Semela Ntswaki
Racism is anything said or done to harm, ridicule or disadvantage someone from another race and it is based on ignorance and fear of anything unfamiliar. A lot of South Africans are suffering from racism, and the issue is left unattended to and everybody pretends to like it or rather turn a blind eye.
There are a lot of people who are racists in our country, and also types of racism; like hidden racism which is use by the media by mentioning somebody’s skin colour on TV and newspaper. This sets a negative idea in a mind of the person reading or watching, and also the common racism where one is judged according to his skin colour, language, country, culture and religion. Racism exists in different institutions and it needs to be addressed, because racism has huge impact towards this country and its people as it can lead to violence, war and gangs.
In the business sector people are hired because of their skin colour, race and class or it depends on what colour the manager is, if the manager is black you’ll find eighty percent (80%) of black workers there. Other people are hired out of pity like in a case where you find people being hired because they are poor and black.
To maintain peace and to keep the economy of South Africa stable, one has to be employed because of his or her qualifications, knowing that in the long run the product will and can be sold, in the process the employer will benefit as well as the employee. Businesses should have employees trained to help reduce racism in their institutions.
The government should implement anti-racism groups from schools to advantage and disadvantage communities targeting the youth, the very nucleus of this country. This program should have a fun and entertaining way of dealing with racism.
Things like door-to-door campaigning where young people get the opportunity to get into houses around their neighbourhood to spread the information. Camps, workshops and lots of exciting things and having an anti-racism week or month and a toll free line could help in breaking the silence. The television is definitely one thing that can make things seem like they are real so, TV programmes would educate our communities on racism issues and its consequences, we will be creating a great environment for kids to grow in. Talk shows can also be used as a form on educating fellow South Africans on racial problems.
Universities should form organisations by recruiting people of different colour, religion, culture, language, and countries. Students must form a bridge which deals with racial issues a more professional way so that qualified students should be in a position to handle racial issues as the join the South African work force.
Religious groups should try to interact with one another, try to learn more about other churches value, culture and ethics. Priests should also emphasise the fact that we are made by one person who is above everything else and that is God.
During the anti-racism week or month people should meet for a day to have a walk around towns wearing T-shirts written: “We all belong to one race and that is the human race”, supported b y policemen and women not forgetting musicians and a song should be compiled b musicians and sung by everyone.
People all over our country need to know that racists missed the opportunity to learn about other people’s culture, religion and more, but most of all about people as individuals. We have a beautiful country with diversity in culture, but there is no point in having them while people don’t want to learn.
The knowledge about racism should be spread around from kids to adults, but especially to kids from primary schools because it is said that people are not born racist. Their views develop as they grow up depending on views of their families and friends and what is seen on TV, hear from the radio and read in newspapers.
If we target those young minds before the get exposed to plausible ideas, teaching a child is teaching the nation because the future of this country belongs to them. When it comes to young adults and adults the project will be aimed on changing their views about racism.
Over the last five hundred ears people were racist and this lead people into war, but it is sad that some people don’t want to move on with life, they want history to repeat itself. It’s time for South African to stand up for what the have.
Racism will and can be defeated if only we become one and put our mind on it, people have to start being optimistic about life and stop being pessimistic. Let us start solving problems today so that tomorrow will have a problem free country.
We may have different skin colours, language and so fourth, but the fact remains we belong to one race and that is the human race.
