We are One but we are Many – Race & Racism
- Succeed by Building Others Up
- We are One but we are Many – Race & Racism
- How to Bring Out the Best in People
- Are You Addicted to Hot Juicy Gossip?
- Meet Invisible People
- People Series Summary – People & Success
- A Winning Contacts Building Strategy
- Stuff Positive People Like
- A Magic Word Called Empathy
- The Curse of Conformity
- Show Me Your Friends
Racism is real, nasty but quickly becoming old school. People are still being denied opportunities because of the colour of their skin. But we have come a long way. America now has a couple of black kids calling white house home. I am from Kenya and writing this from a great country called Australia, a country that only abolished the White Australia Policy in 1973. Welcome to my candid view of racism and success.
I have been very fortunate to not have experienced much racism in my life. I pay great tribute to the Australia government for its efforts in multiculturalism. But every now and again I meet the occasional person who reminds me that the battle for equality has not been won yet.
A couple of years ago, I was having a cold beer in Subiaco, Western Australia with a mate from Tanzania. A random dude came up to our table and started questioning me. The conversation went just like this:
Random Dude: G’day! Where are youse from?
Daniel Ngari: Kenya. You?
Random Dude: (In slurred speech) Australia mate!
Daniel Ngari: cool.
Random Dude: Do YOU experience racism?
Daniel Ngari: Yeah, sometimes I experience the urge to be racist but I fight that urge. Don’t suppose I made you feel uncomfortable just because YOU are white?
Random Dude: Nah Nah Nah, What I mean is umm umm , are people in Australia racist towards YOU?
Daniel Ngari: Nah Nah Nah. Why would THEY be? (hehe)
My friend, I just find it ill mannered to walk up to strangers and ask the kind of questions the random dude was asking me. But I was cool with him; we ended up having a beer together and learned a great deal about each other. I learned that he had intolerant views about people he considered different, not because he sought those views but because he grew up in an environment where he did not interact with people from other races.
Racism is the belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and those racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race. (Wikipedia). I chose to add this topic to the people series because I think it is an issue that affects the success of millions. I hope to inspire you to have a winning attitude in life and to defeat racism.
This blog is about inspiring you to be the best you can be. I will be tackling the full spectrum of issues that I feel determine or constrain the success of my readers. From time to time, I will be tackling issues that might make people uncomfortable. I apologize in advance for this blog post if it touches a raw nerve.
We are one People
Asia accounts for over 60% of the world population with almost 3800 million people. The People’s Republic of China and India alone comprise 20% and 17% respectively. Africa follows with 840 million people, 12% of the world’s population. Europe’s 710 million people make up 11% of the world’s population. North America is home to 514 million (8%), South America to 371 million (5.3%), and Australia to 21 million. (Wikipedia).
We all share a common planet and a lot of human traits. We are one but we are many. Unfortunately, people focus on the differences not our similarities.
This blog is about inspiring you to succeed. You may be an Australian, an Indonesian, German, South African or American. We all want to succeed. We all want good health; we all want our families to be safe. We all want love and affection, we all want food and shelter, we all want sex and entertainment … The priorities might differ but we are one people at the core.
If you had an accident and found yourself stranded on a country road, you would most likely not worry about the colour of the skin or country of origin of the man or woman who stops to help you and takes you to hospital. Why is it that in other times we focus on our differences?
Celebrating our Differences
I came to Australia in 1998 and found myself in a class with people from more than 16 different nationalities. I found it difficult at first to relate with people from other Nations as I had been brought up in Kenya without interacting with other races.
One thing that I found is that by learning about other people and taking a genuine interest in them and where they came from gave me remarkable insights on the full mosaic of the world population.
I learned to celebrate our differences by learning about others. I find it is a great way of bringing down barriers and shunning intolerance. Instead of looking down on others for being different, try and embrace it and immerse yourself in learning about a different culture or race.
Obama – The Dream Come True
The election of American president Barack Obama has given many people hope that one day soon, people will be judged by the content of their character instead of the colour of their skin.
