Not Bounded By Colour

Man! Man!! Man!!! Why am I born black? Why am I red? why am I white? Everybody bawls on their skin colours. Humans are created to have different colour compositions and body features even if from the same womb.  They all have common activities and characteristics. All humans breathe, talk, think, eat, sleep, reproduce and can only be seen in a place at particular time. We all have things in common. The red, white, black etc. are all humans designed to walk with their two legs. The Europeans and some Americans are referred to as white, the Asians as red and Africans as the blacks. Though we have different skin colours, we are still humans.

It is saddening to my hearing that people are treated differently according to their skin complexions. People are unfavourably treated in the aspect of marriage, employment, promotion, pay, association and participation etc. because of their race or skin colour difference.  Based on my observation, the discrimination or biasness occur frequently towards the blacks.  Some people call them monkeys.  Some may likewise put their life on the line if they see the blacks being ranked higher or prospering. We, blacks are occasionally referred to as the ugly, the less developed, the dumbest, the dumping ground.

The belittlement of the African race can be traced back to the past events: slave trade and colonialism. It was recorded that the slave trade was mostly prominent in Africa.  Over eleven million Africans were enslaved across the world between the 15^th and 19^th century. These were the time glories were buried in shackles and the horn of Africa was down. The kente clothes were known for rips. These were the seasons when the youth were gone in pain and Africa was full of old people. Every present setback Africa is experiencing now can be traced to the traumatic times. This over time has created a slavery mentality on Africans that clouds our vision from our possibilities. 

We look unto others as lords over our world. We deride ourselves thinking that we cannot do anything successful without peeping into the other world. Most people believe that they have to travel overseas before they can be successful. They undergo extremely inconvenient condition just to crossover, even if it leads to death. The belief of being a lineage of novices and servants to others enshroud our reality. Some people get victimised by the presence of the white in competitions. Some Africans feel inferior to the extent of bleaching their faces and go through surgery to have pointed nose to be white. Some even make their hair curly or add artificial hair to have longer hair like the white. A white man is always a point of attraction in a black man’s street. Some Africans give out opportunities that can be handled by fellow blacks to the white with a mind-set that they are only one that can do it better. We are at times enslaved in our homes by foreigners; they make us to work under harsh condition. We are murdered by our ideology and ignorance.

I stand to believe that we are black golds. We are not what others take of us for. We are as precious and important as they are. We have potentials and are talented. They are many Africans worldwide that are changing the world in the likes of Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala who was appointed as the managing director of the world bank in 2007. She is the present vice president of world bank, still as an African. Asa is a Nigerian artiste that is recognised worldwide. Deola Sagoe, worldwide African fashion designer, has given African fashion in the 21st century the most radical expression imaginable, from the deeply rooted African fabrics to perfectly matched accessories. She is known for constantly fabulous design on a two-time international award winner that creates designs that truly celebrate Africa and Nigeria. In the area of business, we have AL haji Aliko Dangote who is known to be a wealthy businessman and has been competing among the world richest. Ibiagbanidokibubo ‘Agbani’ Asenite Darego was the first black African to be crowned Miss World in 2001. Many Africans have been heard graduating as the best student in different institutions all over world. We are sparkling golds.

Not all blames can be on the foreigners, we are sometimes the maker of our misfortune.  Selfishness and greediness pierce the heart of love for our nations. Everybody wants to eats the so called national cake. Even the children are taught on how to take a cut. We want to sell all our bars of gold that can build a glittering house for rags. Our self-centredness has blindfolded us to the extent we don’t render help our brother. Our leaders had not been helping. They gather the wealth of the nation to invest in the land of those that put them in chains, neglecting their homeland to rotten in severe poverty.  Our wicked acts as they call us black world of dark magic debar us from the twilight of development. We don’t guard our reputation. Africans are believed to fraudsters, swindlers, arm robbers, assassins etc. Before a foreigner will come to Africa, he will at first consider the security issues he may likely face.   Our future is in our hands.

Once free forever free. We are no more slaves.  We are great and talented humans. We are no more in the realm of the cursed ham as some will say. We are the new generation. We produce generals and dignitaries. Let lay aside all slavery mind-set and believe in present and future of Africa. Let us work out our economy, our world together. Don’t throw away your ideas because of imitation or lack of sponsors. Nourish it and people will appreciate you. Parents, build up the gifts in your children. Don’t think that the gifts are not enough to make them great people. Train them to be icons. Children, make maximum use of what you have (abilities, talents and potentials) to be professionals in what you want to become. Youth, make effective use of time while your bones are still strong. Challenge yourselves and take up difficult projects and ideas. That’s just what they do over there. They take risk in executing gigantic projects and they become glory for them. Our leaders, be patriotic to the country you are serving.  Build up the continent Africa.

Black is beautiful. We have the best skin that can adapt to all extremes. Let us be bold to be black. Say no to bleaching; Say no to victimisation. We have what it takes to rule world.  Its left to us to unleash the awaiting potentials. I allow the extraordinariness of my talent to run free.  I am not bounded by my skin colour. I’m glad to a black, a Nigerian and an African. God bless Nigeria; God bless Africa.