Traditions Lost by Racism

“The plague of racism in insidious, entering our minds as smoothly and quietly and invisibly as floating airborne microbes enter into our bodies to find lifelong purchase in our bloodstream”, by Maya Angelou. The impact of racism is not taken lightly in any part of the world, especially Africa. The black culture that is often made fun of, and mocked in today’s society leads to unprecedented consequences elsewhere. These actions diminish the rights and culture of a once proud Africa.

Starting in the 15th and 16th centuries, the Portuguese started their slave trade which was the first step in eliminating rights for native Africans. This first step of exporting slaves, and colonizing Africa, took away the rights of Africans. These colonies would eventually grow to cities and would then spread their white, European ideals (Lowcountry Digital History Initiative). In addition to the lack of rights that and racism that Africa now has to offer, there is a tremendous amount of influence of white culture amongst the blacks. These blacks have every right to study their own tradition and practice their own culture, but in modern day Africa, the white culture that exists overrules the black culture and pushes it out, soon, ceasing to exist. This white culture is helping the blacks lose touch with  their past. This lack of past influences racism because as Africans move closer towards modernism, they compete with whites, which in turns frightens them, creating a vicious cycle of reignited racism . (Evaluating the Africa).

Transitioning to around 400 years later,  Apartheid, a cruel government that left many Africans with a lack of rights and plenty of discrimination by whites. Even with Apartheid gone, African natives are still feeling the effect of apartheid today. A town in the western cape of Africa, Oralia, consists of all whites. Although the local government states that this is to preserve Afrikaner traditions, the procedures that handle visitation of colored or black people contradicts to what the government asserts. They have to stay in a separate townhouse, cannot stay for extended periods of time, and all actions that this black or colored person takes is to be reported back to the government (RelativityOnline). This stereotype that the whites have created has circled back against them. In the last decade, groups of black Africans have gone around the country and killed white boers, or white farmers of dutch decent. The number of farm murders, or "plaasmoorde" as it is called in Afrikaans, is staggering. Over the last decade, it is estimated that at least 3000 Boers have been killed (Ahlert).

These acts of violence and clear acts of racial discrimination lead to the loss of culture and traditions that were once proud in Africa. This modernism that the whites have implemented amongst the blacks has tormented their souls which an unsettling aura of a country trying to unite itself again. Traditional morals and value, which include “respect, love, marriage, taboos, laws, hard work, kindness and worship” (Sabre) have been taken away, meaning if these are implemented back into society, communities and the nation will bond, and unite as one.

Works Cited 

"Racism Alive And Well in South Africa." Relativity OnLine. 11 Feb. 2011. Web. 08 Mar. 2016.

"The Lost Of African Culture, Values And Morals: Reason For Africa’s Underdevelopment-Part 1." Modern Ghana. Web. 08 Mar. 2016.

"Evaluating the African." Evaluating the African. Web. 08 Mar. 2016.