When that day comes, people who have been hiding behind racial and tribal cocoons will not have anywhere to hide. I personally are greatly inspired by the election of Obama and every now and again I find myself vainly basking in the glory that his father came from Kenya, just like me ..
Racism and Success
As I said, I am lucky not to have experienced rampant racism in my life. I have never felt the full effect of racism and I hope I never do. There are people like Nelson Mandela who suffered in the hands of Apartheid. Inspite of all that he was willing to forgive and move forward. This made him a succesful and well respected statesman world over.
Racism, especially institutional racism can have a devastating effect on people. The way you handle it will have a profound effect on you. If you focus on how racist other people are towards you, you will get more of that. If you focus on the good in people and seek to build bridges between people, you will be on your way to success and paving the way for others who will come after you.
When I finished my university course, I was applying for jobs and one of my friends from Kenya told me not to bother, that Australians won’t give me an office job. I spent a couple of months looking for jobs in the IT sector and when I did not find one, my friend’s words started ringing true to my ears.
However I decided to get rid of that victim mentality and think about the situation from a different perspective. A lot of more experienced computer science graduates had been laid off in the year 2000 because of the Dot Com Crash. There were more people looking for jobs with better qualifications and experience than me. It was not an issue of race.
Infact, I dare say that it is racist to bring up the issue of race preemptively to deny yourself opportunities in life. The assumption that you will get a raw deal because of the color of your skin is as bad as getting that raw deal. I promised myself to never cry wolf in regards to racism. Maybe that is why I have not seen it much.
Anyway, I decided to change my approach and print out fliers and drop them off to companies in the city and the surrounding business districts. I printed over 500 fliers and walked around from shop to shop telling companies that I could design their websites, create databases or PowerPoint presentations. I did not have to knock too many doors before doors started opening for me. The people who were buying my services were the same Aussies that my friend doubted could give me a fair go. I have been here long enough to understand that most businessmen and women in Australia do not care about your race; it is what you bring to the table. I suspect that is true in many parts of the world.
Sometimes that is all it might take for you to succeed. Instead of complaining that racism is preventing you from getting opportunities in life (and it may well be), focus on how you can position yourself differently to provide the most value to your customers or employer.
Success is all in the mind. If you want to succeed, focus on what you want and not the obstacles that may be on your way. Racism is one such obstacle. Even if a couple of people are racist, you could find someone who is not and have a win-win situation with that person.
However, in some cases race might make people be prejudiced against you. It may call on you to work harder or go an extra mile for your success. If it comes to that, do it with a cheerful heart and your day will come. Every dog has its day.
The best way to succeed in life, career or business is to believe in your self. Whether you are white, black, blue or green, you need to know that your strength lies not in your skin but in your mind. It is your mind that you need to control and enhance if you want to succeed in life regardless of what the world thinks.
I do not want to trivialize the issue of racism just because I have not personally encountered it. However, my position is that racism is just another obstacle that you might have to overcome to get to your goals. Like all obstacles, victory starts in the mind.
Make Love Not War
Bob Marley sang a song called WAR that went a little something like this:
“Until the philosophy which holds one race superior and another inferior is finally and permanently discredited and abandoned, everywhere is war and until there are no longer first-class and second-class citizens of any nation, until the colour of a man’s skin is of no more significance than the colour of his eyes. And until the basic human rights are equally guaranteed to all without regard to race, there is war. And until that day, the dream of lasting peace, world citizenship, rule of international morality, will remain but a fleeting illusion to be pursued, but never attained… now everywhere is war.”
It starts with individuals, it starts with you. To be able to fight racism and get to the dream of success, we should focus on loving one another and bring out the best in each other. Otherwise the world will always be at war with people weighed down by mediocrity.
Ask the Right Questions
The kind of questions you ask yourself about other people will determine how you feel about them. The kind of questions you ask other people will determine how they treat you. The kinds of questions you ask yourself determine your destiny. Ask the right questions and you will get the right answers.
