THIS WEEK SO many interesting and intriguing events occurred that it was like being a kid in a candy store trying to decide which issue to write on.
At first I wanted to further discuss Carlos Atwell’s revelation that the Rastafari son in the case of the two parents who have been charged can read fluently. Then I wanted to write about the debate between Clinton and Trump but thought that perhaps fellow columnist Peter Wickham would do that topic more justice.
My short attention span then skipped to the many events that occurred during Tropical Storm Matthew with restaurants and supermarkets being verbally accosted on social media; people surfing on the wet grass of the Garrison Savannah; a viral video of a man in a shower cap wukking up in water to his knees and the many cars drag racing on the highway.
However, both Morning Barbados and Nation News did justice to the aforementioned. Late Thursday evening I found my topic for this week when a co-contributor to the Huffington Post blogged about Laila Ali’s comments during a recent interview. I saw Ms Ali on Wendy Williams last week promoting a Colgate Campaign but it was her interview with Huffington Post that made headlines.
I saw many people upset on Facebook and assumed that she was possibly misquoted or that her comment was taken out of context. However, the interview was filmed.
When asked by the Huff Post interviewer how she navigates her celebrity status and the need to use her platform to fight against racism, Ms Ali said, “By me not posting (on social media), it doesn’t mean that black lives don’t matter,” she said. “To me, it’s obvious that black lives matter. And then… I’m like, what is posting going to do? What is speaking out going to do?”
Well firstly, Ms Ali the same platform you are using to rightfully get children to brush their teeth twice a day could be also used to fight against the great issue of racism that exists in America today – especially towards the black community. If your four million-person Facebook is legitimate enough for Colgate, I am sure you can effect change in the fight against racism.
Ali went on to say, “A lot of times there are posts that I like that are pro black but I won’t post it on my Facebook page because I have fans from all races and all around the world and I do not ever like to make people feel separate.”
In response to this I let out a good, old Bajan “Murdah!” Pro black does not mean anti-white. If one is patriotic that should not discount them also being a regionalist. If Sam is patriotic and loves Barbados, this fact does not mean that he is not in support of regional integration. This mentality about not offending persons is not good enough. It can be described as cowardice and does nothing to change the game. No good ever comes from cowering or fence-sitting.
When some black people say “All Lives Matter” it comes across as a tip-toe mechanism. I view it as an attempt to skirt the issue rather than speaking honestly about the injustices that exist in this world. Ms Ali went on to say, “I like the concept of All Lives Matter….that is what my focus is but it is hard because I have sponsors and you do not want to step on anybody’s toes. You are trying to be politically correct but at the same time uplift your people.”
Sponsors Ms Ali? Anytime your sponsors take issue with you speaking out about an injustice, they are not a good fit.
Anytime we are afraid to step on someone’s toes in an effort to do what is right, we are favouring the actions of the oppressor. This occurs when we fail to call the police when we hear our neighbour beating his wife because we do not want to have a rift with our long-time neighbour.
This happens when we see a co-worker being treated badly and we do nothing to stand up for them. This happens when we allow others to take advantage of our kindness and do nothing to stop it for fear of losing said people as our “friends”.
My mother always says that sometimes the right thing to do is the hardest thing to do. Never let it be said that your principles have a cost.
In conclusion, nobody is perfect and although I still have great admiration for Ms Ali, that does not mean I will agree with all of her views. Happy Sunday.
Toni Thorne is a young entrepreneur and World Economic Forum Global Shaper who loves global youth culture, a great debate and living in paradise. Email: [email protected].
