Often I find it interesting when the people who cry against racism or oppression also oppress, dominate over others without any regard or sensitivity. I certainly find it baffling how the people of African descent, also referred to as “black people” who are systemically oppressed, dehumanized and abused across the globe and across generations abuse the most vulnerable amongst them with impunity. It is something that appalls me to the core.

I do not ever understand why people complain about their own abuse yet emit the same abuses to those they think they have power over and not see anything wrong with it. In fact, many African peoples justify those abuses by faulting and blaming their victims as deserving of such abuses. Whenever I say black people are racist too, many do not understand whilst others would say it is “not the same”. I wonder what that means though.

The fact is some black people think they are more human and better than others within the black race either by having a “lighter” (fairer) skin, speaking fluent European based language, being born in European or a foreign country, living in a big city or urban centre, having a higher education, occupying a higher socioeconomic or political status
or being wealthy. In fact, the black race is ageist and very patriarchal too. Women and children are considered to be “less than” men and are largely disregarded, looked down upon and abused at will. These types of abuses and oppression within the black race are often normalized and justified. They are also sanctioned by religion and culture within black communities.

Time and time again I hear about terrible abuses including rapes, violence, beatings, torture and even killings of these oppressed and dominated groups and I see no outrage, widespread condemnation or demonstrations. Yet people get outraged about racism. Is violence against some groups more justified than others? Is violence perpetrated by some groups to be selectively condemned while others are giving a free pass? If an oppression against one group is wrong, how does one think is is fun and a good for others? Why is that acceptable?

Violence and heinous acts within our community came to bear in a story I heard today on a national radio, Peace FM today. A woman was violently attacked by her husband when she asked for “5 cedis” (less than 1$) to buy food stuff for the couple’s children. Apparently, this supposed husband crushed the women’s vagina and perhaps cervix with a hammer. She may be disabled for life because I heard her lower back bone may have been crushed also and cannot sit. I admit that mental health could have played a role but this is definitely not unique. At times men beat, injure or kill their wives for trivial and very ridiculous reasons such as failure to “cook” or make the right meal.

Where are those who claim “black lives matter”? Which black lives? Some black lives? Older or male black lives? Wealthier and influential black lives? Or they only matter when a “white” or foreign looking person attacks a black person?

Not a week go by without hearing such heinous acts perpetrated against a woman for doing absolutely nothing wrong. Last week, I heard a local politician run over a 49 year old widow’s meat (food stuff) which she was selling, a means of living for her and her children. Initially the politician, District Chief Executive (DCE) refused to acknowledge, let alone reimburse the victim for the damaged items. When the victim approached the DCE for reimbursement for the losses, she and her 15 year child were apparently beaten up by the DCE’s staff. The DCE refused to pay, lied about the incident, and denied any wrongdoing until he was confronted multiple times by the media.

These stories are familiar. When I don’t get excited about racism some people feel disappointed but I really can reconcile the double standards among many black people. I cannot understand why we condemn some wrongs and endorse the ones we commit against our own.

Violence against women, children and other vulnerable persons in black communities and societies must be confronted and condemned. All lives should in fact matter. All violence should in fact be frowned upon. If it is not acceptable against black people, it shouldn’t against women and children by other blacks also.

We should not be asking women to stay home and cook for us and punish them if they become dependents on men. We cannot blame women for being subservient if that is how we raise them and expect them to behave.

We cannot expect children to be loving, creative and confident when we diminish their spirits, suppress and violently attack them. We cannot have gentle and a loving community when we damaged our people through violence, humiliation and abuses.

We should stand up for fairness, equal right and justice. We should start treating our own people well and nicely to reflect how we want others to treat us. We should set the standards, and the right ones!

It is about time all perpetrators of violence and crimes against others including family members were prosecuted and punished severely. Violence against anyone is never justified for whatsoever reason.

stopviolenceagainstwomen! #stopviolenceagainstchildren

stophumanrigtsabuses

PROTECTALLLIVES

Signed,
Akosua G
(Human rights & Defender)
Ontario, Canada
July 02, 2020