Do Something Today
Ignorance is the cause of racism. Do something today to shun intolerance by learning something positive about people from a different race or part of the world or country. It is the small steps towards accepting diversity that will help us rise above mediocrity and usher in an era of social justice and success.
P.s – Please enjoy the video of the Australian Reconciliation Song “We are Australian” that inspired the title of this blog post. For the lyrics please visit http://www.lyricstime.com/the-seekers-i-m-australian-lyrics.html
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Racism was something I just wouldn’t think about or even notice. Seriously, I can say that prior to this year, I had experienced racism exactly once (i.e. one time when I felt that a decision was racially based) – and I lived and worked and went to school in Southern USA!
Now that I live in NYC, in a space of a few months, I was followed in a store AND treated badly and denied service at a deli. All incidents involved other minorities (hispanic and asian). When I talked about these incidents, it was left to me to prove that it was indeed racism.
Racism is hard to prove, it takes a lot of energy and is hardly worth it (in my limited experience). To make matters worse, thinking about it attracts more of it. Phew! What to do.
I believe in carrying on with my life, and not letting ignorance taint my life, body, soul, mind and/or spirit.
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@ Downunderhater … your views are myopic
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Sure a black man has made it in white house.This is a clear indication that
racism is becoming a thing of the past.I have never been outside Kenyan
boundaries but I know how discrimination hurts no matter the reason.
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Hi Pauline
I have been in Australia since 1990, i came here (Perth, Western Australia) when there were only five Kenyans here. this same issue of been ask the country of origin has confronted me for many year. My last job involved a lot of traveling in and out of Australia and often this question will be asked although I hold Australian passport.
Nevertheless,I don’t think this is racism, these guys here are not used to seeing Black people unlike USA.Actually, in my early days every time I said that I was from Kenya people used to ask me which part of South Africa is Kenya.
I do really believe that it is lack of education, Australian education system especially in High school even states that Egypt is in the middle East.
So, my friend, it really up to you how you take this, As from Ngari blog, understanding the other perspective is very important.
If Obama looked at things in this “Lens of Belief” he would not have made it.
Steve
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Dude honestly. Racism is alive an true in Australia. I believe that when colour, origin or nationality becomes the immediate question of choice in a social or business context then you’ve already established differences between two or more people. Most Australians that i’ve met begin with the standard questions – where you from? how is it in Australia? Are we racist? bla bla… I’ve chosen to believe that these questions are geared towards the person asking affirming their status. Hence the term TALL POPPY SYNDROME. I believe that if someone is genuinely interested in anothers life, then a chord of similarities would be established way ahead of differences being laid on the table and the friendship would sore beyond the walls of a nightclub, pub, soccer pitch or wherever you’ve met. Read about the Tall Poppy Syndrome son.. and trust me Aussies know it exists. Now on the flip side the few Australians that i am friends with did not bother asking origin, status, how i got here etc until we established common ground. All i’m saying is first-off my character was judged, then came friendship and following that, stories of my origin, heritage etc came to play.
Lets look at in in another angle – USA – no one that i met there asked me ridiculuos questions – it was about getting the job done. Once i impressed the person or did what i had to do, then intimate questions of origin etc became a subject or choice because they were GENUINELY interested and have kept in touch since then.
Then lets discuss the White Australia Policy – do you know why it existed – to reserve jobs and development for the white person. This is because foreigners were a threat as they would do an equally good job, for half the price because they were ‘presumed’ as used to living in harsh conditions. This is 1973. If a society like US is still edgy about race you think Aus is the place that miraculuosly accepts all race. HELL NO. To be invited into one’s country, doesnt mean your welcome.
Having lamented.. i understand your blog. You life is your life. If you choose to see Racism..you will see it and it will eat you alive. Just get yours and be confident and articulate in your intentions be it social or professional. Beleive in yourself.
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I have never traveled outside Kenya but from your articles I get to know how it feels being isolated from others due to your race or ethnicity.Its my hope that your articles will transform many lives.
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Racism is in ones mind.
