According to the English Oxford Living, Dictionaries Racism is defined as, “Prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one's race is superior.”
Some people think that that they are better than others and even go ahead to act on these thoughts and discriminate against other people. Those who think they are better than others are living in self-delusion. There is one race, and that is humans, and we are all equal, although not the same. It is unfortunate that physical features such as the pigmentation of somebody’s skin, the color of their hair, and shape if their nose is used to define who they area. Who in their right mind will say that the color of a house defines the house? This type of thinking is not based on any facts, but people under a delusion think they have their facts straight.
Racism is driven by fear, ignorance, greed, and selfishness. There is no scientific evidence for the subdivision of the human race, so all these divisions are social constructs that have no empirical basis.
However, the notion of race subdivision persists because of ignorance. Just because somebody thinks, believes, and even acts as if he or she is superior to others does not mean this is true. What are the parameters this individual is using to access their superiority?
It is sad that many people are allowing the ignorance of other people to influence how they view themselves and what they believe about themselves. Let God be true and let any other person be wrong. It is written you are fearfully and wonderfully made, and that you are the apple of God’s eye and was created in God’s image and likeness. If you believe this, then racism will bow at your feet.
What you believe about yourself is what people sense when they meet you.
Therefore, instead of trying to change the racist, focus on changing your belief system, because for racism to work it needs two kinds of people. Those who out of ignorance believe and act as if they are superior and those who believe that they are inferior because they have been told they are. You may be saying right now that racism goes beyond what happens between two individuals, it is institutionalized. This is where laws must be passed to counteract institutionalized racism. That is why in some countries good laws have been passed to fight racism and discrimination, but the laws alone will not deliver.
The laws are ineffective because racism is a malady of the heart and needs internal transformation. Falsehood has to be replaced by the truth. The old belief system of superiority must be replaced by the basic fact that there is one human race. The next step of the process is a change in the belief system of the people who have
been conditioned to believe that they are inferior.
Inferiority complex is a malady of the heart as well, and laws can only do so much to liberate people from this phantom. Many lives have been destroyed, and so much potential lost because of wrong programming. After the persistent and constant bombardment of derogatory messages and fabricated lies, people internalize these lies and start believing them.
What you believe is what you are eventually going to act on. The truth is simple, none of us was consulted to be born on a particular continent, and we had nothing to do with the color of our skin, hair, and shape of our nose. Therefore, there is no point wishing to be somebody else. Your mission in life is tied to the tools and resources you were born with and now is the time to start appreciating and leveraging those things that are unique and particular about you.
The worst trap is that of having a victim mentality and playing the blame game. They did this to me, they said this about me, they treated me like this, they think about me like this? What do you believe about yourself, how do you treat yourself, what do you tell yourself?
There is never any justification for hatred or any other racist tendencies, and these behaviors should and must always be condemned. That said, no matter what somebody says to you or how they act towards you and treat you, it is your reaction that determines the outcome. You have the power and only relinquish it when you allow the victim mentality and blame game to take hold of you.
Therefore, instead of focusing on changing the racist focus on developing mental toughness and strengthening your belief system. This approach will deliver you from mental slavery and break the invisible shackles that racism is trying to bind you with.
Dr. Eric Tangumonkem was born and raised in a Caldera on the Cameroon Volcanic Line in Cameroon. In addition to being a geoscientist with extensive experience in the oil and gas industry, he is a teacher and an entrepreneur. Currently, he teaches at Missional University, Embry Riddle, and West Hills College. He is also the President of IEM Approach a premier personal growth and leadership development company based on the infinite wisdom revealed over the ages. On a mission to inspire, equip and motivate people from all work of life to find their God-given purpose, pursue and possess it.
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