Every Voice Counts in the Quest for Social Justice
Photo, courtesy of Thomas de LUZE on Unsplash
The last few weeks have been dominated by news of racism in America, specifically the extrajudicial killings of black people by the police. If you, like many of us, find yourself scrolling through social media on a daily basis, you’ve probably noticed how this narrative has overtaken all others. The video that captured George Floyd’s last breathe started a wave that has reverberated throughout the globe. This chain of events triggered protests around the world starting conversations that have been on the hush for too long. While the ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement started in the US, it has created room for conversations about similar incidences in various local contexts.
In Kenya, we have witnessed and often protested against extrajudicial killings by the police. In this context, the victims of police brutality are often from a low socioeconomic class. While the rest of the world lent their voices to the fight against racism in America, they also talked about the way racism played out in their own backyards. In Nairobi, protests were organised by different groups including the US embassy. The outcry was as much against police brutality in our own soil as it was about what was happening thousands of miles away.
The Kenyan government had declared a curfew as a response to the Covid-19 pandemic. While the intention of this was to ensure the health and safety of Kenyans, it posed a new threat for those who were to make the mistake of being caught outside after hours.
As the narrative against racism in America gained momentum, I was surprised to find online criticism of Kenyans who chose to share their views on the Black Lives Matter movement. It appeared to be based on the assumption that they were quick to speak against injustices elsewhere while being completely silent about what was happening in our own country. And though there’s a correlation between police brutality in Kenya and in America, the distinction is also very clear. The excessive force used against black people in America is largely based on their skin colour. They are almost 3 times as likely to be killed during police encounters than their white counterparts, according to a New York Times article.
We certainly need to worry about and speak out against police brutality in Kenya, there have been fatalities linked to enforcement of the curfew, as Citizen TV among other local and international news platforms have reported. The killings here have nothing to do with race, rather, they are more influenced by socioeconomic factors. It is completely OK to speak out against either or both.
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”
Throughout history, movements that fought for the rights of the marginalised got their fuel from allies who empathised with their plight and wanted to be part of the change. To do their part in getting rid of the status quo. Whether it was the civil rights movement in America, the fight against apartheid in South Africa or Women’s marches demanding equal treatment for all genders. Every movement that seeks to make the world a better place often only gains traction when supported by those who are not directly affected, but recognise that oppression is wrong no matter where or to whom it is directed.
Charity does indeed begin at home, but we would be remiss if we do not acknowledge the deep sense of connectedness that technology along with frequency and ease of travel have shaped. Dismantling racism and racial bias will be beneficial to us all. We can play a part and say our piece on global matters as well as local ones. It is up to the individual to choose when and how to speak out without being ‘policed’. While it is highly recommended that each one does their part in ensuring that we all live in a just and fair world, if you find yourself getting bothered by what someone decides to give their attention to, remember to keep playing your part. Standing for what you believe in. When you are taking action towards improving or reducing the injustices that matter to you, it is more likely that others will take note and join in.
As we continue to find our voices…remember, making a difference comes in many ways, some are activists and speak out loud and proud against injustices. Others do it in more subtle, incremental ways by practicing what they would hope for in a better world. It all adds up in the end. All little drops that make an ocean.
