During a Serie A match in Cagliari, Italy, a horde of supporters shouted monkey cries at Belgian-Congolese footballer Romelu Lukaku.
“What was this footballer’s crime?” you might ask. It’s his high melanin level, his skin colour.
No, this scene is not from a history book or a fiction film.
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It is taking place in 2019.
Before Lukaku, players like Samuel Eto’o, the Cameroonian international, received similar treatment.
Despite almost unanimous condemnations, black players in stadiums are still victims of racist jokes, without any effective action against the perpetrators of these acts.
In Moise Kean‘s case, these racist shouts were even downplayed by the Italian Football Federation. Kean’s case was reported as being a provocation, rather than racism.
Some Milan ultras have tried to pull a fast one on us, as far as Lukaku is concerned. According to them, these shouts would only serve to destabilize the opponent, but under no circumstances could they be racist.
Astonishing, isn’t it?
“The racist has a superiority complex” – Lilian Thuram
To explain the behaviour of these racist supporters, former footballer Lilian Thuram talks about their superiority complex linked to history. This statement, taken out of context and highlighted, was enough to provoke a general outcry.
Despite his explanations of the text on different sets, the storm is not about to calm down.
The avalanche of reactions was not long in coming. Lilian Thuram was guilty of anti-white racism.
But, at the risk of disappointing people with selective indignation, Lilian Thuram knows what he is talking about when he highlights this superiority imbued with white culture.
He has been studying the subject for some time and has even set up an association to educate and combat stereotypes with the sole aim of teaching.
Far from being racist, he only reported the facts as they are.
Racism, a variation of the racial hierarchy
Racism did not emerge overnight; it does have a long history.
There are plenty of racist “masterpieces” in literary or scientific archives, which have helped to relegate the black to the bottom of the scale.
One only has to read Arthur Gobineau‘s “racial inequality” to realize the extent of the evil. And he is not the only one.
Highly racist studies by scientists and renowned “enlightened minds” have concluded that black is the missing link. These racists, subjective demonstrations are the basis for racial hierarchization.
Under the pretext of science, black was declared subordinate, which allowed white to gain superiority.
It was in the name of this superiority that slavery was created.
This superiority was also the argument for colonization.
It was in the name of this superiority that slavery was created.
Today, it still enables intellectuals to consider that colonization was positive for the African continent.
It has long governed relations between blacks and whites and has had time to make its way through different minds. Even the highly educated black intellectuals did not fail to perpetuate these false ideas without their knowledge. The famous phrase of the talented Senghor “reason is Greek, emotion is black” is the illustration.
It reemerged during the debates by many Africans against Africans, without them having the slightest idea what they are doing so, the apology of scientific racism.
All logical reasoning has long been denied to the black, in an attempt to justify his servitude. The saddest thing is, he has been convinced of the merits of this approach.
These sequelae left by this scientific racism are very present nowadays.
The image of this poor Africa, which is reaching out to its hand, is not meant to make things better.
The monkey cries at black players are just an extension of this superiority complex.
“Stop dwelling on the past! Racism is over!”
Some people wonder if we are not doing too much about it – “it’s just animal cries,” they say.
We could have thought the same thing if portraying the black in a simian way, was not one of the foundations of scientific racism.
We are all equal, of course, but it is not enough to order the end of a thing to make it disappear.
Injustices built on theories do not magically vanish into thin air. These theories were planted like seeds, and had time to sprout.
All you have to do is get out of your bubble to know that the black man is still not treated as an equal. He must show “white paws” to be accepted, do twice as much as white, and needless to say that he is expected to set an outstanding example.
In everyday life, being black is not easy. And even when you excel in your art as Lukaku does, you are not immune to being “put back” in your place.
The cries of monkeys at the sight of blacks not only revives the wounds of the recent past but also makes us understand that progress on human equality is only a facade.
Racism is a scourge that undermines our society, and to eradicate it, we must deal with it at its roots.
Lilian Thuram may have punctured the abscess and the unpleasant repulsive smell is undoubtedly inconvenient, but it is a necessary step.
Looking away, closing the nose and being a frightened virgin will not help us move things forward nor will it keep us quiet.
Many people, nowadays, allow themselves to make racist shortcuts out of ignorance.
Naming things does not mean making racism anti-white.
This anti-white racism, if it existed, is far from the racism of which blacks are victims.
Dear Caucasians, it is undoubtedly very unpleasant to be indexed at parties by blacks, or to receive remarks about your mixed couple, but know that blacks envy you this treatment.
They, because of the colour of their skin, almost get lynched, are refused jobs, apartments, or have to justify themselves at all times.
Black scientists have never developed theories comparing the white race to an animal to justify any exploitation. So let’s avoid comparing the incomparable.
Thuram only told the absolute truth and if it disturbs, let us join his fight and educate future generations for true equality.
By the way, we would like to reassure you that we do not take pleasure in discussing racism. We are tired of having to talk about it. It would have been more relaxing to write an article on the reproduction of seahorses, but unfortunately, the glaring inequalities in the society in which we live leave us no choice.
Full support to Lilian Thuram!
