During these past two months in South Africa, I’ve been watching films based on true events to learn more about the history of Africa.
I watched a really good one called “Trees of Peace” on Netflix. It’s story about four women from different backgrounds, one an American, who were trapped in hiding during the genocide in Rwanda.
Watching the horror of what humans can do to each other, sparked my interest in learning more about the history of genocide.
In Norman Naimark’s book “Genocide: A World History,” the author traces the history of genocide from ancient to modern times, he concludes: genocide is not a phenomenon confined to any single era, region, or culture. Instead, it is a recurring feature of human history, appearing in different forms across various societies and time periods.
Naimark states, genocides are often fueled by ideologies that dehumanize or demonize certain groups, whether based on race, ethnicity, religion, or political beliefs. These ideologies provide the justification for the mass extermination of groups seen as “other” or “dangerous” to the dominant group.
Humans have the capacity for violence, which can be unleashed under certain conditions. Genocide requires a combination of factors, including state power, ideology, and social mobilization, to be realized.
Let’s all choose together to value and respect the beauty and necessity of diversity.
It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences.” – Audre Lorde, poet.
THANK YOU FOR BEING UNIQUELY YOU!