Racism as a Product of Inequality - Case Study Example

Racism in the world and how it is reflected in the movie “Hotel Rwanda” Racism is a very complex international issue, a matter of growing concern forall the nations of the world today. Racism can be defined as the mistreatment of a group of people on the basis of race, colour, religion, national origin or ancestry. It has been a concern for many people and nations in their historical evolution and growth. The modern world is very much affected by the adverse effects of racism just as terrorism haunts the world. Racism in its extreme sense can pave the way for civil wars within the country, unrest outside the country and to terrorist out breaks in general. Many factors can contribute themselves to racism and racial discrimination. Racism is always a product of inequality – whether it is cultural, economic or personal. A probe into history reveals to us how many countries and races have considered themselves superior to others and looked down upon others with scorn, contempt and hatred feelings. We know how Adolf Hitler and his belief that the Aryans are the best and most superior race in the world has caused a lot of violence, unrest and anti-humanitarian actions in the past. It is also advisable to bring into mind how the Negros in America and South Africa suffered various setbacks due to racial discrimination. Racism is a product of marginalization; the marginalized and suppressed races or communities strive themselves for existence, whenever they come to the realization that they had been suppressed and oppressed and their own individual human rights and that of the race are very adversely affected and endangered. The only possible solution to racism is the understanding that there is only a single race. There is no superior or inferior in the society; every individual equally deserves respect, humanitarian concerns and the opportunity to develop his/her potentialities irrespective of what race or culture he/she belongs. The issue of racism has something to do with culture and education. There are many who believe that the issue of racism is a cultural phenomenon and that effective education and the promotion of various ethnic identities can create better understanding and respect for others in the minds of people. “Racism has always been both an instrument of discrimination and a lot of exploitation. But it manifests itself as a cultural phenomenon, susceptible to cultural solutions such as multi-cultural education and the promotion of ethnic identities.” (Shah, Anup 2004). In the past many have tried to bring the issue of racism into light through literature, art, science and the media and today also, such attempts are going on as it is an important issue to be discussed, brought into light and solved. One of the bold attempts made in this regard was that of Terry George, the director of the movie “Hotel Rwanda “ which is based on the real history of the Rwandan genocide in Central Africa in 1994. Based on the true events that occurred in the political horizon of 1994’s, Rwanda, the movie chronicled the story of Paul Rusesabagina, a real life hero who used his resourcefulness and connections as an upscale hotel manager to save the lives of over 1000 refugees. Tensions between the Hutus and the Tutsi, two Rwandan social factions had set the stage for a bloody genocide instead of opting for another box office hit “ I generally have the opinion that our media in particular, and Hollywood had actively ignored Africa. Given the sort of ferocity and anarchy of those conflicts, they seemed to be the perfect places to look for political stories to tell .So I started off to try the story of ordinary Africans living through that conflict.” (Morales, Wilson. 1999). But there have been many criticism that the director has sacrificed the soul of the real event and twisted the story for box office suspense. But the director cannot be blamed for this as he has attempted a movie out of the real event, and not a documentary. The movie does portray the feelings of people facing uncertainty, horror, ridicules, anger, death, waning faith and poverty. The movie shows the working of international politics, the indifference of most of the international community including the UN towards the deprivation of social justice taking place in other parts of the world. The inner struggles, the mental setbacks, the tribulations, hardships and humiliations that the refugees suffer are best portrayed in the movie. The character of Don Cheadle who acts the role of the real hero Paul Rusesabagina is a role model for any real humanitarian who moves by racial discrimination and the formidable plight of the poor marginalized ethnic minorities and who wants to actively take part to alleviate their sufferings. That is why Paul himself after watching the movie confesses “I kept on seeing it. But whenever I see that movie, it just seems as if what took place in 1994 happened yesterday, or even this morning.” (Morales, Wilson. 