Discrimination
Abdulhussain Muhammed Tejani (Dubai, UAE) is a Change Architect in Leadership and HR and has been involved in many capacities in the community and through pro bono work with youths. Presently, he is the Chief People Officer in Leadership and HR at People Matter, and an accredited Trainer for the Human Capital Institute (US).HR DIRECTOR/ VP HR
Human Resources Vice President focused on designing and delivering effective people management, talent development and workforce planning strategies to create a high-performance culture. Built a 24-year career encompassing HR and Learning and development directorships within global healthcare, banking, education, petroleum, market research and information companies covering the MENA region.
Effectively led pre and post-merger initiatives to integrate and harmonise HR personnel, systems and functions. Developed trust and credibility of the HR function, embedding processes and systems within wider business strategy and monitoring their operational impact. A key influencer and change agent who skilfully liaises with board-level executives, senior management and business unit heads in securing commitment to change management initiatives, as well as policy and procedure implementation. An engaging and inspirational leader adept at coaching, mediating and resolving employee relations issues. Experienced in modernising compensation and benefits structures, as well as establishing strategic partnerships to aid people development and the accomplishment of overarching business objectives.
CORE COMPETENCIES
Organisation Design and Restructure People Management Talent Development HR Strategy Workforce Planning Recruitment & Selection Change Management Employee Relations Compensation & Benefits Industrial Relations Training & Development Mediation, Negotiation, Dispute Resolution Project Management Policies and Procedures Development Performance Management
Would we adopt a coloured child? Would we allow our sons or daughters to have a mixed marriage? Would you let a person who is culturally different to you lead you at a communal level?
A lot of us might answer yes immediately but deep down our stomachs may be churning. The topical aspect of racism, whilst staring at us in the face, is an age-old disease that has permeated into societies across the world.
One does not need to point fingers as we are all guilty of it in some form or the other.
As a label, it seems and feels wrong. However, the systemic indoctrination of such biases, deliberately or inadvertently from when we are children lends to our psyche accepting it without realizing it as so, until it is too late.
Racism is the belief that personality, behaviour and morals can be traced back to race, and the belief that one race is superior to another. In the case of discrimination, the issue becomes one of acting on racist thoughts.
Thus, discrimination is racism made real. A racist person’s tendency mirrors itself in his or her behaviour towards others who display a certain trait, behaviour or standing that goes against a perceived notion of equality.
As a “brown” child growing up in Africa, it was drummed into me by the “educated” as well as the “white” person of my inadequacy via books and the education system. Strangely a lot of us fell into the trap to the extent of not only believing it but adjusting ourselves to culturally fit into an acceptable norm. This led to us trying to find a middle ground to fit culturally and yet be seen as “progressive”. The offshoot of this led to something we know to be true, but avoid talking about. Multiple personalities! One for the home, one for the place of worship, one for friends and another one for work. This led to added stress and a dissolution of the real self.
As some of us reach the twilight years of life, and ponder, we learn to be a lot more truthful to ourselves. Today when I put the mirror up, my reflection tells me that whilst I have tried to be very equitable with all and have never looked down on others based on their color, there have been times when I have faltered and looked down on certain people. To be truthful, I have in some instances looked down on others in my younger self due to their lack of intellect, being sometimes self-righteous of those who within my faith did not conform with the prescribed way of worship, or those who do not kowtow to certain cleanliness standards etc. Quite unhappy with myself for this!
When one examines how racism comes about, it is quite subtle as it is inculcated within our systems and culture. Unlike colonial times, when it was done via the use of force and provision of “goodies”, today the subtlety of the approach is quite sophisticated. Nowadays, we are shown up against each other and we end up destroying ourselves.
What is interesting is that the adage of divide and conquer still permeates within our societies. Systemic myths were created on colour, economic and social lines. Systems were created to ensure conformance. This systemic racism became so common that it became enshrined in culture.
I have personally seen people beat this age-old disease and unfortunately, it is not a pill prescribed over the counter that acts fast. It ideally needs to be managed like one would manage a long-term strategy. The strategy is three-pronged. It needs to be managed at:
1. The individual/family level;
2. The communal level; and
3. The federal/governmental level.
The way kids are born to be “racially ignorant”, is how we as parents need to continuously raise them. Unfortunately, the negative in-bred experiences we have had as parents embed themselves into our children’s psyche knowingly or unknowingly.
If we download past experiences into our kids, like we download software, we are then perpetually stuck in a world that is outdated and looping itself like a bad dream.
Thus, it is imperative to be extremely conscientious at every step of the way first and foremost as individuals and then with our loved ones.
Psychologists suggest that for someone to change dramatically, the amygdala in the brain needs to experience a life-changing intervention like a near-death experience for it to be impactful. So, when we face being discriminated against; we choose to voice out against it and yet are oblivious to our shortcomings. And when reality kicks in and we realise we are now the supposed “second-class citizens”, we will have the amygdala attack.
