If we were them and they were us

 This article is set to engage our minds in deep introspection on one of the greatest topic affecting the people of color as well as whites, the minority as well as the majority all over the world. Such a matter that has the power to affect the world's peace, economy and the general development of the entire human race should not be left to sentiment and blame games. What is wrong is wrong irrespective of who did it, and what is in the past is in the past.

Some years ago in an ancient city of Ile-Ife in Osun state Nigeria, I was visiting a friend and a fellow church member by name Babatunde O. Nicholas who was living in the same compound with another member and friend called Bolarinwa Kehinde.
On my way to their house I tripped and fell, upon getting to the house I met Mr. Bolarinwa and his wife also visiting with Mr. Babatunde's family, after exchanging pleasantries, I shared with them what happened on my way to the house, after sympathizing with me, sister Bolarinwa (Mr. Bolarinwa's wife) asked me a question of which I innocently answered without actually thinking of the implication nor the possible proverbs behind it. She asked, "After you tripped and fell, then stood up, what did you do next?" And I answered, "I just moved on, I mean what else should I have done, sleep there?" Then she laughed and said "then you are a  small boy", I wasn't happy about that conclusion, I considered it an insult, my friends tried to lighten the environment by explaining what the scripture says about little children, that however didn't stop me from feeling insulted by a woman has no right to call me a "small boy" and don't forget we leave in the men's world. Then she continued " there is a saying Yoruba (her language) that when I child falls down he/she gets up and continue the journey, but when an adult falls he/she gets up, looks back to ascertain the cause of the fall so it could be prevented from happening again", right there and then I realized I was a small boy then. In my tribe (Igbo and I believe most of the African tribes) believes that having a conversation without proverbs is like eating rice without a sauce.
 
Slave Trade: (If they were the slaves and we were the slave traders/masters)

The slave trade or what is also referred to as the transatlantic slave trade which took place between the 16th to the 19th century was one of the greatest examples of man's inhumanity to man. Humans are sold, caged, branded (with a hot iron), transportation under the most inhumane condition ever known to man, be auctioned and forced to labor in Europe and America without pay. The majority of those sold into slavery had been sold to the western slave traders by their fellow West Africans (only few of these slaves were directly captured by the slave traders in what is called the "coastal raid")
Randy J. Sparks in his book, 'Where the Negroes Are Masters stated'  ".... at certain locations on the Gold Coast, native Africans were not merely complicit in the trade, but they active, enthusiastic and decidedly voluntary participant".
You will agree with me that if they were us, they wouldn't do that to themselves.
                 

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Tribalism vs Racism:

When they racially discriminate us, we call them racists, make all the noise about it, we form groups and movements, but when we discriminate against them, we think it is a simple reactionary effect of their discriminatory attitude towards us and we mistake it for "standing for ourselves". Have you thought for a moment, if we were them and they were us? Will you take a moment to think of them now? kindly answer the following questions when you are done reflecting: if we were them and they were us

• Would we have allowed them to ever preside over us (e.g President Barack Obama)?
• Would we have ever allowed intermarriage? 
• Would we have been giving aids to them (for whatever political reasons)?
• Would we have ended the slave trade nor the already enslaved be free?
• Would we have established out of our hard-earned money Foundations, Charity organization and other NPOs (Non-Profit Organization) to help them?

These are just a few of the many questions that we must consider. I will do more than just ask questions but move further to suggest some possible answers putting many factors into perspective one after the other.

1.  Would we have allowed them to ever preside over us? I Ghana for example, according to some historians, the people from northern Ghana was said to be at one point in the country's history been partly enslaved by the kingdom of Asante (Ashanti) in the south, so many years later an average Asante feels superior to a northerner and as such will never submit to the leadership of a northerner ( a major problems faced by the former Ghanaian president, John D. Mahama whiles in office), this is just us-to-us. ( we-we ooo).
   
2. Would we have ever allowed intermarriage? Let's take a look at what is referred to as "the Osu caste system"(outcast) in Igbo land Nigeria. Osu caste system is an ancient practice that discourages social interaction and marriages with a group of persons called Osu. The origin of the Osu caste system can be traced back to the era when deities were believed to ask for human sacrifices during festivals, leading to the purchase of slaves by the people, these slaves and their children and generations yet unborn are tagged "Osu", till this present day, an Osu not allowed to marry nwadiala or amadu (Igbo: real born or noble), is not allowed to "break kola" which mean to pray on behalf of a nwadialla or amadu (Igbo: real born or noble). This is us-to-us, just think about it....
3. Would we have been giving aids to them? Would we have established out of our hard earned money Foundations, Charity organizations? You may say they do so for political or personal reasons, you will agree with me that If we were them and they were us, we will simply take what we want and wouldn't care to give back to the society under any guise, just think of the wealthy guy in your family, think of the politicians in your country and ask yourself what has he or she been able to do for the society that made him or her rich?
4. Would we have ended the slave trade nor the already enslaved freed? The recent case in Libya should give you a better idea...

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