![](https://i0.wp.com/abiodunborisade.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/d39e32fc-ef0a-4190-8342-9a494346234d.jpeg?fit=800%2C800&ssl=1)
When I delve into history books, I constantly seek to understand why Black people are so universally marginalized. If we take the biblical account of Cain and Abel, one might wonder if Cain was Black and if this story initiated a historical trajectory of scorn towards Black individuals. However, history doesn’t align with this narrative. Did Africans ever enslave Whites, commit genocide against the Chinese, or exploit the Indians to warrant such universal disdain? Certainly not. The issue here isn’t actions but rather perceptions and pigmentations.
It’s a well-established scientific fact that all humans originated from Africa, spreading across the globe, which suggests that we all share a common ancestry. Yet, despite this shared origin, the degrees of melanin in our skin have been unjustly used as a basis for discrimination. African culture is notably hospitable, often treating guests with extraordinary kindness and generosity. Could this inherent warmth and openness be the reasons why they have been historically oppressed, exploited, and enslaved?
Here we are in 2024, and racial tensions remain pervasive. Racism is as virulent as ever, and it seems that every community, except those of Black descent, harbors some level of prejudice against Black people. Even more disturbing is the intra-racial discrimination based on skin shade within the Black community itself, with some individuals going to the extent of bleaching their skin in hopes of gaining acceptance by White and other non-African cultures.
Globally, the experience is stark; in China, curiosity often translates into uncomfortable staring and touching. In India and Japan, the presence of a Black person can invoke discrimination and fear, respectively. In places like East Germany, outright hostility can occur.
What went wrong, who caused this, and when will it end?
This is not just a question of historical errors but a contemporary crisis that requires global introspection and action. We must challenge these prejudices and work collectively towards a world where race does not determine one’s value or safety.