At this stage, you realize the wisdom of leading a purpose-driven life wherein you live life on purpose and are cognizant of how everything you do and say impacts you and those around you.
When it comes to a communal approach, we need to remember that one or two bad experiences with a particular race do not taint the whole.
· What do you think the original Red Indians in the US feel about all the Americans? Don’t you know some great people in America?
· What do you think of the apartheid philosophy in South Africa in the past? Haven’t there been intermarriages between the races there?
· What do you think those in India who live by the caste system feel about the Indian Society? Not every Indian person subscribes to the caste system!
· Why are all Muslims not united despite sharing the same fundamentals? Are there no exceptions where we see Muslims from different sects living side by side in the Gulf region?
· Why is a white person in certain countries paid more than a “black”, “brown” or “yellow” person despite being equal or better? One’s ability to deliver high-calibre work does not depend on which passport one holds and there are numerous examples of this!
· What do you think the migrants into Europe feel like to live in a society that always looks at them as outsiders? Are they not equally responsible for Europe’s success?
This list is endless and encompasses the whole globe. As hard as it is to live with these mental images, some live through it day in and day out. If there is anyone who claims that racism does not exist in their minds or their society is lying to themselves, including me. However, what is wrong for us to taint the whole country, creed, and caste as being guilty? It is sweeping statements like these that lay the foundation of inherent racism.
In today’s world, it is easier to deal with inherent racism as the channels available to us are immense if used correctly. In the past, it was passed down from generation to generation. Today, one’s blog, article or musings on YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram or Snapchat can allow for a decent exchange of conversation and thus potentially start a line of evolutionary thinking via an ‘aha’ moment.
The challenging and key part of having these difficult conversations is the art of having an exchange of information (argument) that does not descend into a rant.
Those that are guided give us a very lucid and logical way of arguing. It goes like this;
1. Don’t start the argument; let the argument come to you;
2. Never raise your voice, keep it low and calm;
3. Let your facial expression be normal and should mirror calmness;
4. Let the person finish their thought process and verbalize their conversations thus avoiding interruptions;
5. When responding, start with the commonalities before you diversify into your disagreements;
6. Avoid discrimination in your discourse;
7. In an argument, one needs to explain one’s thought process as opposed to taking it for granted, that they understand. This allows them to walk in the other person’s shoes. It also allows for the thought to process itself better when the other person comes to the same realization via their machinations;
8. Last but the least, remember an argument is not about winning but about the greater good.
The last part of the management of racism is for it to be managed at the federal and/or governmental level. At this juncture, I wish to introduce a beautiful African proverb, which says, “When the fish rots, the head rots first”. This is the crux of winning the battle at this level. The leaders at the helm need to be selected on very strict criteria that show them to be emotionally intelligent and conscientious people who genuinely care about all their people and humanity as a whole.
Once you have identified the correct leaders, you need to ensure you have the right systems and processes in place to ensure that the checks and balances are catered for.
The last part of the jigsaw puzzle is for the collective, the people to uphold the principles of oneness irrespective of discrimination. This means for all of us to hold ourselves accountable whereby we police our thoughts, our words and actions.
What does this mean for us as individuals? We discussed solving the disease at three different levels. However, for an individual or a society to tackle this disease, certain behavioural aspects are critical at the individual level. These are:
1. Introspect;
2. Accept that a problem exists;
3. Recognize how the disease manifests itself in us;
4. Understand how it needs to be treated;
5. Act on the treatment
So, can Racism be solved? Absolutely!
Let me end with the questions I posed at the outset. Choices are not wrong or right; what matters is the intention behind the choice. If you do not wish to be in a mixed marriage because of the colour of one’s skin, then your intention is flawed. If your reason is based on compatibility, then you have the start of the makings of a sound decision. Unfortunately, it does not end there. Sometimes our intention of compatibility permeates from past experiences of potentially a failed mixed marriage. There your intention becomes clouded by tainting everyone with the same undertone – which again moves one into the racist realm.
Man has been blessed with intellect as the best of the Creator’s species. If you choose to raise your children exactly how you were raised by your parents, you then negate your God-given gift of learning and evolving. It doesn’t necessarily make you a better person than your parents or forefathers. I prefer to look at this and ask, “Are we happier than our parents and forefathers?” the answer should tell it all.
As human beings, we live in hope for humankind to discover their true purpose in life. We all can learn to live in harmony, love and accept each other. The inner strength to accept the unknown with bravado and enthusiasm will enable you to overcome the fear that you associate with the unknown. As the world grapples with racism, we can no longer pretend it doesn’t exist, but must take these baby steps to find solutions to our individual biases –before it becomes too late for the world and descends into chaos. It is all about building trust with someone unlike you, or even like you. It can be an exhilarating journey, should you be willing to take the first step. Will you?
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