Art by Stephen Williams (me bro).
As I was scrolling through my Substack feed, I couldn't help but notice that almost all the writers I follow are white. This made me wonder why I wasn't seeing more writers of colour. To address this, I decided to do a mini-experiment. I culled some of my subscriptions and actively searched for writers who were not white. However, despite my efforts, my feed remains overwhelmingly white. Even when I checked the suggested subscriptions, I found that for every 20 white Substack writers, there were only qtr. as many writers of African or other non-white descent.
This opened a can of worms that is far too vast, wriggly, and slimy to be addressed in one post.
What is the current state of race relations? Since the term "woke" became widespread, the film industry has begun casting more people of colour in roles that break away from the stereotypes that Hollywood has long perpetuated. These changes are becoming noticeable, especially as the public outcry for more diversity grows louder.
But we are not the problem, are we? We everyday people have never been the problem. Although there are some racist and ignorant individuals out there, my experience tells me that when you expose these people to new ideas and perspectives, and when they engage with non-white individuals, innate humanity begins to take over and in most cases, with some work, a lot of patience, exposure and education, their thinking starts to change, they become more open-minded, and we realize that we are not so different after all.
The deep-rooted and systematic issue of racism cannot be eliminated overnight, but it is crucial to continue discussing it. We have witnessed instances where footballers who play for European teams have been subjected to appalling racial harassment. However, when they try to report or react to such incidents, they are often left unsupported by the governing bodies with the authority to take necessary actions.
We don’t hear about how Africa's diamonds fund Israel's war on Palestine or that developing countries are still being subjected to ruthless mining practices, resulting in the theft of their natural resources by companies owned by families with no connection to the land other than the fact that they either colonised it or funded colonisation for their benefit. Profits are reinvested in their primary interests, which involves keeping countries rich in natural resources subjugated and under control.
We don’t speak about the fact that the countries in a state of emergency have one thing in common. The World Health Organization lists 13 countries in a state of emergency, and all, except Ukraine, are non-white countries. The outrage and level of support and concern for those in the throes of genocide, starvation and lack of medical care can be measured by the colour of their skin.
When Russia went to war with Ukraine, it felt like the world was going to end, with all the flags, charity appeals, harrowing news reports, petitions, fundraisers, and other initiatives. Those in power are still biased towards certain groups. Even in Britain, with Rishi Sunak, a token puppet of Punjabi descent, the government is stuck in a "white is right" mentality…Payouts, incentives, and donations that promote fairness and equality are not being received.
Unfortunately, we rarely hear about the promising developments in Africa and its bustling cities. When I listen to the political representatives of developing or formerly colonised nations speak, they warm my heart and stir my spirit. Their integrity, emotional intelligence, humanity, and forward-thinking abilities are truly remarkable. They speak with passion and truth from the heart, and I am convinced things are improving. A positive future is already underway.
But woah, Nelly, we have some unrest and upheaval to get through in the interim. If we recognise that racism still has its tendrils in our highest echelons and it's not going away because of a couple of Netflix specials and a few toppled statues. We must continue to challenge our notions regarding race, looking deeper into what it means and how it has played out historically and contemporarily in ourselves, others, and our society.
The Peasant and the Apple Tree
A peasant had in his garden an apple tree, which bore no fruit, but only served as a perch for the sparrows and grasshoppers. He resolved to cut it down, and, taking his ax in hand, made a bold stroke at its roots. The grasshoppers and sparrows entreated him not to cut down the tree that sheltered them, but to spare it, and they would sing to him and lighten his labors.
He paid no attention to the request, but gave the tree a second and a third blow with his ax. When he reached the hollow of the tree, he found a hive full of honey. Having tasted the honeycomb, he threw down his ax, and, looking on the tree as sacred, took great care of it.
Self interest alone moves some men. Fables, Aesop. Sixth century B.C.E.
And herein lies much of the evil of the world. Thank you for this post, Lydia.
Thanks Lydia.
Glad you’re back.