All lives matter, it’s time to end racism

The United States of America is on the throes of destructive protests against racism and discrimination of black people. Taunted as the world’s superpower, the US has become a laughing stock following street combat between police and demonstrators under the ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement.

Who would have thought that for over 17 days now, millions of Americans would pour into the streets, seeking equality and an end to segregation of African Americans? The US had prided itself as the land of opportunity, where anyone could have a decent shot in life irrespective of their skin colour. Which is ironical because black Americans have been discriminated against, sneered at and routinely harassed for decades. This is despite undergoing slavery in the past sweating water and blood to contribute to the American behemoth.

But things came to a head three weeks ago when a white policeman snuffed the life out of a black unarmed man named George Floyd. In a video clip that went viral, Floyd is heard calling out to his dead mother and saying “I can’t breathe”, but the policeman pressed his neck with a knee for over eight minutes.

Now America has exploded and the black Americans want to exhale. This should be a turning point in the struggle to root out racism and all forms of favouritisms based on one’s origins or skin colour.

Across the world, there are snippets of discrimination where groups of people are continually ignored and bypassed when dishing out resources. This segregation is also seen in sports, which discourages fair play and honest competition. Let this be the end of racism in the world.