#44: No More Discrimination (PART 6)

【Even if Unintentional】
​Wearing a blackface and mistaking race as some kind of a joke, a comedian offers a pathetic excuse, “I didn’t mean it to be racist.” Regrettably, what we saw in the 1800s in the US is still present today, even in Japan.
 
Now and then, we come across such acts of discrimination. Unintentional? – may be. Unknowing? – perhaps. Ignorant? – definitely. Nonetheless, should we condone these acts of discrimination if they were indeed unintentional? Specifically, is there a difference between Intentional Discrimination and Unintentional Discrimination?
 
However desperately we attempt to rationalize by saying, “It’s inevitable at times in life,” that doesn’t alter the truth that discrimination must be repudiated, without a speck of doubt. And when we extend our deepest empathy to the people who are hurt based on a trait from birth, we realize that they’re hurt regardless of whether such acts of discrimination were intentional or not. As such, both Intentional and Unintentional Discrimination are wrong.    
 
On the other hand, we may perhaps find more hope in Unintentional than Intentional Discrimination. That’s because the offender may have a better chance of learning from the act of discrimination if in fact it was truly unintentional.
 
To Learn is to admit fault, to extend sincere apologies, to think deeply what and why it was wrong, and to pledge a firm determination never to repeat the same mistake. That possibility to Learn seems more real in the case of Unintentional Discrimination.
 
“I didn’t mean it,” or “There was no ill will.” When we try to get away with our Unintentional Discrimination without learning, the next time it’ll become Intentional. That’s because we’ve intentionally avoided our responsibility to Learn. And the more we continue to intentionally discriminate, the even less likely we’ll Learn.
 
“I’m not a racist because I have no ill will,” or “This isn’t racism, don’t you get it’s just a joke?” While so many people of African descent around the world have for so long demanded us to cut it out, the more we resist, the more intentional and hurtful our acts of discrimination will become.
 
When we revisit the history of humanity, we come across the dark chapters of racism not only against the people of African descent, but also against most people of colors including those of Asian descent. And it’s a terrible truth that the ugly scraps from those darkest days are scattered here and there, still degrading many corners of our world with an obsolete foulness.
 
A blackface performance grossly exaggerates and belittles Black people’s traits from birth, intended to be funny to the White audiences but demeaning to the Black community. It’s a cowardly act of discrimination that goes hand in hand with white supremacy. Knowingly or not, more than just a few Asian people including some from Japan have jumped on this racist bandwagon. And even if it were unintentional, that doesn’t alter the truth that such behavior plays a role in upholding racism and white supremacy.
 
 “I didn’t know.” Despite such last-ditch explanation for our ignorance, what’s true is the real presence of the people who were unjustly hurt precisely because of our ignorance. And let us remember that our ignorance is made possible only by forcing the sorrows and humiliation upon those people who are unjustly hurt. What’s more, when we continue to discriminate despite knowing what we know now, thereafter, it’ll become Intentional Discrimination. And that, we cannot condone.
 
Nevertheless, as shameful as it is, each and every one of us will most certainly be guilty of Unintentional Discrimination at least once in our lifetime.
 
However, the most imperative of all is what follows next. That is, what do we do subsequent to our Unintentional Discrimination? When we learn from that mistake, we discover hope to eliminate discrimination.

Read Next: No More Discrimination (7)【Pre-Determined】
Read Previous: No More Discrimination (5)【Trait by Choice】
 
Complete Series: No More Discrimination (1)～(12)
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Read Theme: Discrimination