Education can combat racism

Everyone, no matter their skin colour, has had the experience of being mistreated or of witnessing someone being mistreated because of who they are or what they looked like.

That is why most South Africans agree there is an urgent need to open frank and honest discussions on racism.

It is our collective responsibility to educate people around us about racism and find ways to eliminate it.

For us, a national discussion will help undo the damage done by racism, strengthen people's abilities to confront racism in their daily lives, help people form close relationships across races and remove racism from society's institutions.

In reality, we fight racism everywhere, every day throughout the year, even 22 years after the end of legalised apartheid.

People of all ages still endure hatred, injustice and humiliation because of their skin colour, descent, national or ethnic origin, or other supposedly racial characteristics.

In the last few months, several incidents have highlighted racism in South Africa. The most high profile incident concerned Penny Sparrow, an estate agent in KwaZulu-Natal, who made racist comments on social media about black people using Durban's beach on New Year's Day.

Then a government employee, Velaphi Khumalo, posted a comment that black South Africans should do “what Hitler did to the Jews” and cleanse the country of white people.

He was suspended.

The anger against such racist sentiments is understandable, but it gets in the way of figuring out what to do to eliminate racism and how to heal from its toxic effects.

I believe all of us would love a world with more equality, with more bridges across racial divides.

As President Nelson Mandela said in Long Walk to Freedom: “No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.”

But our reality of still divided schools and neighbourhoods makes it easy to turn our heads.

What we need is education that promotes tolerance and celebrates diversity.

There is a need to step up educational activities at all levels – for young people, leaders and managers and employees.

I’d like to suggest some ideas about where to start.

People can reflect on this question, “What is or was your earliest experience or memory of racism?”

The truth is, people have traumatic memories of racism and episodes of gross injustice.

We need to create platforms where people can tell their stories about racism without fear of being judged. Silencing the pain is more destructive.

Listeners need to have compassion and empathy and be able to acknowledge the pain people experienced. This is the first important step towards acknowledging and creating a common understanding about the impact racism has on people’s lives.

This is also the first step to helping those who have suffered heal.

The next question: “What are the subtle things people of other races say or do which you consider racist?”

All races can learn a lot from each other but there needs to be willingness to teach each other about new ways of engaging.

The next question: “What do you love about your own race?”

Every one needs to be proud of their race, colour, ethnicity and religion while still being able to appreciate and respect others. Pride does not put other people down. A true respect for other races has to start with respect for where we come from and who we are.

These are just tiny first steps towards healing the wounds of racism and creating a more just society.

What we should do in every community is to create a new context where everyone is treated fairly, equally and with respect, irrespective of their colour, race, gender, nationality or religious belief.

Phumulo Masualle is premier of the Eastern Cape