I was recently at a seminar on race relations in Chicago. The presenter shared an article written by a white college professor which I find interesting and worth sharing with my forum family especially the tribalist amongst us. Although the article is about racism in America and how it impacts relationship between Whites and African Americans, it is striking to note the similarities between racism and tribalism. They both stem from fear and a notion of supremacy, and am hoping that we would all learn one or two things from the article. There are no copy right issues with the reproduction of the article, so here is the article in its entirety.

For much of the last forty years, ever since America “fixed” its race problem in the Civil Rights and Voting Acts, we white people have been impatient with African Americans who continued to blame race for their difficulties. Often we have heard whites ask, “When are African Americans finally going to get over it? Now I want to ask; “When are we White Americans going to get over our ridiculous obsession with skin color? Recent reports that “Election Spurs Hundreds’ of Race Threats, Crimes” should frighten and infuriate every one of us. Having grown up in “Birmingham “ Alabama in the 1960s, I remember overhearing an avalanche of comments about what many white classmates and their parents wanted to do to John and Bobby Kennedy and Martin Luther King. Eventually, as you may recall, in all three cases, someone decided to do more than “talk the talk” Since our recent presidential election, to our eternal shame we are once again hearing the same reprehensible talk I remember from my boyhood, We white people have controlled political life in the disunited colonies and United States for some 400 years on this continent. Conservative whites have been in power 28 of the last 40 years. Even during the eight Clinton years, conservatives in Congress blocked most of his agenda and pulled him to the right. Yet never in that period did I read any headlines suggesting that anyone was calling for the assassination of President Nixon, Ford, Reagan, or either of the Bushes. Criticize them, yes. Call for their impeachment, perhaps. But there were no bounties on their heads. And even when someone did try to kill Ronald Regan, the perpetrator was non- political mental case who wanted merely to impress Jody Foster. But elect a liberal who happens to be black and we’re back in the sixties again. At this point in our history, we should be proud that we’ve proven what conservatives are always saying - - that in America anything is possible, even electing a black man as president. But instead we now hear that school children from Maine to California are talking about wanting to “assassinate Obama.”

Fighting the urge to throw up, I can only ask, “How long” How long before we white people realize we can’t make our nation, much less the whole world, look like us? How long until we white people can – once and for all – get over this hell-conceived preoccupation with skin color? How long until we white people get over the demonic conviction that white skin makes us superior? How long before we white people get over our bitter resentments about being demoted to the status of equality with non-whites?

How long before we get over our expectations that we should be at the head of the line merely because of our white skin? How long until we white people end our silence and call out our peers when they share the latest racist jokes in the privacy of our white – only conversations? I believe in free speech, but how long until we white people start making racist loudmouths as socially uncomfortable as we do flag burners? How long until we white people will stop insisting that blacks exercise personal responsibility, build strong families, educate themselves enough to edit the Harvard Law Review, and work hard enough to become President of the United State, only to threaten to assassinate them when they do? How long before we starting “living out the true meaning” of our creeds, both civil and religious, that all men and women are created equal and that “red and yellow, black and white” all are precious in God’s sight?

Until this past November 4, (2008) I didn’t believe this country would ever elect an African American to the presidency. I still don’t believe I’ll live long enough to see us white people get over our racism problem. But here’s my three- point plan; First, everyday that Barack Obama lives in the White House that Black Slaves Built, I’m going to pray that God (and the Secret Service) will protect him and his family from us white people. Second, I’m going to report to the FBI any white person I overhear saying, in seriousness or in jest, anything of a threatening nature about President Obama. Third, I’m going to pray to live long enough to see America surprise the world once again, when white people can “in spirit and in truth” sing of our damnable color prejudice, “We HAVE overcome.” By Andrew M. Manis.

The ball is in your court!!! What can you do or not do to help promote peace and unity within tribes in Ghana? Rather than promote the opposite?

We have been demanding respect, equal treatment and an end to racism for many years, and now that things are turning around; some of us are still engaged in primitive behavior in the notion of tribal supremacy. Tribalism is so old school and it is just as evil as racism therefore unacceptable in a civilized society. Those of us who are currently residing in the Diaspora, who may or may not have experienced racism, have a responsibility to promote peace and harmony within the tribes in Ghana. We also have a responsibility to ensure civilized behavior at the forum. How can we expect an end to racism when tribalism is so prevalent amongst us?

While it is comforting to know that civil war may not be eminent in Ghana, it would do us good to get over whatever hang ups we may have about each other’s tribe and the notion of tribal supremacy. For Americans, it is the difference in skin color. What is the retarded contributing factor in Ghana? Ghana is and will always belong to all of us; it is therefore up to us to learn to leave together in harmony in order for peace to prevail. Resist the temptation to engage in tribalism. We are all stronger connected.

The fight against tribalism continuous unabated; would you join the fight against tribalism? And make the forum and Ghana for that matter a better place?

Long live a united Ghana and Long live its many tribes.

God bless Ghana, our homeland.

KOMLA – U.S.A THE PEACE BROKER