(Originally posted on Substack as: #3. Racism, Sexism & Elitism or, a pause for me to face some truths.)

“Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.”

―James Baldwin

Hi everyone,

I didn’t know who James Baldwin was before this month, but I intend to find a way to watch I Am Not Your Negro, a documentary about him (trailer here).

I don’t know a lot of things.

I accept that. That’s one of the reasons why I started doing But The Thing Is. To learn & to go through the process of learning – by reading. By writing. And by listening.

But sometimes, there are things that are simple and Right. And true facts: Pretending that these particular, specific Things are complicated – no matter how caught up & entangled they might be in whatever other stuff – or that we don’t know enough is bullshit that I fall for sometimes. 

So here’s my short take on Racism, Sexism & Elitism.

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a. It’s Wrong. 

If you think about it, it feels incredible/really stupid (depending on your mood) that this has to be a “take”. 

But if you’re feeling kind, it can also be reassuring. For all the noise that’s generated around whatever issue happens to be trending, for all the “both sides” that happens, I find that if you dig deeper, nobody actually disagrees on these things.

Racism is wrong.

Sexism is wrong.

Elitism is wrong.

Any type of discrimination, prejudice, or injustice, or treating fellow human beings as somehow of less value on basis of their race/sex/socio-economic class is wrong. Put it this way, and nobody disagrees.

But here’s one interesting way to see this. Almost every single time, those holding such views feel particularly hurt, because they are attacked for these beliefs (and here’s the kicker)…

…as if they are somehow of less value on the basis of their thoughts and beliefs. Because they feel discriminated against.

And it happens. But their thoughts and beliefs can be Wrong and treating them as less than human can be Wrong too at the very same time. 

It’s this dilemma that sometimes leaves me silenced and always, frustrated – because it all always, always seems like such a damn mess. But also, because it always feels so important to figure out too.

b. & we need to be Anti-Injustice.

Photo Credit: Oliver Jeffers on Facebook

If you’re reading this soon after it’s written, you know what the issues of the day are. George Floyd, police brutality and the echoes of that all the way to police reports made as a result of at least two Instagram posts/stories. 

A sensational podcast with three Malay-Muslim men, some truly disgusting conversations and the ugly divide it has exposed in the community.

The treatment of our migrant workers & “essential workers” in this country and – much less important but somewhat poetically timely – students from my wonderfulalma mater (the most pretentious word for school zzz) recording themselves flushing $50 notes down the toilet.

And yet, even if you’re reading this in the future, I am certain that what’s Wrong will remain Wrong.

I am anti-racism.

I am anti-sexism.

I am anti-elitism.

I am anti-injustice.

This doesn’t need to be a take. It’s a logical, shared, emotional belief we all share and should be able to say.

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But here’s another thing. I disagree that “silence is complicity”. There can be a million reasons why you choose to be silent about something – it doesn’t automatically mean you agree. That’s bullshit too. In evidence, I give you the story of Rosa Parks.

But. I do think the Angela Davis quote above perfectly sums it up. In a society that has deep, ugly flaws – it’s not enough just to practice a life better than that. It’s up to us to be against such injustice, wherever you see them. 

This narration of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) summarises beautifully as a foundation this idea for me as a Muslim – but honestly, you don’t need to be a Muslim. This wisdom is everywhere. You just need to be human.

Tim Urban @waitbutwhy

When you boil down our political conflicts, you see that most disagreements are about What Is, not What Should Be. When people agree about what the tree looks like they only have minor disagreements about what to do with the ladders. The conflicts are about the shape of the tree.

AJ Lofton ❄️ @Levance_

Know the difference. https://t.co/einoHMXvHn3:27 AM ∙ Jun 5, 20202,640Likes608Retweets

So if you’re interested in change, I say we should face up to things.

We should be kind. We should find the many, many things that we truly, deep down, agree with each other about what should be – and what shouldn’t be.

And when things aren’t what they should be, we need to be against them. In action. In speech. In our hearts.

For change ✊🏽