1999). The issue of racism needs to be seen in the broad light of racial discrimination prevalent in countries like America, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Spain, Middle East etc. Many African countries have endured long-term civil wars, some beginning shortly after that nation’s freedom from former colonial countries. In 1997, Human Rights Watch noted that the U.K has the highest levels of racially motivated violence and harassment in Western Europe. As Indu Rajagopal with Nis Bojin remarks “Racism violates fundamental human rights and human dignity. Equality of rights and human dignity are enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (2002). More importantly, the declaration ensures protection against any incitement to racial discrimination (Article 7). When disseminated electronically, racism incites actions that would destroy racial equality.” (Racism America. 2005). Greece has one of the worst records in the European Union for racialism against minorities (the ethnic Albanians forms the largest majority in Greece) . In Greece, racism is stirred by ethnic differences and enticing hatred. Most of the racial issues in Africa are the results of the divide- and- rule policies of the European colonists and imperialists who imposed artificial boundaries in Africa. Racism always is a product of selfish, narrow-minded outlook. That is why the Rwandan genocide event went unnoticed by the rest of the world. The western indifference to the tragedy is very much prominent in the movie; the black man’s tragedy remains as his own whereas it is preached that humanity is an ocean whose drops form all humans. This is made evident in the movie through Nick Nolte’s Canadian Colonel Oliver who tells Cheadle “You are worse than a mugger. You’re African.” (George, Terry, 2005). Even the UN troops led by him couldn’t intervene in the problems effectively. This non-intervention tendency is evident when he remarks in the movie “we are here as peacekeepers, not as peace-makers.” (George, Terry, 2005). The white-black disparity is made clear elsewhere in the movie too: “The most poignant dramatization of this occurs when white nuns and priests arrive at the hotel, which is being used as a U.N. evacuation site, leading hundreds of Tutsi refugees. The whites believe that they have succeeded in getting the refugees to a point of evacuation, only to be told that only the whites are permitted to leave the country; the Africans must fend for themselves (a certain death sentence).” (Theis, Peter. 2004). Racism is very often used as a tool or weapon by imperialist powers all over the world. Political power has divided the countries into big and small, just as there have been various ‘big’ and ‘small’ communities and races. The original Rwandan tragedy was the result of the divide-and-rule policy of the colonizers: Social scientists agree that there is no ethnic difference between the two groups; in pre-colonial times, it was more of a caste or class distinction. However, when the Belgians took over Rwanda after the First World War, they brought Europe’s racializing obsession with them, and ossified Tutsi-ness and Hutu-ness (even issuing racial identification cards) as the basis for the familiar divide-and-conquer principle of colonial rule It is a mean and very dangerous tendency adopted by nations to spread their territory or their influence over other communities. Racism shouldn’t be used as a tool or weapon; instead it is an identity to better understand races (even minority ethnic races) along with their culture, thoughts and way of life. Racism, racial discrimination and subsequent racial issues, problems and even civil wars cannot be regarded as isolated events taking place in parts of the world; instead one should look into the matter very seriously with an open eye, sympathetic heart with awe, fear, sorrow and empathy. One should learn lessons from such issues happening around him and movies like ‘Hotel Rwanda’ should motivate one to do so. ‘Hotel Rwanda’ offers a stirring reminder of the kind of senseless horror that can result from race or religious hatred. What happened in Rwanda isn’t an isolated example. Conflicts that are occurring now reinforce the notion that mankind is incapable of learning from history. Racial problems and racial discrimination can only be brought to an end when one can feel with the suffering victims; an emotional empathetic feeling is what is demanded of us ; and this is the impact one should have after watching the movie. One should experience the pang within him. Any movie that depicts human suffering- man’s torture, pain, blood, dead bodies, cruelties and miserable sights in the battlefield-takes the viewer’s breath and makes him think differently. Many of the scenes in ‘Hotel Rwanda’ haunt the spectator long after he watches it. Cheadle who acts the anchor role of Rusesabagina creates the impression that no African American could have played it better: “The most deserving performance goes to Don Cheadle who single-handedly brought George’s script bouncing off the page into a realm of true reality. It is not only assuring, but also refreshing to see Cheadle shine in a dramatic leading role where he can prove to audiences he’s much more than a serial con man. Cheadle’s portrayal of Rusesabagina is powerful in scenes where the actor shivers while driving over a sea of dead and bloody bodies in the streets of Kigali, Rwanda… no other African-American could have played Rusesabagina better.” (Jackowitz, Stefanie. 