RACISM is a very awkward term that is used to accuse or attack someone, his policies and his thinking. People accuse others of racism and try to extract some advantage or at least an apology from them. Recent articles in this newspaper by Dr. Ali Al-Ghamdi have raised several pertinent points while examining the issue of racism mainly in relation to Saudis and Saudi Arabia. He has frankly agreed with his readers about their viewpoints and has examined critically other viewpoints in relation to whether or not Saudis are racists. This is a narrow view of one community and nation about which it is unwise to make any simplistic generalization. Therefore, let us examine the issue of racism and see whether it is really harmful to society and whether it can be overcome.
Racism is a Western concept and term so it would be wise to view the recent history of the West in relation to this term. The Industrial Revolution began in the late 1700s in England and thereafter spread to America and Germany in the 1800s. The American Civil War was also fought during this period with the removal of slavery in 1865. Before this time, life in Europe was stagnant with not much progress; hence not much manpower was needed to maintain society. Men were needed for agriculture and in war while those of noble birth ruled different parts of Europe.
Since large numbers of men were not required for running the country, people were very selective in preserving their culture. Those in the nobility would marry other nobles and a strict code of conduct was maintained between the wealthy and the working class. There was a strict hierarchy in society everywhere, starting with kings, queens, and landowners, down to peasants. As a matter of fact the divisions were so strict that in finding a marriage partner, a detailed pedigree would be looked into.
In India, even now, there is a strict division of people into Brahmins (people specialized in learning religious scriptures), Kshatriyas (warriors), Banias (business community) and Shudras (those doing low menial jobs and often called untouchables). Legislation has been brought in but has failed to make a dent in this well-established and deeply entrenched system. The physical characteristics are so starkly evident that with a single look one can make out whether a person belongs to high caste or low caste. People take great pride in maintaining the culture and behavior code of their caste and hating those below them. A “pure breed” was referred to as one who only maintains contacts with people of his caste and religion and hates others, sometimes even leading to their extermination.
After the Industrial Revolution in the West, leaders like Abraham Lincoln realized that if the wheels of machinery were to keep moving, then a lot of people would need to be brought in to work on these machines and it was then that he fought and won the Civil War and abolished slavery.
Slavery had thrived because only unskilled labor was needed to work on cotton farms which could be managed with force, but since skilled labor was needed to work on machines and the ideas and co-operation of workers was needed to run modern society, people had to be considered equal otherwise they would not contribute fruitfully to society which included paying taxes.
After World War II, America progressed dramatically; hence a lot of highly skilled manpower was needed, such as doctors, engineers, lawyers, computer professionals, etc. So the United States began to import foreigners who worked hard in order to make a life in their new land. What attracted people to the US and Europe was money, an orderly life, equality in public life, and being part of a country with basic human rights.
While there was tremendous economic gain, there were also clashes between those who were native born and immigrants, but a better understanding of human values that puts basic human qualities above superficial qualities, such as the color of one’s skin, intelligence, physical strength, etc., led to peaceful and meaningful coexistence between nationalities and communities, leading to the development of the nation.
Now if anyone considered innate human qualities, such as nationality, community, religion, color of skin or regional background to be more important than a person’s abilities, then it was seen as a threat to the progress of society and the nation, and, hence, the term “racism” came into existence. Where progress is not considered to be of importance, one can prefer one’s native values, such as relations, family or regional background.
Racism is innately present in all of us and we all prefer people of our own background with our type of thinking for purposes of business or for social or other reasons. However, it is considered more evolved behavior if one relegates such preferences to the background and selects people based on their abilities, because society will progress if people with abilities are at the helm of affairs and it will give an impetus to others to work hard in order to attain high positions.
It is up to us whether we prefer people of our own background so that resources should remain within the confines of our family, tribe, region, country, etc., or if we instead wish to progress with our abilities and reach great heights.
Lastly, if we consider all men equal looking past their external and transitory attributes, then we will be able to communicate on a more human to human level which will go a long way in removing cruelty, hatred, malicious competition and wars.
Shabbir Thingna,
Madinah