Some of these topics I tend to avoid because they are loops to mine eye.
I have met afew sad people in my life but all they were trying to do is test my waters. But I have learnt not to break. An example, when I was studying I worked as a console operator at a petrol station. Im in Australia too. So in a shift I met upto 400 people.
In and out. I cannot lie I was never asked where I was from. But you see what differs is the context they want to know.
In some cases I said Kenya and the Australian would say “jambo”. I have been to Kenya and I love it.I have made a friend.
I am a happy soul and I know because I try and strive to be. Always smiling with the sun.
So one day I was asked by a certain person.We were having clashes in kenya then;
Him:Where are you from?
me:Kenya
Him:Ohhh you are so lucky not to be there at the moment with the clashes going on
me:Im sure Kenya will solve it, if at all anything we have a president and a prime minister now
Him:Ohhh lets hope that works,Or we may have to send the British down there.
Unmoved, calm,it was a wonderful day, I said with a smile
me:That would not be necessary, I would be president by the time that happens:)
Im not sure if I imagined it or did he even take one step behind and I noticed the sun winking at me.As I said I may have imagined it.
And by the end of the year Obama won.
There is one thing I know for sure,should that man ever meet a kenyan, he will know what questions to ask.
In this life if you want to be the victim, life proves to you exactly that.
One of my favourite stories on racism is that of Johnny Lee Clary.should you have time look at the link.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBwIRq_hmjg
This man was the leader of the KKK and today he is a Reverend. Is it that beautiful
But there is one thing I must highlight, he says the worst form of hatred is that of your own people turning against you.
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My first impression was that you were contradicting yourself. Then I read the article again and really got it. It is all about focus!
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I think you got it spot on.. It all begins with ignorance..
When i was in Saudi, I first heard a lot about how arrogant they are especially to Africans..
When i started interacting with them, we got on famously with the ones I would talk to, who would be curious about my religion, my lifestyle and so on and they told me they never imagined that an African would be such a kind person….
It taught me a lot in basics of dealing with other people..
My most recent experience was in the Philippines.
My classmates tended to avoid me in my first year of study, and I used to tell myself it was an issue of being rejected due to my being different..
When I was finally able speak in their language, Tagalog, I suddenly had a great flow of schoolmates willing to be my friends, sharing stories with me and it all surprised me..
I asked one of my closer friends, and he told me the reason why the others tended to avoid me before was that they were not that confident with their English, they thought I would laugh at their poor English (they speak Tagalog almost all the time), and that he used to speak with me since he was confident of his English..
And there was I blaming my race for it..
I really am inspired by this article, since I am reminded of the need for tolerance, which is in such short supply in my mind set that a reminder was in order…
Thanks bro, keep it up..
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Michael jackson sang this songs, ‘ Black or white.’. You are my brother is doesn’t matter what color your skin is.. I don’t understand it when people try to be racists yet it if widely spread in the world.. I mean it true birds of the same feathers flock together but it is not to be against the other birds..
We are all God’s children and where each one was born is direct intervention of God! None of us is by mistake or by chance! You parents may not have planned for you but God did..
Rick Warren in his book ‘The Purpose Driven Life’ chap two explains that… the circumstances that surrounded your birth were organized by God HImself.. Our birth did not take Him by surprise… He deliberately chose our skin color, our parents and even the color of our hair…. Whether we love, not love or are indifferent about our color, parents or our origin, God did it INTENTIONALLY….
The most important thing is not what we have but..’Whose we are’
We belong to God!!!!!!!
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Good read on racism hopefully this will change now that a black man is in White House and would most likely push for abolishment of the same. You can check my blog on fintradecapital.blogspot.com to read about investments in Kenyan stock market.
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Wow just another inspiring article by this young guy
Dan im based in Dubai where ironically you experience racism from foreigners like me and not the locals who are humble and have alot of respect for others
Like you said we are our own worst enemies instead of crying racism we should go out to prove we can just be the best like obama did n many others
Personally i always believe in being the best i do
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