Chapter 14 (B)

Attacks on Minorities

I watched in dismay the statement recently made by former House Speaker and current front runner of the GOP hopefuls for President, Newt Gingrich during one of his campaigns in IOWA when he made this statement: “we are going to have the candidate of food stamps, the finest food stamp president in the American history in Barack Obama and we are going to have a candidate of paychecks.”

I was shocked and surprised that a politician of Gingrich caliber could make such out of touch, unnecessary and insensitive statements that disguisedly aimed at millions of Americans who found themselves in an unfamiliar territory because of the recent economic woes that has crippled the world.

The economic downturn has drawn many families into hardship. Many college graduates, middle-class families are today homeless and depend on “Food stamp” because there was no other alternative to sustainability. It’s okay for Newt Gingrich to campaign and attack his political opponent such as President Obama but should it be at the peril of families who are struggling, and still hopeful despite the hopeless current situation?

In my blog on immigration I wrote about the circumstances that brought different ethnic groups to the United States of America, unfortunately the minorities are still fighting for socio-economic parity. In recent statistics, black mortality rates are more than twice the whites, one-third of black children who live in single parent households live in poverty and the unemployment rate is 16.7% among blacks while it’s only 8% for the white race.

States such as Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi and North Carolina have enacted similar strict law in their respective states that target the Latinas.  Sometimes the officers applied this law beyond poor undocumented Mexicans but also to established foreign businessmen who are in the country to conduct their businesses.

Alabama’s HB 56 immigration law empowers police to stop, and demand for immigration documents from any suspects. The law further allows the public to report any Police officers that’s not enforcing this law as such officer would be liable to legal action.

In the spirit of this law, one of Mercedes Benz’s German manager (Mercedes Benz has a large plant near Tuscaloosa) was arrested by an officer for failing to establish his legality.  In the same manner one of Honda Accord executives was also charged for not having the state’s driver’s license despite showing the officer his international driver’s license and Japanese passport.

I’m not sure if these embarrassments would provide a solution for Gov. Robert Bentley’s war against undocumented people, what is clear is that this law has everything to do with race, image, business and investments.

Chapter 14

Demand for Change (Social Movements)

In January 2011, an unprecedented event happened that shook the entire Arab world. The massive anti-government protest against President Hosni Mubarak’s 30 years of autocratic power that was plaque with corruption, poverty and unemployment. (Newman on page 459 said that “Social movement occurs when dissatisfied people see their condition as resulting from society’s inability to meet their needs”) was one of the biggest mass movement that Arab world has witnessed so far.

After days of protests and lack of support from the Western States such as the United States, Mubarak’s regime came to an abrupt end in February 2011. This protest triggered and inspired other Arab states with similar predicaments to demonstrate against their respective governments.   As a result of this “reform movement” Egypt for the first time would be heading to the polls for parliamentary elections. 

The actions of the Egyptians forced “social change” not only in Egypt but also in other monarchial and power- distance Arab countries.

While Egypt was going through its own reform, Libya the oil rich Arab country from North African also ousted President Mamman Ghadafi’s military government of more than 40 years. 

 

Syria is another country currently facing political turmoil. The citizens of that country also demanded for a change from their corrupt leaders and with the consistent pressure mounted on the government by the leaders of other countries especially the West, and also the massive media coverage and exposure of the government's brutality against the ruling party oppositions and activists.

As a result, President Ali Abdullah Saleh finally succumbed to the pressure and agreed to divide cabinet posts with his opponents in a coalition government. All these developments wouldn’t have happened if the media had not played an active role of reporting, informing, and monitoring the struggles of the Syrians to the rest of the world.

Indeed technological innovation is an important tool of "social change". Whether the consequences of all these mass movements would transform the affected countries and satisfies the demand of these people for better or for worse is yet to be known. But what is clear is that a revolution for "social change" has just begun, “vox populi vox dei.”

Chapter 13

Immigration!!!

The first time I heard or have an idea of the infamous slave trade in Africa was in 1989 after I watched the movie called ‘Roots’.‘Roots’ was a story about a teenage boy named Kunta Kinte who was captured and
taken to America as a slave in 1767. He was sold to John Waller and renamed Toby.
The gruesome experience of the captivity of Kunta Kinte and millions of Africans who were forcefully removed from their abode as narrated in the story was an eye opener and also gave me a considerable knowledge of what had transpired in the history of  Africa.

 My mother was a native of Badagry, the second largest commercial city in Lagos State Nigeria. This ancient town is located within the boundary of Republic of Benin on the south Gulf of Guinea and surrounded by creeks, ocean, islands and lake. Unknown to me the town in early 1500’s had served as the route for transporting people to America and Europe.

