The Minority Show; ''A NEED FOR A CULTURAL DIVERSITY''
Story by Rahama Zakaria
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Cultural diversity has become an important issue that we need to discuss as a nation to help in peace and nation building. Migration has made it possible to have a multicultural society. Living in a multicultural society means, we need to understand the different cultures and not try to dictate our beliefs on another person of different cultural background.
No single culture has the monopoly on dictating the absolute standard for behavior. It is deadly dangerous not to understand the concept of cultural difference. Most wars are fought over the premise that, one culture is better than another.
Understanding and respecting cultural difference disallows violence predicated on cultural differences.
Genie Films brought together seven women to discuss cultural diversity and how we can achieve a society where people are not ashamed for belonging to one ethnic group or race. In this discussion, there was the understanding that we are all from different cultural background and belonging to an ethnic group or race come with certain privileges.
How do we acknowledge our privileges and at the same time strive for equal opportunity for everyone regardless of their race or ethnic group. We discuss how some ethnic groups are marginalized, dehumanized, and sometimes called out for not being Ghanaians because of their features.
The discussion was not about calling out ethnic group for perpetuating ethnic supremacy but rather, acknowledging the privileges they enjoy by belonging to a race. This discussing sought to help all understand how the world works, to see the world through a different lens, to understand the culture they come from and also take away prejudice when we see different people as ‘Human’ rather than ‘Them’ or ‘They’,
Most of this things as we discussed emanate from ignorant because the average Ghanaian does not like reading or travel. We sit at one place and pass the judgment that all ethnic group behaves in certain ways just because one person from that group act that way. We have not made the effort to learn other people’s culture and why they behave that way. What might be wrong in one culture will be the opposite in another culture.
In working towards a diverse community, there is the need to become aware of our own culture, build relationships with people from different cultures, become allies to people discriminated against, overcome internalized oppression and build multicultural society.
Each of us can build the kind of communities we dream of in our families, organizations, institutions, and neighbourhoods. We can insist that, we won't remain isolated from those who are different from ourselves. We can transform our neighbourhoods, institutions, and governments into equitable, non-oppressive, and diverse communities.
Tweet @rahamatulahi
Understanding and respecting cultural difference disallows violence predicated on cultural differences.
Genie Films brought together seven women to discuss cultural diversity and how we can achieve a society where people are not ashamed for belonging to one ethnic group or race. In this discussion, there was the understanding that we are all from different cultural background and belonging to an ethnic group or race come with certain privileges.
How do we acknowledge our privileges and at the same time strive for equal opportunity for everyone regardless of their race or ethnic group. We discuss how some ethnic groups are marginalized, dehumanized, and sometimes called out for not being Ghanaians because of their features.
The discussion was not about calling out ethnic group for perpetuating ethnic supremacy but rather, acknowledging the privileges they enjoy by belonging to a race. This discussing sought to help all understand how the world works, to see the world through a different lens, to understand the culture they come from and also take away prejudice when we see different people as ‘Human’ rather than ‘Them’ or ‘They’,
Most of this things as we discussed emanate from ignorant because the average Ghanaian does not like reading or travel. We sit at one place and pass the judgment that all ethnic group behaves in certain ways just because one person from that group act that way. We have not made the effort to learn other people’s culture and why they behave that way. What might be wrong in one culture will be the opposite in another culture.
In working towards a diverse community, there is the need to become aware of our own culture, build relationships with people from different cultures, become allies to people discriminated against, overcome internalized oppression and build multicultural society.
Each of us can build the kind of communities we dream of in our families, organizations, institutions, and neighbourhoods. We can insist that, we won't remain isolated from those who are different from ourselves. We can transform our neighbourhoods, institutions, and governments into equitable, non-oppressive, and diverse communities.
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