So, why do we humans place so much emphasis on ethnicity, on skin colour and on our physical characteristics.
When we try to describe, discuss, understand and resolve societal conflicts? Why the constant emphasis on 'I am black, and you are white', or 'I am white and you are black'?
On 'I am Chinese, Asian, Kurd, Catalan', et al, and your are different'?
When it is more likely to be the cultural differences between people which are more powerful than their colour or non-cultural ethnic differences?
There is a lot of living to be had and done between the bi-polar worlds of 'black and white', used a a generic range to cover our differential colour spectrum.
Arguably, the life which is to be had at the extremes of the ethnic extremes is comparatively isolated and culturally and ethnically impoverished life.
A place where you only have intimate social, professional and/or personal contact, interactions with. A 'black or white world', if you like.'
People living in multicultural and multi-ethnic societies can become uneasy when the issue of these aspects of their societies are discussed.
It requires them to address certain truths. Such as the acknowledgement of their own ethnic and cultural identities, and those of people of different or other ethnic and cultural identities.
It requires them to make comparisons when and where they would prefer not to have to do so.
They are required to put 'ethnicity and culture' before their essential common humanity.
They now have cause to feel vulnerable. To feel like 'a victim' if they are of the ethnic and/or cultural group which is perceived as the under-dog.
And to feel 'as the oppressor', if they are of the dominant or more dominant groups.
Of course, in the actual situation in which they find themselves.
To be continued!
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