Soulful Humans

In Fall 2003, I was attending the Senior Executive Fellows Program at Harvard Kennedy School and among my classmates were some colonel pilots. At an evening social function, I had a small talk with a colonel pilot on a famous Hollywood star. His remark: "She's black!", directing my focus on her skin colour, has been resonating in me.

In Summer 2007, as one of US States Department's International Visitors, I had the opportunity to visit several US cities. At Charleston, South Carolina, our escorts advised us to "stick together" for security reasons. When I ventured out alone for dinner, I was briefly verbally abused by a white guy on the road.

Later, during a boat trip offered by a wealthy Charleston host, I heard and could feel the grievance of the white people in the South about the long-term economic implications as a result of the centuries-old Civil War. Days later in New York City, where I had a frolic of my own at Harlem, the gaze of the black people at me made me feel uncomfortable.

Racism is a psychological defense mechanism that some people use in response to feelings of inadequacy and insecurity. Hating discriminatory economic, social and cultural injustice is rational and the world would be a better place to have racism reduced or eliminated. Whether black or white, brown or yellow, we are all soulful humans!