These Things I Feel - Niran

I AM HUMAN, I AM HUMANITY

I read a post some days past on Facebook captioned BECAUSE I AM NIGERIAN and it really struck a chord.

According to the author, he made quite an inspiring comment on a particular post and that comment garnered a lot of
likes and replies and counterpoints; typical Facebook. Sequel to that comment, he got a message from a female profile asking to chat him up. As a sharp naija guy, he checked the profile, checked the timeline, and mercilessly investigated the pictures and photo albums to be sure it wasnt one of those females whose father died and left billions of dollars while the daughter is languishing in a refugee camp unable to access the money. I am sure you should know that scam and if you dont, you must be new to social media.

When he was certain that the profile was legit and a real person ran the account, they struck up a conversation. The way he tells it, the conversation was quite scintillating and he was impressed with her arguments and world view. So they got personal and he asked where she was from to which she replied with the name of one of these North African countries. She asked him in turn and when he replied, I am Nigerian, the conversation cut off. He tried making a post and found that he was blocked! Simply because he is Nigerian.

Humans have tendencies for bigotry and prejudice yet they canvass for equality and fairness. Over the years, there have been undercurrents of racism and ethnic hostilities. The media whips up frenzy and people scream EQUITY, JUSTICE, and LIFE but as soon as the media coverage dies down, the status quo remains unchanged. Stereotypes rise and they become the norm.

The fact that ISIS calls itself Islamic does not signify that muslims are terrorists; terrorists respect no religion. That Colombia is home to some of the worlds most dreaded cartels doesnt make Colombians drug dealers or barons. Yes, Nigeria has its own share of scam artists but not every Nigerian is a fraudster. That part of a whole conducts itself in a bad way doesnt mean the whole is bad. You dont throw away a whole apple because there is a discoloured spot; no, you cut that part out and throw it away. Same way you should deal with people; a person at a time and on the basis of their individuality.

Stereotypes do not foster unity. I am black, I am African, I am Nigerian but first, I am Human.
Remember that bit: HUMAN

@NiranNoni
@ostheblog