Colour prejudice

Prejudice of different kinds has prevailed in most human societies, with that based on skin colour being most notable

Prejudice of different kinds has prevailed in most human societies, with that based on skin colour being the most notable. Sometimes this kind of prejudice comes out in bold relief by egregious incidents of racism against black people in the US and other countries. The recent killing of two African-Americans, George Floyd and Rashard, sparked widespread protests both within the US and around the world. Inspired by the recent happening in America, a member of the Sindh Assembly, Tanzeela Ume Habiba Sheedi, who happens to be Pakistan’s first lawmaker from the Sheedi community, has announced working against the long-held prejudice against her community in Pakistan, saying the colour prejudice has held back the progress of Sheedis.

In this connection, the lawmaker presented a resolution in the Sindh Assembly condemning the recent wave of racism in the US, and also drew the attention of the House to the need for eliminating colour prejudice in the province and the whole of Pakistan. She says her community is being subjected to discrimination in various spheres of life. Because of this they have little access to education and resultantly jobs and other economic opportunities. She says community members are bullied and ridiculed in schools and other educational institutions not only by fellow students but by teachers as well. Such insults instill in the victims a feeling of inferiority complex. There is a general misperception about the community that they are ignorant. She has demanded of the government to take affirmative actions for her community to encourage education among them, because it is only education that can lead to real progress. She also blamed her own community for the prevailing sorry state of affairs confronting them.

Men and women from the community prefer to marry fair skinned people outside the community in order to improve the tone of their skin. Fair-skinned people enjoy advantages over people with dark skin. Seldom parents buy black dolls as a gift for their children.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 26^th, 2020.

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