complex and very broad for me. I’m looking forward for your next post,
I’ll try to get the hang of it!
Highly energetic post, I liked that bit.
Will there be a part 2?
Great article. Inspiring and–and a challenge to make us begin to rediscover our humanity. You are …the positive impact of an imperfect society.
Thanks much Maurice!