Do It Like The Kids Do
Have you ever watched children in a public environment? Just watched them? Have you ever watched two children who are complete strangers interact? How they walk up to each other, smile, laugh with each other? Talk to each other, even, in the language that toddlers speak, of course? Sure you have.
Have you ever watched two children of the same race do this? Now, have you ever watched two children of different races do this? Funny how the behaviour is precisely the same, huh?
All but the most ignorant know that ‘racial’ differences are arbitrary social constructs, right? I mean, at the genetic level, people are the same. Hate groups masquerading as legitimate organisations may feel sick to the stomach at that statement, but the ‘pure mind’ inherently realises this. The mind tampered with forgets.
The pettiness isn’t in that the laws were passed as opposed to them being accepted by the intelligent.
Alas, everybody has character flaws.
My flaw is that I’m extremely liberal. Liberal to a fault, even… so much so that I think there’s something wrong with those who are not. I don’t get it. Insofar as that which others do neither harms you nor interferes with your livelihood, why have a say?
Interracial relationships? Absolutely! Why limit options due to something arbitrary like race? Word to Seal and David Bowie: your wives are beautiful.
Interracial adoption? Sure. I’m confident children in orphanages want (need?) parents, and those who want (need) children shouldn’t be stopped from offering children a home due to pigmentation.
Hey, if we could sidestep race for a second, GLBT marriages? Why not? That’s a conversation we should have, but it’s probably beyond the scope of this piece.
Children get it. There’s nothing in skin. You, me, society teach them otherwise. You, me, society, teach them incorrectly. You, me, society need to be deliberate in reversing that process.
Hear hear, Motheo! Great piece.
Well said, Motheo…
I wonder what SandyRulz will have to say to this.
Whenever I walk around in public places like shopping malls, I am always surprised by the number of (white) foreign men walking proudly with their (black/coloured) South African wives, their kids in tow.
People from other countries (especially Europe) do not have the hang-ups that we have about colour. One day neither will we…that is to say if the politicians will allow us to get over it.
true what you say Deevs, the Europeans are way ahead of us when it comes to interracial relationships.
I’d like to meet these Europeans! During my travels I’ve only seen worse racism when it comes to interracial relationships (both Europe and the US).
I’ll be bold and say they are in South Africa for a reason.
@Alex Papadopulos
u coudl be right Alex
Alex, you are crazy. Interracial dating is much more accepted here and in Europe than in South Africa. South Africa is the western world’s baby in regards to integration and when I went to visit there, it was obvious to me that the whites and blacks just do not mix over there, let alone date. I’m sure there are interracial relationships there like there are in Alabama here. A handful yet with plenty of backlash. London, NY, Paris….those are just three examples of how open minded they are in regards to dating interracially. I work with someone who only dates black men and it’s a non-issue, yet, it seems to be issue enough with South Africans to warrant it being an article topic on this site. Anyway, as for the article itself, i obvioulsy agree with the authors perspective. It was very well written and all his points were on point.
Thanks all for the kind words. To chime in on the back-and-forth about who are more open to interracial relationships, I think various regions/countries have pockets within them where it’s cool.
Living in Cape Town now, I see interracial relationships a lot less then what I saw whilst living in the northern parts of Johannesburg. The same would apply to, as nellynichi hinted at, living in Alabama versus living in, say, San Francisco.
My piece wasn’t really about interracial relationships specifically as much as it was about people being pretty much the same skin deep, but interracial relationships present interesting discussion points.
The point is this – we assume identities, we are not born with them. The identity of a racist or even one with prejudices (as we all have to some degree) can be rejected and reformed. Believing otherwise is uninformed, believing it impossible is plain lazy.
Motheo´s last blog ..Sole ownership or partnership – the pros and cons
Alex – I have never dated a white/black South African, but I often get hit on by foreign men (French, Indian, German and Italian once) and I dated a German guy too at some point. A friend of mine is married to an Italian.
You must hang out in some dodgy places!
Quite a nice piece
Made me think a little… discrimination/hate based on pigmentation is pretty much the same as using toenails to judge people.
How arbitrary.
Aah and also on the point – kids are not learning the hatred as much anymore
You should see the little ones playing with each other all day. If I had cockles they’d be warmed.
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