Even though the infamous slavery wasn’t that popular in Nigeria like other West African countries such as Ghana, Senegal, Republic of Benin, and Togo but my mother’s town of Badagry till date  kept the historic reminiscent of the infamous trade artifacts and landmarks which has now become a center of tourist attraction. The historic heritage of Black race in Western states directly and indirectly was as a result of the infamous Trans-Atlantic trade that happened many years ago. Till date some Nigerians and Africans that were  affecetd by the trade still have their names embedded to this history. For example in Nigeria if you have a foreign last name such as George, Braithwaite, King and so on, it means that the family somehow has had relationship with that history.

The Europeans also had their history in America. Ponce De Leon was a Spanish explorer who discovered Florida in 1513. Later in 1540 another Spanish captain named Cabeza de Vaca with other group of people
discovered Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona.

The point I’m trying to make is that besides the Native American, all other races that became American migrated or emigrated through different circumstances. Hence, America is a country of immigrants.

The issue of immigration will continue to be volatile not only in America but also in other developed countries where standard of living are considerably better and as long as long as factors such as poverty, political instability, violent and insecurity persists in developing countries the issue of migration either legal or illegal would continue to persist.

Apart from the societal norms and culture In United States which is different from Africa culture, factors such adaptation to new society and  legal documentation are some of the challenges of immigrants that are looking for greener pastures in foreign land.

Sadly, the issue of illegal immigrants will continue to be controversial and triggers protest from pro and anti-immigration activists and also between the lawmakers of the affected developed countries all over the world. If drastic measures are not taken to end the world's economy inequalities and disparities.

Chapter 12 (B)

Lately, I have been following the news and campaign activities of the Republican Presidential aspirants, even though there has been nothing to really cheer about in their campaigns, or the gaffs some of them have made so far, or the war of words and tantrums they've been throwing at each other.

But the news that caught my attention which I found most interesting and embarrassing was the allegations of sexual harassments by some ladies against Herman Cain. What made it so compelling was how his party faithfuls, supporters, his attorney, and some news media played the whole story down and labeled it to be nothing but Herman Cain’s ‘assassination of character ‘. (Really)

When Sharon Bialek first came out to accuse Herman Cain of past sexual harassment, the allegation received mixed reactions from the Republican caucus, media and the general public. I have listened to controversial arguments among friends  over the fact that those ladies (victims) were trying to tarnish his image and that the alleged allegations were propagandas.

It was very disappointing how these women were attacked and Herman Cain became the victim. The reality in our society on the plight of sexual victims as demonstrated in the case of Herman Cain clearly showed that sexual victims are vulnerable to credibility assessment, and they should be ready to be victimized, degraded, embarrassed and humiliated should they dare take the bold step of coming forth like Sharon Bialek did.

So who is the victim, the alleged harasser or the harassed?  Why are some members of the society treated differently from the other?  Why the hostility against those women who for years have been psychologically traumatize and mentally suppressed because the party involve is a member of the powerful and wealthy few of our society?

It’s unlikely I would get any answers to my questions and it’s most certain that many of us will draw conclusions based on our sentimental feelings, but before we conclude in our judgments let’s remember these ladies are members of a family, and deserved justice, attention, and also should be treated with respect and compassion. And also it will be an opportunity for Herman Cain to clear himself if indeed the accusations are propangadas or character assassination as his camp claimed.

Victim Blaming

Chapter 12

The Patriarchal Society

Africa is one of the continents that place high priority on gender, a patriarchal society. In the past it was very common to place the success of marriages on one that has an heir apparent. The pressure of giving birth to a boy has driven many marriages to collapse, expectant mother who should be joyous of the opportunity of bringing forth another life are more skeptical and fearful as the gender of the unborn baby is unknown especially if such mother hasn’t given her husband a male child.

 Many marriages failed due to the fact that some wives couldn’t bore a male child that would take after the family’s name and legacy. According to what I gathered from my parents it was so bad at that time that some in-laws (from the husband) would often intervene by encouraging the husbands to marry another woman or frustrates the wife out of her matrimonial home. The blame of not having a male child is solely her fault.  Such ignorant and callous treatments have been melted out to many African women for years.

I must confess that this is one aspect of my culture that I hated. Although the traits of this gender superiority still exist in our society it wasn’t as terrible as it was. (Thank God for the sociological changes and civilization). African women despite the huge improvements in their social lives still predominantly lives their life for their families.

Besides my cousins that lived with us, my mum didn’t bore a male child for my dad (I have three sisters) and I wondered how she survived not losing her matrimonial home to another woman.

