Article by Miltos Siozios
The American psychiatrist and author Scott Peck once said: “Share our similarities, celebrate our differences.” This phrase promotes the idea that accepting diversity is the key to real human connection. We should not simply tolerate the differences of others but recognize, respect, and appreciate them.
It is a fact that most people are different from us. They differ in nationality, their mother tongue, religious beliefs, views, etc. Accepting these differences leads to an expansion of our intellectual horizons and personal development. This anti-racist mindset was what Scott Peck aimed to promote.
Studying history, we know that racism is intertwined with human history and that humanity has suffered from it in the name of racial superiority. However, in recent years, significant progress has been made in the fight against racism. The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is celebrated every year on March 21st as a tribute to the 69 people who lost their lives protesting against apartheid in Sharpeville, South Africa, on March 21, 1960. This day serves as a reminder of the need to combat all forms of racism, xenophobia, and discrimination.
South Africa is the country that has suffered the most from racial racism, which was institutionally established through the system of apartheid, which mandated the differential treatment of black residents by white ones. The word “apartheid” means “separation” in Afrikaans, the language of the white Dutch-descended population of South Africa. This system of institutionalized racial segregation and oppression was implemented for nearly half a century, specifically from 1948 to 1994, when, under international pressure, apartheid collapsed, and the first multiracial elections were held. In the 1994 elections, Nelson Mandela was elected in South Africa, becoming known for his fight and activism against apartheid, becoming a symbol of resistance to the regime. Mandela had been imprisoned from 1964 until 1990.
Another country where racism was officially state policy is the USA. In the USA, slavery of blacks was legal from 1619 to 1865, when it was abolished as a result of the victory of the northern states over the southern ones in the American Civil War. Despite the abolition of slavery, blacks in the southern states of the USA were not equated with their white fellow citizens, as from 1877 to 1965, the Jim Crow laws were in force. These racist laws legitimized white supremacy and degraded black citizens to second-class citizens. In 1964, the Civil Rights Act, signed by Lyndon Johnson, abolished racial segregation in public spaces and prohibited discrimination in employment. A year later, in 1965, the Voting Rights Act prohibited racist methods of excluding blacks from elections. In the modern period, despite the abolition of institutional laws in the USA, inequalities have not been fully eradicated. For example, the case of George Floyd’s murder in 2020 highlighted police violence against African Americans and gave rise to the social movement Black Lives Matter, aiming to address police brutality and discrimination against African Americans.
Another country where society is structured along racist lines is India. It is the world’s largest country by population (1.45 billion). Despite the abolition of the caste system, social discrimination persists, with Dalits (low castes), who were once considered “unclean,” still facing marginalization, social rejection, and violence despite legal prohibitions of such practices.
Another overlooked example of racism is the struggle of indigenous populations in Australia. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have faced systematic oppression and marginalization since the arrival of British colonizers in the 18th century. Colonial policies included the violent removal of children from their families, a phenomenon known as the “Stolen Generations.” Despite recognition of these historical injustices, indigenous populations in Australia continue to face high rates of poverty, mistreatment, and inequality in education, healthcare, and employment opportunities. Their fight for justice and recognition of their rights is still ongoing.
Greece has not faced racism on the same scale as the countries mentioned. However, the economic crisis led to the adoption of extremist views by a segment of the population, which sought scapegoats. As a result, immigrants were demonized, and the activities of the neo-Nazi party Golden Dawn were strengthened, which became associated with attacks and murders against immigrants, as well as Greeks involved in anti-fascist activism (e.g., the murder of Pavlos Fyssas).
The fight against racism is an ongoing and collective process that requires the involvement of all sectors of society: politicians, social organizations, the media, and citizens themselves. Racism cannot be eradicated unless it is addressed at all levels of social, political, and cultural life. Education, awareness, and support for social movements are essential to creating a world without discrimination. Scott Peck’s phrase, “Share our similarities, celebrate our differences,” should be our guide in the modern world: to recognize our shared human nature, but to embrace and honor our rich differences, as only in this way can we move forward as a society toward a more peaceful, just, and racism-free era.
