Just something I can't get out of my head these days...

This has admittedly been prompted by the currently #1 trending Youtube video in Australia entitled 'All Men Are EVIL'. It feels like a dangerous admission acknowledging that I agree with him pretty much 100% but I do. I think what largely maddens me is that in the efforts to fight for justice for genuinely disenfranchised and underprivileged groups of people, efforts that should continue to happen and causes that should continue to be fought for, instead what seems to continually end up happening are these apparently 'acceptable' broad stroke judgements about entire groups of people and I actually feel myself recoiling when I read them. Very current examples? So many statements related to men and white people these days. For the record, I am neither. I'm simply someone who will always feel physically uncomfortable by broad generalisations and narrow assumptions and genuinely confused as to why people are so willing to make them. 

Harmful generalisations, stereotyping and blanket assumptions make this world miserable. The odd thing is we like it so much. Sure, it seems simpler somehow to say that one group's action allows us to define a whole bunch of people's identities because at that point, we get to just stop trying and land on a conclusion. What I've never understood is why people are happy to do such a thing. Is it really that comforting to be able to say to yourself that an entire race/religion/star sign/any other arbitrary identifier is evil or horrible and therefore not worth any further human consideration? 

Humans sure can be weird sometimes. 

Humans of New York - Lagos, Nigeria

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“I’m studying human development. A few years ago I came across an article that said there were no successful black nations in the world. It really angered me. I thought: ‘Some fellow is trying to run us down.’ But then I discovered the author of the article was Nigerian. And the more I read, the more I realized it was true. And I started to think that maybe we should be mad at ourselves. I always hear my friends complaining about the politicians in this country. I tell them: ‘Imagine that lightning strikes and suddenly you’re the president. Would you know enough honest people to form a government?’ And they freeze. Because our culture doesn’t ascribe a premium to honesty. People will laugh at you for being honest and broke. Nigeria has the highest concentration of black people in the world. So this is where it should happen. But development doesn’t begin with things, it begins with people. I’m not saying that self-criticism is the answer. But it’s the beginning of the answer. Maybe we should be a little less proud and a little more discontent. Maybe we should stop blaming our immorality on poverty. I grew up in the slums and I don’t want to hear it. Don’t blame it on colonialism, nepotism, racism, or any of the ‘isms.’ And don’t blame it on the slave trade. Because slavery didn’t begin with white people. White people purchased slaves from our shores—that’s true. But black people did the selling. And we were paid for what we sold.” (Lagos, Nigeria)

A post shared by Humans of New York (@humansofny) on Sep 26, 2018 at 7:30am PDT

My (edited) response to the above post and various comments from people about the validity of his opinion, his experience and HONY's right to share his story:

'Reading the majority of comments from people who are actually from Nigeria leaves me disinclined to disagree with this man's perspective and ultimately it sounds like what he's trying to say is that where people can make change and take responsibility for their future, they should, in spite of what has happened in the past. That's how positive change and forward movement work. 

It's also oddly condescending reading some of the statements of those who disagree, almost like they don't believe he can know his own country and own mind. I mean, if that's what you think, ok, but maybe give the guy some credit without immediately assuming he's a brainwashed simpleton. 

Lastly, for anyone decrying this story being shared at all? The world is full of stories, experiences, opinions and ideas that may or may not be in line with yours, that is reality. Hiding from them or avoiding them doesn't help anyone learn anything. Engage, disagree, argue, do whatever, ignore if you really must, but they have a right to be spoken and shared, just like any of your own opinions, opinions that might seem equally as heinous to someone you may have never met and whose life is nothing like yours.'