The colour and racism problems as seen through a pair of foreign eyes. This book covers sensitive areas of race relations in Britain and foils them against similar situations in Malaysia and elsewhere in the world. The author proposes compromise, self-scrutiny, and an understanding of the past, using it not as a tether but as a springboard towards a better future. What do you think of the following? Read the book and make up your own mind.
More and more, I find British Whites being apologetic for the colour of their skin and for their history. And conversely, more and more people of Colour blame their lack of success in life also on the colour of their skin and on their history.
Sometimes, we can curtail our own progress by being too conscious of our colour, or looks, or accents, or lack of education, or of our social background.
Playing the shame and blame game, though emotionally satisfying, is not conducive to a happy society of equal partners. It leaves all parties suspicious of intent and less willing to co-operate.
Just because someone does not like or even cringe from the colour of our skin does not make him racist. Racism is when someone targets, voices and acts out his hate, his ill intention, his desire to annihilate a particular ethnic group, whatever the colour or religious conviction, and irrespective of their virtues or character.
Some ancient empires existed so far in the past that they have taken on the aura of legends and romance, especially if they are Middle-Eastern or Central Asian. But, because the British Empire is within our memory, British Whites today have taken on the role of the whipping boy.
Don’t stir up the foul dust of yesterday to blind us to the path towards a better future. Instead of ‘THEY’ in every argument, in every issue under scrutiny, and in our social life, please let us consider the strength in ‘WE’.
