An Outsider's perspective on the American Election ...By Halima Ahmed
http://samotalis.blogspot.com/2009/03/outsiders-perspective-on-american_08.html
The recent elelctions that took place in America was indeed a historical in every essence. I have never thought America would see this day, not even in my wildest dreams. And here we are! The nation's first African American president! I have had conversations with people who thought that this whole "Obama thing" has been overrated; my only answer to them was so far, to me, this is the most historical day in the most influential country and it should be treated like one.
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That morning I couldn't help but be grateful to God for giving me the chance to be on the same land as Mr. Obama. I was filled with excitement and happiness as I went to the inauguration to share the day with over 1.5 million people in the nation's capital. I made sure I enjoyed every moment of it; even when my dear friend was upset with me for being irresponsible about getting lost and out of nowhere caught me in the crowd and said "Halima, I told you so!"
I can truly say that it was my best day ever in the U.S
After the inauguration, on my way home I kept on thinking about India. You must be wondering, why India? Well, I have spent my childhood and teenage years in India, and it was there that I got exposed to some of the worse racial slurs ever! As a child, my neighbors and people on the street called me and anyone that was black "Kala" "Kalu" "Negro" "Monkey" "Apes" "Mud" and the worst of all "Makandi." These were words that I have become so accustomed to over the decade that I lived in India. I would hear these words, as though they were the national anthem of the country. Somehow, I figured that these people felt cursed if they did not use racial slurs on Africans or anyone that was dark skinned. I did not really care about these incidents; I just pushed those hateful words aside as their ignorance. By my second year in India, I would resort to violence if anyone uttered these words to me or my family. I have been in countless number of fights in Mumbai, over this! The people in my area stopped using these racist terms in my presence. However, I would still hear them chanting over and over again to people who did not understand the language. For me my best defense was, being able to speak Hindi.
This issue of "blackness" is not only suffered by non-Indians. Dark skinned Indians are also victims of this ignorance. My neighbor and also a close friend of mine was a bit darker than most of her Indian friends. Her mother would, every weekend, without fail use all sorts of fairness creams on her. Poor girl had to sit patiently, while her mother would attempt to lighten her skin color. This was a serious issue for the mother; she loved her daughter and wanted her to have the best in this world. Light skin was the only path to that world!
One might ask again, how this relates to the inauguration of Obama. During the time I lived in India. I realized that anything that was American was considered cool and loved. The movies, the clothing, McDonalds, music!
When I came home from the inaguration, a friend in Mumbai left me an offline message in yahoo; saying "Hopefully the election of Obama will change the perspective of Indians when it comes to dark skinned people, "Kalas" can also be equally talented as light skin people."
I pray and hope that this will be the case! I hope that mothers will stop torturing their daughters with endless hours of fairness creams and all other methods of making the skin light. I hope that these terms will be used less frequently, if not stopped. I wish that when I go back to Mumbai, a place I consider home, I don't have to argue or fight with anyone because of racial slurs.
I wish people realize that skin color has nothing to do with one's ability to achieve great status in this world.
I hope no one is ever hindered by their skin color. I know this will not be magically achieved, but we can achieve it! Oh, yes we can!
Halima Ahmed
Email:halimaahmedd@gmail.com
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