RACISM AND RESPECT EXPLAINED

Racism Explained to My Daughter
By Tahar Ben Jelloun (New York: The New Press, 1999)

Introduction

Racism is but one form of intolerance. Racism focuses on physical attributes—skin color, facial features, hair type. But author Tahar Ben Jelloun uses this term in a broader sense, something more like intolerant thought, language, and action toward someone of a different group, whether race, religion, gender, ethnicity, even ideology. In this broader sense of the word, his attempt to explain this difficult and horrible concept is of great worth to students around the world.

Excerpt from pages 38-39, 59

[The author explains that you don’t need to love everyone in order to not be racist.]

You can’t love everyone, and if you’re forced to live with people you haven’t chosen to live with, you might not like it and pick on them, which is what a racist does. To justify his disgust, however, a racist blames physical characteristics. He might say, “I can’t stand so-and-so because he has a flat nose or because his hair is frizzy or his eyes are slanty. Deep down, racists think: “I’m not interested in knowing the strengths and weaknesses of a particular person. If he belongs to a certain group, I’ll reject him.” So he rejects someone based on physical or psychological traits.

. . .

How do you fight [racism]? First, you have to learn respect. Respect is essential. People don’t ask that you love them but that you respect their human dignity. Respect means being considerate. It’s knowing how to listen. Foreigners don’t expect love and friendship, but they require respect. Love and friendship can develop afterwards, when you get to know and appreciate someone. But in the beginning, nothing should be predetermined. In other words, you shouldn’t have any prejudices.

[The author encourages students to look at all the students in their classes, to notice and appreciate the differences between each student.] “Every face symbolizes a life and every life deserves respect. No one has the right to humiliate another human being. Everyone has the right to dignity.”

Questions and Discussion

What is the difference between respect and friendship?

How can we each be expected and encouraged to respect everyone yet not be expected to be friends with everyone?

How would you explain racism to a foreigner?