We must look beyond race

RACIST utterances are indicative of a fractured painful past that’s going to haunt us for a long time. The dismantling of apartheid does not mean racism is going to disappear any time soon.

The wounds of the past need to heal before the country can turn the page to a new chapter. Recent laws, while playing an integral role to keep one’s words in check, may be a deterrent.

It’s fundamentally about a change of attitude that can make a difference. It must be noted that laws do not bring about conformity.

It’s the modalities of thinking and behavioural patterns about different race groupings that can impact positively on this racism debate.

The racism debate needs to emanate from the portals of our homes. Family structures need to preach the philosophy that there is only one race and that is the human race.

This ideology may seem far-fetched when we begin to unpack it from an adult perspective.

Children do not see race as a determining factor in any situation unless they are indoctrinated at home to do so.

A child’s mind is like a sponge, so let’s saturate their brains not to be narrow-minded and concentrate on race or race language that is demeaning and denigrating.

If children can be taught to be responsible for their actions, at least in the future there can be a sophisticated new generation, who look beyond race to find solutions in our country.

VIJAY SURUJPAL Phoenix