2005). The fact that he is very much moved by the formidable sight should provide inner satisfaction to Terry George that many viewers will also take similar empathetic steps towards the suffering lot. Many factors have contributed to racism all over the world- discrimination, stereotyping, prejudice, victimization, socio-cultural differences, socialization, self justification and competition:” Racial discrimination is present when people are treated differently than others who are similarly situated because they are members of a specific race.  It can occur when individuals are treated differently because of unalterable characteristics, such as physical features, indigenous to the race.” (Basis of Discrimination). Many blacks in Africa are stereotyped as weak, inferior individuals. There are many people who all their lives, were brought up to believe that black people need to be eliminated. There are many Afro- American writers who try to reinforce the black consciousness and state that black is beautiful – they have a rich tradition, culture and identity of their own- a very unique one. Eminent black personalities like Michael Jackson and Madonna are pictured as icons for the black achievement. One must keep in mind the fact that no nation, no race, no individual can be suppressed or oppressed for long; there will be a time when all the shackles and obstacles are broken. In the same way, prejudice regarding marginalized ethnic minorities need to be reconsidered. Prejudice is the negative attitude based on false generalizations about members of different racial and ethnic groups. These false generalizations about members of different racial and ethnic groups. These false generalizations often add fuel to the fire of racism, and racial discrimination. In India, there remained untouchability, an extreme form of racism by which people were divided into upper and lower classes and the lower classes were not supposed to go near an upper class Brahmin. But as time passed by , Indians have come to the realization that there is only one class and race- the human race, thus all are equal and should remain so. Then only we can dream of a day when there are no distinctions made based on cultures, genders, region or race. Racial intolerance is a dangerous predicament, which often leads to xenophobia, an intense fear and dislike for foreign people or race: Alarmingly there is a rise in xenophobic attitudes and favoritism towards certain sections of society, based either on race, skin color or caste. There are quite a few shameful instances where Indians have exhibited racism. Racial slurs are used quite openly towards people of different regions & religions. When we are on the receiving end, we denounce racism and rightfully so, but, arent we guilty of a double standard when there is manifest racism in our own country? (How do we rise above racism towards respect and tolerance in society. 2007). Slavery is the meanest form of racism. It slaughters man’s self, his ego and his identity as an individual. In the past there were many who raised their voice against evil and fought against it. There have been many civil wars, bloody revolutions and self-sacrifices for the attainment of the freedom from slavery. Racism is no better evil than slavery and it is high time it is wiped off. The difference between the haves and the have-nots create a lot of imbalance and these results in apparent inequality. Rising inequality can result in an increase in racial bias for scapegoating or advancing Xenophobic and isolationist tendencies. Importance to human rights and prevention of human rights violation is an essential pre-requisite for the eradication of racism. Everyone should feel that he is respected and is not inferior or marginalized in anyway. Equal opportunities should be provided to every one. It is important that, world organizations like UNO makes quick necessary steps regarding any issues connected with racism or racial discrimination. It should spread the message that no individual, no society, no region or no race is weak or inferior to others. Racism is a social issue and so families and teachers can play important roles in educating children, the new generation, the need to socialize with everyone. The media, the governments and the people all over the world should come to bear this collective responsibility. Thus, the movie gives us the important message that just like Paul we are all called for the same mission. The change should begin for each one from each one’s attitude and outlook. , Works Cited Shah, Anup. Racism. 20 Dec. 2004. 15 Apr. 2007 . Morales, Wilson. 1999. Hotel Rwanda: An Interview with Director Terry George and Paul Rusesabagina. Dec. 2004. 15 Apr. 2007 . Search Result. Racism America. 2005. 15 Apr. 2007 . George, Terry. Hotel Rwanda. 2005. Theis, Peter. Hero. OFFOFFOFF Film. 22 Dec 2004. 15 Apr. 2007 . Jackowitz, Stefanie. Hotel Rwanda-Review. 7 Jan. 2005. 15 Apr. 2007 . Basis of Discrimination. Federal Maritime Commission. 15 Apr. 2007 . How Do We Rise Above Racism Towards Respect and Tolerance in Society. Resolved Question. Yahoo! answers India, 2007. 15 Apr. 2007 . Read More