My mum told me that my dad was actually pressured by his mother to get rid of her or marry another wife when she found out that I was a baby girl after my birth (I was number 3). Luckily for her my father refused to succumb to any of those stupidities, his stubbornness saved us from being separated, thank goodness.

Growing up in Lagos-Nigeria, I still remember how fathers are overjoyed when their wives gave birth to a boy. I have seen many mothers cried bitterly after giving birth to another baby girl.

Naming ceremony is a big celebration in my culture but it usually comes with a twist.  For a male child the celebrations are always excessive with pump and pageantry especially if the baby is the first son or if the woman has repeatedly given birth to more than one boy. Such woman would be considered fruitful and a source of envy by ‘unfortunate women’.

For years my mother and my paternal grandmother didn’t get along because she believed that dad listened to my mother (my mother was categorize as ‘unfortunate woman’ since she didn’t have a boy) instead of her.

Another common practice in the past was how some families would rather send a male child to school, or learns a trade whilst female child are nurtured to be obedient and submissive housekeepers, good wife and a mother (Subordinates). The perception was that it would be a waste of money, time, and resources if a female child was sent to school after all the culture believes that “woman education ends in the kitchen”. The fact that female child would eventually marry and change her last name to her husband’s meant that she’s economically insignificant to her biological family. For that reason many parents would rather invest on a male child’s education as they are considered the breadwinners and head of households.

There were few fathers like my dad who refused to succumb to all these cultural nonsense, a situation that has deprived many young girls the opportunities of being educated.

Chapter 11

Was it Bias or Office Politics?

I was privileged to work for one of the reputable Banks in the Twin Cities some few years back but had to quit due to frustration and what till today I perceived as preferential treatment on the part of my manager towards me.

I was hired as a Bookkeeper and my job mainly was to handle accounting daily activities such as Invoicing, accounts payable, accounts receivable, and general ledger.

My background and knowledge in Accounting due to the fact that I have done few professional exams in Accounting in the past and also at that time I was an Accounting student at Hennepin Technical College made the job easy and satisfying for me.

As years passed by, I progressed into doing activities beyond my scope of duties, my supervisor after she realized how proficient I was in Accounts made me to do Reconciliation Statements Accounts (a duty that was designed for the position of Accounts Clerk II). Initially I didn’t mind, I felt I was not only challenging my personal skills but also preparing myself for any opportunities that it might present.

Each time there was an opening in Accounts Clerk II position, my supervisor would always encouraged me to apply with the hope that I would get it and on each occasion I always felt short for unknown reason. The comments the manager always gave me was that another person has been considered and I should keep the hope alive.

What frustrated me the most was that the management always made me to train the successful candidate.

By the time I summoned the courage to speak to my supervisor about how frustrated I was, I had already trained three employees on how to do Reconciliation Statements. While I saw progression in colleagues that met me at the organization yours sincerely remained redundant at one position “Bookkeeper”. My supervisor felt bad and told me that she couldn’t understand why I wasn’t given the opportunity as she did recommend me to the Human Resources and the Manager of my skills and proficiency on each occasion she was invited to give her opinion. She also said just like me, that she was frustrated at the whole process of consideration as well.

On paper I knew I qualified for the job because I met all the eligibility requirements such as excellent attendance with no Occurrences, accounting background, and experience what else do they want? That was the very first time I felt slighted and inferior and as the feeling of frustration grew stronger I decided to quit because I knew I wasn’t happy working in that hostile and bias environment any longer.

Chapter 10 (B)

The Caste System

Caste system is one of the negative characteristics of human society but celebrated by those that considered themselves superior to other even when they are of the same culture, ethnicity, and race.

The Eastern part of Nigeria is predominantly occupied by Igbo culture. Before the embrace of orthodox religions these people worship gods and deities.

Their society is classified into (1) Nwadiala, meaning ‘sons of the soil’, these group of people categorized themselves as the ‘Freeborn’ and they are the ‘Masters’. The second class of people is called the ‘OSU’ which means the slaves, the strangers, the outcasts, and the untouchables.  

This class of people was treated with disdain, humiliated and subject to all kinds of abuse ranging from discrimination and other forms of abuse. Example, they are prevented from social interaction or relationship such as marriage, dancing, or drinking with the Nwadiala (the son of the soil).

http://www.nigeriavillagesquare.com/index2.php?option=com_content&do_pdf=1&id=5449

This form of stereotype still quietly exists till date in Igbo traditional culture despite the embrace of Christianity, and globalization. The OSU Caste System still disallow marriages between the Nwadiala and the so called Osu. The consequences if violated include permanently barring the parties involved from their kinsmen and society.