My Journey Through Racism and Resistance

By Christopher Ignatius Gyimah

Peace Studies often promote harmony, dialogue, and reconciliation. However, the discipline sometimes overlooks a major root of global conflicts: racism. If we truly seek justice, we must stop treating racism as a peripheral issue. We must confront it directly. Ibram X. Kendi, in his powerful book How to Be an Antiracist, reminds us: “The opposite of ‘racist’ isn’t ‘not racist.’ It is ‘antiracist’” (p. 9). Understanding this distinction is crucial.

Living Under the Gaze: Daily Encounters with Racial Bias

I have experienced racism in ways that textbooks cannot fully capture. As a Black African man, my presence often speaks before I even utter a word. In the Philippines, I faced questions like, “Do you live in the forest?” or “How did you get here? Did you take a plane?” These inquiries stemmed not from mere ignorance, but from deep-rooted stereotypes. Initially, I laughed and joked about these encounters, but later I recognized that I was using humor to soften the sting of racism. So I began to use those moments as opportunities for education.

Daily experiences reinforced these realities; riding buses where no one wanted to sit beside me due to my skin color, or being stared at as if I were an alien. In Thailand, students would reach out to touch my hair or rub my skin, believing that the color might come off. “Black is dirty,” they had been taught. A striking realization hit me: this ideology was learned. These children had been conditioned to equate whiteness with beauty, viewing everything else as inferior. This brainwashing is a lucrative industry just consider the booming skin-whitening market across Southeast Asia.

Traveling across borders is another challenging experience. While my passport identifies me as Ghanaian, my skin often communicates suspicion. I am frequently pulled aside for additional questioning or monitored more closely than others. In stores throughout Europe, I am followed by security guards as if I’ve already committed an offense. If I speak up against this treatment, I risk being labeled as angry or dangerous a manifestation of the old stereotype of the “aggressive Black man.”

When Skin Color Matters More Than Skills

The job market presents a harsher reality. I’ve applied for teaching positions where I was undoubtedly more qualified than my white counterparts. Yet, schools often chose white teachers, regardless of their lack of experience or qualifications. After one demonstration where I gave my all and impressed the class, the feedback I received was simply: “The white guy is cute.” There was no mention of skills, only of skin color.

Some schools in Thailand may consider hiring Black Africans, but they often offer lower salaries compared to unqualified white counterparts. If you speak up about this unfairness, you may be perceived as rude or ungrateful, and many who do voice their concerns are at risk of being laid off. Unfortunately, this issue extends beyond Thailand; it is a global problem. Racism knows no borders and reflects a widespread pattern of injustice where Black excellence is undervalued while whiteness is disproportionately rewarded.

Turning Anger into Action and Dignity

Kendi writes, “To be antiracist is to think nothing is behaviorally wrong or right inferior or superior with any of the racial groups” (p. 23). Yet, in many environments, being Black is still perceived as a problem to be managed rather than a person to be embraced.

Audre Lorde recognized the power of emotion especially anger in resisting racism. In her essay, “The Uses of Anger: Women Responding to Racism”, she states: “My response to racism is anger… not hatred, anger” (p. 129). I resonate deeply with this sentiment. My anger stems not from a desire for revenge but from a commitment to truth. It represents my refusal to let racism go unchallenged.

This is where Peace Studies must evolve. We cannot discuss conflict resolution and global justice without focusing on race. As Mahdis Azarmandi notes in her article, “The Racial Silence within Peace Studies”: “To be truly relevant, peace studies must cease remaining mute on race and begin focusing on the experiences, knowledge, and resistance of people of color” (p. 75).

Antiracism is not about being “nice” or “colorblind.” It demands action. It requires challenging systems that reward whiteness and punish Blackness from classrooms to boardrooms to border checks. It means standing up, even when it’s uncomfortable. As Kendi asserts, “One either allows racial inequities to persevere, as a racist, or confronts racial inequities, as an antiracist” (p. 9).

The Path Forward: Listen, Learn, Act

So where do we go from here? We start by listening to the stories of people who experience racism daily. We must acknowledge the pain, challenge oppressive systems, and teach not just facts, but also empathy and justice. I have transformed my pain into lessons for others. I refuse to be silent, and I refuse to be belittled.

Being Black is not a crime and demanding equality is not being “too sensitive.” It is simply being human.

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Cover photograph: @Pavel Danilyuk