Re: Pakistanis Racist Towards Africans
The most obvious unfortunate historical reason would be slavery. Slaves were usually black and obviously looked down upon. It was Islam that condemned this inequality and it saddens me to see the people of the Islamic Republic conveniently ignoring this lesson from Quran/Sunnah. In more recent history, in the Roman period for example, if you were fair, it meant you came from a privileged background and didn’t have to do labour outdoors in the heat so the perception of the blacks was that they’re of the lower working class. Currently, that is also the Pakistanis’ thought process as you’ll find that most labourers are usually dark-skinned. It is not just about their definition of beauty but also of status.
And can I just say, it isn’t just the Pakistanis who think this way. A Nigerian friend of mine told me how skin whitening creams were in big demand in her community. Another example from India is how the Bipasha wasn’t thought to be beautiful because she is slightly more tanned and Kareena apparently called her “Kaali Billi” once, and people like SRK are promoting skin whitening creams which sell like crazy among all desis! And lastly, let’s not forget how blacks have been treated in the US for centuries. This social sitgma exists all across the globe, not only in Pakistan, is what I’m saying. Is it more prevalent in the developing countries that aren’t as diverse/educated as the developed world? Yes. The developed world has come a long way. InshaAllah, Pakistan and the rest of the world will too… at least I hope it will.