Racism and its discontents

“This is the best of times and the worst of times”, Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities.

The pandemic has increased the threat for society at large but the unleashing of racism in general especially on the Asian Americans has increased its own peril in society. Tragically 6% of all racist attacks reports are of children who are targeted according to analysis by M. Kulkarni, Executive Director of Asian Pacific Planning and Policy Commission.

Further details on attacks on Asian Americans visit: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/asian-americans-describe-gut-punch-of-racist-attacks-during-coronavirus-pandemic

If leaders are not heeding the threat to fight racism then concerned citizens need to understand all its consequences independent of their leaders. Or we can turn to children to slowly transform past thinking on racism.

Understanding the dynamics of racism.

With these tragic racist attacks continuing it is time to try to understand the dynamics of racism. Ironically, this is a time to exercise national and global cooperation to keep a focus on the actual enemy in order to fight the scourge of disease, mobilizing all the resources possible. Complicating this fight with racism depletes vital resources that prevent people from working together. Working towards reducing racism is also an exercise in promoting mental health. Everyone recognizes the need for exercise for the body but gymnastics for the mind may be just as important.

“To live, according to this sense of the word, we must not only observe and learn, we must also feel; we must not be mere spectators of action, we must act; we must not describe, but be subjects of description”. Mary Shelly

Historically, racism has found a home in all societies since the dawn of civilization and unfortunately is prevalent universally.

“The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is a milestone document in the history of human rights. Drafted by representatives with different legal and cultural backgrounds from all regions of the world, the Declaration was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in Paris on 10 December 1948 (General Assembly resolution 217 A) as a common standard of achievements for all peoples and all nations. It sets out, for the first time, fundamental human rights to be universally protected".

Many countries are guilty for promoting racism. For example, below is a link to a video where poor migrant workers in India were sprayed with disinfectant perhaps to reduce the spread of COVID 19 (which did not help anyway) but also to express disdain towards this class of people.
https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/30/india/india-migrant-workers-sprayed-intl/index.html

Why is racism prevalent
There is a natural desire to feel better than others. Every country in the world experiences racism. Both for the individual and collectively for society, among some perceived advantages for the racist it provides a maladaptive method of alleviating feelings of inadequacy, anger and low self worth for the perpetrator. These feelings of inadequacy can be relieved temporarily by bullying or finding an external object to transfer anger towards rather than face feelings of inadequacy. There may be short term economic benefits that enables racism to act as a buffer against having to make efforts to change.

Under most circumstances it is difficult to accommodate to new places, faces and people. Especially if these new faces, places and people are bringing new ideas, cultures, food, religions and look physically different. There is a temptation to accommodate to these new experiences reluctantly. However if there is competition generated by these different people then there are economic advantages to being racist. Such as, the acceptance of slavery because of the enormous benefits of free labor. Or the tremendous cruelty imposed on the lower caste people called Dalits in India by those who considered themselves higher caste.
https://www.hrw.org/reports/2001/globalcaste/caste0801-03.htm

Natural desire to explore and venture out
But human beings are naturally curious and prone to exploring new ideas introduced by the “other person”. In a matter of time there is a spilling over of the new persons culture, food, thoughts, religions and intellectual ideas. In spite of the enormous adversity that slaves endured their intellectual, artistic and cultural ideas managed to seep into the American society. There has been unprecedented creativity at many levels in the US because of the contributions of different races and cultures. Here is one example of this explosion of creativity in music:
https://music.si.edu/story/musical-crossroads

Disadvantages of racism
Racism is a loss of tremendous emotional, social and intellectual resources both for the perpetrator and the victim. It prevents the perpetrator from experiencing a fuller life.

Let us examine the many perils of racism.

1. Loss of creativity and entrepreneurship. Imagine sports, music, chess and science without different races and cultures contributing talent to help each field excel.

2 Restrictive effects of losing imagination. The world would be limited and restrictive without the desire to explore new land and new people.

3. Dietary limitations compromising diets. If culinary prejudice did not allow one to eat different foods boredom could arise from eating repetitive food.

4. Reducing mental experiences. To discover oneself it is important to experience change and ones reaction to change. As a young man in his 20s Jobs travelled to India for a few months and he was surprised by all his discoveries during his travels.“You need to be able to throw yourselves out, according to Jobs. To be truly innovative over time, you need to think outside of the box, and escape yourself.”

These may be the dynamics of the corrosive effects of racism on the mind of the racist but the some of the biggest issues for society are the destruction through aggression, violence and disruption racism can inflict.

Fighting racism
It is a worthwhile cause that can lead to a just, exciting and peaceful place that allows each individual to thrive and enjoy one's community and environment. There are no easy solutions because racism is so deep and hard to resolve in a short time.

There are many individuals, organizations, societies, businesses making an effort to combat this disease at many levels. One of the best ways is to begin is early education. Considerable efforts are being made by leaders, schools and non profit programs to introduce pluralistic thinking in its curriculum. The program http://teachpluralism.squarespace.com/ introduces such a curriculum that can be incorporated in early childhood.

A shining example of a world class leader trying her best is Dr Jane Goodall. The primatologist is famous for her pioneering work with chimpanzees but she has successfully established The Roots and Shoots Program that is active in many countries in the world, “To create a global community of youth who are dedicated to compassionate decision-making and are empowered to lead and influence change in their communities”. To join visit:
https://www.rootsandshoots.org/

At an individual level if tolerance and curiosity about each other becomes an honored tradition then children will grow up to be global thinkers. They are natural sponges and drawn to intellectual adventures.

Examples of youth achievements in service learning
Here are some examples of what youth at the non profit Chess Without Borders have accomplished to fight for equality in society. Teenage brothers Pranav and Prashant Ramachandra from Illinois discovered that there was a school for orphans from the civil war in Sri Lanka near their grandparents home in Southern India. They sprung into action and raised funds to provide much needed supplies for this school. They discovered the power of stewardship and knowledge about their world.

Another teenager from Illinois, Ethan Gagliano was surprised to find out that his contemporaries living in the slums of India have no access to computers. Since then he has relentlessly raised funds over several years to help establish a computer school in the Sarika Vihar slums in Delhi, India. Ethan says of his experience raising funds, “ I have enjoyed this experience of working towards a goal. It is more fun to do things for others than myself. Someday I plan to visit my friends in India.”

Then there is Eleanor van Marjvik Kooy who began volunteering in a service learning program at 6 years old and now at 20 she continues to volunteer as a leader for a variety of projects around the world. She along with the other learners gain invaluable skills in marketing, technology, public speaking, knowledge in the arts and sciences that are applied to combat inequality and racism. "This is so exciting to be involved in projects that bring us closer together". Eleanore said after hosting a Rwandan teenager whose mother was killed in the Rwandan genocide.

Here is a video of how youth at Chess Without Borders established a computer center in the Sarika Vihar Slum in Delhi, India.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmyDix4rvT0&t=16s
For more examples of what youth can accomplish through service visit:
http://shulmanchess.com/biography-of-chess-without-borders/

Service Learning can be a key to bringing all ages, races, religions, cultures, ethnicities together. But service learning starting in childhood can be a key factor in helping this world heal from its past history of violence and abuse.

“The unselfish effort to bring cheer to others will be the beginning of a happier life for ourselves.” — Helen Keller