Non-racialism is a prejudice-free atmosphere in which human beings recognise each other as human, as defined by being indigenous to some part of the Earth’s surface, having a language, feeding on some type of own food, dressing in a way influenced by the climate of the part of the Earth indigenous to them and the temerity to accord respect to each other on the basis of being human before the matter of identity is contemplated
Humans themselves extol their human worth through assertiveness and pride in who they are, never crouching in the presence of another, placing their wares (creations) openly for all who would fancy to enjoy them.
Inferiority complex, self-doubt can be regarded as a form of racism as it diminishes you in the eyes of other races, feeds on racist prejudice.
Racism occurs when human dignity is accorded on the basis of identity. The seed from which it germinates is prejudice against another with whom you do not share an identity (origin, language, food, dressing, and looks) and is characterised by denial of the human worth of the victim of the prejudice.
To a racist the victim of his prejudice is less of a human and therefore cannot claim ownership of ancestral land, does not have a language, does not eat what humans should eat (no recognition that he does eats milk, meat, greens, starch or it is not the same as that eaten by the one with prejudice), has no dress sense (described as semi-naked with a grass skirt), does not have a "political" structure (he has a chief not a king, a tribe not a nation, impi not a soldier).
It is fed by a sense of inferiority, self-doubt, absence of pride and assertiveness on the part of the victim of the prejudice. It thrives when victims of prejudice default to others' language, philosophies, food, dress code, and undermine their right to ownership of their ancestral land. However, to exercise racism you need power, power over the victims of your prejudice.
Without power, racism is impotent. It is useless. Claims of not being a racist can only be made by one who recognises all human beings to have ancestral land, language, unique food, unique dress and accords the same respect to each human being regardless of identity.
Resisting racism through assertivenes is also a manifestation of non-racism. It is a noble act of projecting yourself as a human being with all the dignity of one, thus glorifying whoever created you to be a human being. Racists often get tempted to label resistance to the enactment of their prejudice as "reverse racism". Whatever way anyone can look at it, such resistance is the entrenchment of one’s dignity.
Anything less is succumbing to the prejudice meted against you, an acceptance of your imagined inferior status. At the same time, it is a futile exercise to try and cure a racist of racism.
Victims of prejudice need only to prosper to break the back of racism, be the best they can be, innovate, avail out of their own creation what the world needs. That is the only way they can derive value from their spent of energy.
Of course, resist enactment of prejudice with all your might when it happens but do not hold conferences or appoint commissions to deal with racism. It is a waste of time. Hold conferences on how to cure the victims of racism of inferiority complex and self-doubt.
Hold conferences to inspire creativity and innovation among the downtrodden. Highlight successful people from among those that are victims of race prejudice. Expose the fallacy of their assumed inferior intelligence by letting their achievements hang out for everyone to see.
• Dr Mosalakae is a Sowetan reader
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