Discrimination is the unjust or prejudicial treatment of individuals orgroups based on certain characteristics; “Race” being one among them, is based on physical characteristics such as skin color, facial features, and hair texture of a person. Even though discrimination can be traced back to the Ancient Era, it was prevalent and confined within a particular community/ settlement. But when time passed by and communities from different geographical areas of the world started encountering each other, it was then discrimination started evolving based on the “Race” of a person. It is an undeniable fact that racial discrimination was at its peak during Colonialism and Imperialism, where the categorization of people into distinct racial groups based on physical characteristics became means of justifying exploitation, oppression, and subjugation.

Racism isn’t just violent acts or physical harassment; it can range from subtle forms like stereotypic jokes to more overt acts of discrimination like systemic biases. Sociologists often categorize them as,

1. Institutional racism: Discrimination embedded in systems and structures, such as housing, education, employment, and criminal justice. 

2. Microaggressions: Subtle, everyday acts of discrimination or prejudice based on race.

3. Systemic biases: Implicit or explicit biases within organizations or society that disadvantage certain racial groups.

4. Hate crimes: Violent acts or harassment targeting individuals or groups based on their race.

5. Racial profiling: Law enforcement or security practices that disproportionately target individuals of certain racial or ethnic backgrounds.

6. Segregation: Separation or isolation of racial groups in housing, schools, or other areas of society.

While understanding racism and several aspects of racial discrimination, it is important to know why people discriminate others based on their race. While the individual’s attitude plays a significant role it is also the interplay of several social, psychological, historical and systemic factors. People are often socialized into beliefs and attitudes towards a race from an early age through family, peers, media and societal norms. But it is also often due to competition and hate where one resorts to wielding the ‘race card’ as their final recourse when there is nothing left to discriminate a person with. And I believe this reveals nothing but the weakness of the discriminator’s position.

The impact of racism on individuals, communities, and societies is profound and far-reaching. Racial discrimination erodes self-esteem, mental health, and overall well-being for those who experience it. It contributes to socioeconomic disparities, limiting opportunities for educational attainment, employment, and economic mobility for the targeted individuals. Racism also undermines social cohesion and trust, perpetuating divisions and tensions within diverse societies. These impacts of racism aren’t fleeting; rather, they reverberate across generations, yielding consequences that endure long into the future. Thus, it is an obligation for every individual to address the issues of racial discrimination; like Ibram X. Kendi says, 

“In a racist society, it is not enough to be non-racist, we must be anti-racist.”

As an initiative to encounter racial discrimination and addressing its issues; In 1979, the UN General Assembly adopted a program of activities to be undertaken to combat racism and racial discrimination. On this occasion, the General Assembly decided that a week of solidarity with the peoples struggling against racism and racial discrimination, beginning on 21 March; would be organized annually, with the “International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination” being observed on 21^st Marchand “International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and Transatlantic Slave Trade” being observed on the 25^th of March.

Even though Sri Lanka is known for its rich mix of religious and cultural backgrounds, it doesn’t show significant racial diversity since most Sri Lankans share similar physical characteristics. So, we might not encounter incidents of discrimination based on, “race” within our country. But it’s still our duty to voice out for people targeted by racial discrimination throughout the world especially when we have a 3 million populace diaspora living outside the country.

Racial discrimination being a very complex issue, addressing racism should also be a multifaceted approach that addresses its root causes and other systemic manifestations. Education and awareness-raising efforts are essential for challenging stereotypes, biases, and prejudices. Promoting diversity and inclusion in all sectors of society, from workplaces to educational institutions, can help dismantle barriers and create more equitable opportunities for all. Implementing anti-discrimination policies and legislation, coupled with accountability mechanisms, can help combat institutional racism and promote equality under the law. But as a person I believe racial diversity and a peaceful coexistence between them in a society isn’t something that should be achieved by force or law, but by love and humanity.

Written by: Rtr. Zainy Hassan Ziya

Graphic design by: Rtr. Sathmi Dinanja