It has been sixteen days since George Floyd, a black man, was murdered by Derek Chauvin, a white police officer, in Minneapolis, Minnesota in the United States of America. The death of George Floyd has sparked an awakening in not just America but all over the world, with protests in over 50 states and 18 countries, especially amongst black communities that have continually been suppressed and oppressed, in one way or the other.
I am African. Ugandan, to be more precise, and even though I didn’t experience racism growing up in Uganda (which is predominantly black), we have our own set of issues related to discrimination, like tribalism and nepotism. I’ve lived abroad a few times: in London (when I was little), in Malaysia (during my undergraduate studies), and now, in Thessaloniki, Greece.
Few black people live in the city of Thessaloniki and it didn’t take me long to realise how different I was to the majority of the population. Long, hard stares while commuting on the bus. Awkward, quick acknowledgement nods when I occasionally see another black person crossing the street. It’s a strange feeling to be constantly reminded of your blackness, from strangers, as if you might have somehow forgotten. And worse, as if it were some sort of issue.
The silliest part, being black outside Africa, is the stupid questions. From holidays abroad, to my time as a student in Malaysia, to as recent as a few months ago when a full graduate student, after I introduced myself and told her where I come from, asked me if I arrived in the country via aeroplane.
No, I swam.
Being black outside Africa sometimes consists of conversations with myself as I try to come up with the most appropriate replies to the most absurd questions and scenarios. Should I take up the role of educator and inform this person that commercial air travel has been ongoing and common since the 1950s? Or will sarcasm suffice?
I remember uttering what I believed was a very polite, of course I got here by plane.
While in Malaysia, I was often asked if I was Nigerian, even when I had just told the person asking the question that I come from Uganda.
Did you not learn about other parts of the world in school?
How can a full-grown human being not know that not all Africans are Nigerian?
My personal least favourite is one dreaded by black women everywhere.
Can I touch your hair?
WHY?
Why do you want to place your filthy hands through my freshly styled hair?
I’ve never felt the urge to touch another woman’s, much less a stranger’s, hair. I rarely even have the urge to touch my own hair.
WHY do you want to touch my hair?
I still don’t have the answer to that.
On a more serious note, while living in Thessaloniki, I’ve faced blatant housing discrimination based on the colour of my skin. This one surprised me. This one awakened me to how serious of an issue racism is, not just in the United States, but everywhere outside Africa. The night that I was told I should leave the building because the “neighbours don’t like me,” was the night I realised how sick, deep-rooted, and evil the disease of racism is. And frankly, just like some of the questions I’ve been asked, how dumb.
As the world pulls together to fight for social justice, I pray that everyone will take a moment to examine themselves. To examine the parts of them that might be so inhumane that they come across to others as ignorant and wicked. The parts that contribute to the murders of innocent people. I pray that every single person examines the conversations they have with themselves and with those around them. I pray that racists listen more. Listen to how your racism makes us feel, because we do feel. Listen and see what your racism does.
And after you examine, and after you listen, you will know better. And to borrow the words of Maya Angelou; when you know better, do better.
Do better for yourselves. Do better for your children. Do better for ours.
About Guide2Uganda
Guide2Uganda (www.guide2uganda.ug) is the most comprehensive source of information about Uganda that exists on the web, with more content on Uganda and surrounding towns, attractions, museums and galleries than any other online guide that currently exists for Uganda as well as being a dynamic news and comprehensive events driven site with content being added daily.
According to WeFollow & Peer Index (whom both measure online influence) we are among the most influential online media organizations in Uganda. We were also awarded for ‘’Best Destination Website in Uganda’’ by Jumia Travel Uganda in the 2017-2018 Africa Travel Awards. If you are planning a visit to Uganda you can always reach us on; info@guide2uganda.ug
