Say no to racism and tribalism

I would have you understand, that I not only love my race, but am pleased with my skin colour; and while many blacks may feel degraded by being called blacks, and wish to be classed among other races more favoured, I shall feel it my duty, my pleasure and my pride, to concentrate my feeble efforts in elevating to a fair position a race to which I am especially identified by feelings and by blood.

The prejudice which some races have against my race gives me no pain. If any man does not fancy my skin colour, that is his business, and I shall not meddle with it. I shall give myself no trouble because he lacks good taste. If he judges my intellectual capacity by my skin colour, he certainly cannot expect much profundity, for it is only skin deep, and is really of no very great importance to anyone but myself. I will not deny that I admire the talents and noble characters of many people of not my race. But I cannot say that I am particularly pleased with their physical appearance.

My friends, we can never become elevated until we are true to ourselves. Let us go to work-each man in his place, determined to do what he can for himself and his race. Let us try to carry out some of the resolutions which we have made, and are so fond of making. If we do this, friends will spring up in every quarter. Let's have that in mind that happiness is found alone in doing good to others, that humanity is a unit, that he who injures one individual wrongs the race; - that to love one's neighbour as one's self is the sum of human virtue-and let's all advocate for good neighbourliness!

Racism &Tribalism is the combination of all crime. It is War.

Those who deprive their fellow-men of home, of liberty, of education, of life because of race or tribe, are really at war against them as though they cleft them down upon the bloody field. It is intemperance; for there is intoxication when the fierce passions rage in man's breast, more fearful than the madness of the drunkard, which if let loose upon the moral universe would sweep away everything pure and holy, leaving but the wreck of man's nobler nature.

Statesmen, you who have bent at ambition's shrine, who would leave your names on the page of history, to be venerated by coming generations as among those of the great and good, will you advocate the cause of the down-trodden, remembering that the spirit of liberty is abroad in the land?

The precious seed is sown in the heart of the people, and though the fruit does not appear, the germ is there, and the harvest will yet be gathered. The world is going on, not indeed keeping pace with the rapid tread of its leaders, but none the less progressing. As the people take a step in one reform, the way is prepared for another.

Now while other evils in man's social and political condition are being remedied, think you that Racism and Tribalism can stand the searching test - an enlightened people's sense of justice? We are one people, let's all learn to coexist on our mother earth without having some races superior than the other. Some think they belong to the finest flower of civilisation which is disgraceful. Let's all teach our children to say No to Racism and Tribalism.

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Kufakunesu Mawira can be contacted on 0772 322 580 or mawirak1979@yahoo.com