George Floyd pleaded for his life, two onlookers that filmed the whole incident also pleaded with the police to get off Floyd’s neck but to no avail. It was indeed pathetic and heart wrenching to see his life snuffed out by the same people who are supposed to protect him....
by Ben Oraka
Those were the last few words of a dying Black American man as he lay motionless on the floor with the Minnesota policeman’s knee on his neck. George Floyd pleaded for his life, two onlookers that filmed the whole incident also pleaded with the police to get off Floyd’s neck but to no avail. It was indeed pathetic and heart wrenching to see his life snuffed out by the same people who are supposed to protect him – the police
Again, the police have come under fire on the issue of racial profiling of minorities within the society especially Blacks or more specifically African Americans. Consistently, statistics have shown that African Americans are disproportionately targeted by the police and the criminal justice system for arrests, conviction and incarceration.
But wait!
Before we rush to join the chorus of criticism for the obnoxious and racist brutality meted out on Blacks in America, let’s pause for a self-examination. It is about time we ask ourselves some pertinent “racist detector’’ questions such as:
Am I a racist?
To what extent do I judge a fellow human being based on the colour of their skin rather than the content of their character?
To what extent do I believe in the theory that holds one race superior and the other inferior?
How often do I look away when I see a clear or perceived unfairness meted out to someone purely because of their race or perceived difference in skin colour?
These questions of self-examination are endless and uncomfortable to confront but we know that the filth called racism can only be truly cleaned out when we stop sweeping it under the carpet of denial.
“If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.” – Bishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa".
It is high time humanity and especially believers call out and condemn every act of racial prejudice and injustice.
As the popular saying goes: ‘charity begins at home’. So we should, as part of looking inwards, expunge the racism in our hearts, refuse racism in our family and condemn every form of racism in our country.
Institutional racism
It is no secret that there is institutional racism in this beautiful country called Malaysia.
Institutional racism / racial discrimination is so deep rooted in our society that it is often backed by some sort of law and/or unwritten understanding.
This anomaly has become an accepted social contract firmly established with tentacles reaching every aspect of institutions and organisations within the country. We see it in government offices, in business organisations and employment. We see it in our politics and political parties and I dare to say, we see it even in the churches.
My Journey
As a foreign migrant of African descent, my personal journey of living in Malaysia has been one riddled with subtle racism, prejudice and sometimes out right discrimination.
"My earliest and shocking experience of racism was when people covered their nose because a Black man is standing next to them; though not so common any more albeit a rude awakening on the reality of racism."
Some of the discrimination or prejudice are intentional, like being out rightly refused the opportunity to open a bank account because of my perceived race or nationality; while some are borne out of ignorance such as being called a Negro because the person using such a word is ignorant of the fact that its not an acceptable term of reference for a person of colour.
My earliest and shocking experience of racism was when people covered their nose because a Black man is standing next to them; though not so common any more albeit a rude awakening on the reality of racism.
The most rampant and still prevalent is the racial profiling by the police on Blacks or specifically Africans which is clearly higher than other foreigners. I am always stopped and checked when driving while my Caucasian wife, in the same car is not asked to show her papers.
Even when she insists on showing her papers, she is told by a condescending policeman: ‘it’s okay, you no need to show lah ’. Some people justify this unfair treatment by saying that Africans commit a lot of crimes.
The problem with this type of argument is that it lacks any empirical evidence or data to back up. It falls under the fallacy of hasty generalisation. We often say: ‘one bad apple doesn’t spoil the whole bunch’ but we fail to apply it when it matters most.
Racism is also very prevalent in the realty sector of the society. My experience when trying to rent an apartment has consistently never been pleasant. Of all the sour experiences, two distinct occasions stand out because at each of those times, I had my money returned after signing the tenancy agreement simply because the owners of the property found out that I am an African.
Interestingly, my Caucasian and Arab colleagues were able to conclude the rental of their respective units of apartment with relative ease. Needless to say: fairer skin tone was their automatic access to the property.
In trying to make sense of this madness called racism, I am tempted to borrow the sociological concept of social construction of reality.
This concept suggests that nothing is real, including race, except that which the society gives meaning to or makes real. Applying this to race, we can choose to deconstruct the prejudice and discrimination associated with race relations in this country. No wonder some people say there is no race except the Human Race.
To bring this article to a conclusion, I dare to say that even though God created us with diversity in our back ground and skin tone, the concept of racism is utterly UNACCEPTABLE to Him.
"I dare to say that even though God created us with diversity in our back ground and skin tone, the concept of racism is utterly UNACCEPTABLE to Him. "
One of the lesson we can learn from the book of the Bible – Numbers Chapter 12 is that God was utterly disgusted with Miriam and Aron (Moses biological sister and brother) when they criticised and disparaged Moses for marrying a black woman ( a Cushite, modern day Ethiopia).
God chose leprosy, a kind of disease that turns the skin white before slowly decaying the body as the punishment for Miriam. It was as if God was saying, ‘Miriam, since you are so hung up on skin colour and prejudice, I will make you white’.
It took the prayer of the same Moses for God to heal Miriam of this leprosy. Lesson: GOD ABHORS RACISM.
Racism is cancerous, it chokes the very essence of human existence and until we take a united stand against it, our society will know no peace. We will continue the cry - ‘Please, I can’t breathe”. Few days ago it was George Floyd, tomorrow it may be you.
And by the way, even the Angels of God are not white!!
by Ben Oraka
About the Article Contributor :
Ben Oraka is a believer and a minister of the gospel of Christ. He also works as a law teacher/ lecturer in the Pre –University department one of the international schools in Subang.
Ben is from Nigeria and have been residing in Malaysia for more than 15 years.
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