Antonella De Santis, Gambero Rosso

I read an article by Antonella De Santis, Gambero Rosso, of 19 May 2024 titled:

“Le cucine dell’Africa non interessano, l’Italia è razzista”
“African cuisines are of no interest, Italy is racist”

Reading this article, I couldn’t help agree with how many of us relate in many ways, to Victoire Gouloubi, in our different fields of life.

First of all, thinking about how people view Africa and Africans is absurd. I n my book Beyond the Threshold…into self-discovery, I wrote, quote;

….Africa, on occasion is made to look like a village, and all Africans come from that village, divided only by various homesteads, with one village chief who over-looks everybody, ensuring that language, customs, and cultures are learnt and practiced by all.

Africa is not a village, folks. It’s not a block, nor is it a country. We’re a vast continent in which about seven European countries and East Europe, the whole of China and India, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Japan can fit easily into.

But today, I want to talk about this thing called racism. Question; shouldn’t we give it a rest already? Aren’t we giving it more value than it deserves by constantly talking about it? Is it worth it?

Unfortunately, no. It’s not a subject we can ignore.

Let’s look at Africans, for example, and how often we’re misjudged, mistreated, or disregarded. There are a lot of misconceptions and false, mostly negative, information about us as a people, our cultures, and our continent. Basically, because of a geographical disadvantage that befell us.

It’s not only Africans, but black, or dark-skinned people, generally. In my book, Beyond the Threshold into self-discovery(Oltrepassare la Soglia…all scoperta di se stessi), I wrote, quote:

Martin Luther King Jr. said that racism became stigma to the black skin. But the fact is that racism exists, it has existed, and even if it’s the 21st century, it will continue to exist. It’s a circumstance, a disease, an invisible and inevitable enemy that happens in many ways, shades, or languages. It happens to so many people (not only because of skin colour). It mainly goes unnoticed, or in some cases, it’s just properly hidden through pretence that it does not exist.

Is that true? Of course, it is.

But do you think it’s always racism or something else?

Whenever, whoever we are, we experience negativity, or difference in reaction to what we would have expected, we simply conclude the ordeal as racism. I wrote, quote:

…anyone with a racist attitude, offensive behaviour, and name-caller in whichever way, is basically sad, frustrated, angry, insecure, and a desperate person…always looking for a place, a person, or a thing to vent their negativity and rage…and the easiest targets, are anyone deemed different from them…

See that?

So, let’s look at this thing called, difference.

In my book (BTS) I wrote, quote:

…Difference provokes disorientation and resistance…the fear of the unknown…

Many people don’t know how to act or react in the face of anyone or anything that is not similar to what they are, or are used to.

A reaction, most likely caused by our psychological upbringing. Because at the end of the day, what exposure have we had all our lives for us to accept diversity? Remember, I quote again:

…We grow up learning, seeing, observing, experiencing, and understanding the views of our parents, families, or societies… Their ideologies get instilled in our mentality. We master their ways….

This difference and resistance may lead us into, quote:

…Stereotyping a group of people, judging without understanding, hating without reason, pushing away without analysing, and despising without knowing…

…these misconceptions are most often caused by our ignorance and failure to acknowledge each other.

Many people get stuck in that bubble. To them change and diversity cannot come easily. And to some, it’s unacceptable. They can’t look past that which they grew up observing. They can’t welcome difference, nor can they adjust to it. Remember that many people, I wrote, quote:

…usually come from very small circles of life. They have no exposure whatsoever and know nothing of anything beyond their livelihood.

They are scared of anything and everything that is different from them. Unfortunately, they don’t get a chance to interact widely with anybody who is dissimilar from them to better any misconceptions they might have.

That’s why they won’t welcome you, or what you bring to the table.

Even without knowing who you are, what you represent, where you come from and why, their idea of you are is already instilled in their minds. And most likely, it won’t change. And that’s enough for them to misjudge and disregard you. They will blame you for occupying space that, according to them, is not yours.

All because you are different.

So, what can you do in the face of such resistance?

In my opinion, it’s up to you, as an individual, to look ahead and past that indifference. Leave such people in their stagnant bubble. Do not give their actions and reactions much thought. Because, remember, it’s not always about you. But about them.

You can’t change people. But you can change yourself and your attitude towards that resistance. Look past it and appreciate the diversity that you are bringing to the world. Enjoy the taste of learning something new, while appreciating the interaction of whoever is willing to experience what you bring to the table.

Diversity is an eye opener. It shows you cultures, people, experiences that you wouldn’t have otherwise understood. You get exposure, you appreciate more of what the world has to offer, and you might even appreciate who and what you are from a different, if not better, perspective.

Personally, though, I say, Italy is not a racist country, but there are still a lot of racists in the country. That’s their bad.

Bottom line, many people are just scared of difference. How you individuate such actions and reactions, depends entirely on you. Thank you, Victoire, for sharing.

EdithMNKyazze2024
Author and self-publisher of Beyond the Threshold…into self-discovery
Oltrepassare la Soglia…alla scoperta di sé stessi.