These were some of the last words George Floyd spoke as he struggled to breathe under the knee of a white cop. I thought that in 2020, we would just be fighting the Covid-19 Pandemic, but it turns out that we are still in a battle against racism as well. It is truly disgusting to see our black brothers and sisters, along with other minorities, being discriminated against simply because of the color of their skin. Aren’t we all human? Don’t we all deserve to be treated equally in a society this advanced?
ਅਵਲਿ ਅਲਹ ਨੂਰੁ ਉਪਾਇਾ ਕੁਦਰਤਿ ਕੇ ਸਭ ਬੰਦੇ॥ Panna 1349 SGGS
Aval (The Very First/Beginning) Allah (Waheguru) Noor (Divine Light Within) Oupaya (Created) Kudarat (Creation) Kae (Belong) Sabh (All) Bandhae (Mankind)
In the shabad above, Guru ji takes us back to the very beginning of time itself, when the ‘Jot’ (noor/light within) of Akaal Purakh was the first (and the only) existence. From that ‘Jot’ (of the the Creator), next came the entire creation (kudrat) into existence. We are part of this very creation; in other words, we all have eventually come from the same One Jot of Waheguru. This shabad takes us out of the subtle differences within creation to link us back to the roots; a simple yet amazing reminder to focus on the one and recognize the same soul in each other to embrace equality and mutual respect and care of each other. Thus, if we truly are one and form the ‘One’, so why does hate or discrimination exist between us simply because of the color of our skin?
We see that there are different levels of understanding from teachings and we get lost in the diversity of creation. To be ‘different’ is the recognition of the ‘beauty’ of diversity which was created by design. Otherwise, if everyone was the same, it would be boring. We have to take a step back and admire the diversity that the One had created instead of hating on others because they differ from the 'normal' people.
Recently, we witnessed issues of discrimination and oppression, wherein a wrongdoing by a person in uniform, who is supposed to protect us all equally, ended up expressing hatred and violence. This event is similar to the Indian Government in 1984 when the military deliberately performed a planned and wrongful act of attacking the Harmandir Sahib which resulted in many lives being lost and started unrest within Sikh community. Although we have seen a fair amount of oppression against Sikh by unjust government systems, the battle against oppression is not just seen in Sikhi. Although we are not black, we do understand what it means to be discriminated against and how it feels. We know what being “an outsider” means in America as a part of a diaspora.
We should elevate ourselves from the mere differences we see on the external level and realize that the only truth that holds us together is the Oneness. If we think this way, we would not see a difference in the beginning. Our Sikh role models, such as our Gurus and Shaheeds, were similar to some Western influences such as Malcom X and Martin Luther King Jr. in the sense that they were able to see past the barrier of skin color, which helped enforce the importance of equality for all human beings.
“It is not about the color of their skin, but the content of their character”
- Martin Luther King Jr.
It’s so eye-opening to see that Martin Luther King Jr., a minister in the Christian faith, preached the same things our Guru’s did also. Although we label each other as a part of two different religions, we can all relate to the same thing: unity. Our external characteristics act as the wall that divides us all. We think we are limited to just the appearance, but it’s much deeper than that. The malicious judgment and stereotypes we uphold for the black community, or of any community, is WRONG because we are only limiting ourselves to their appearance, first impressions, and biased commentary of that community. Instead, so many people are still battling with their own ignorance and they refuse to open themselves up and see beyond that. As a result of their ignorance and stubborn behavior, we see acts of violence like this. Police brutality, murders, and human trafficking. But why are we all on different sides? Why is there a bad and why is there a good? Why is there a separation when the goal is unification?
Peaceful protest measures have been attempted by the black community and have resulted in little to no change. For centuries, minority communities, especially our brothers and sisters in the black community, have faced unjust violence and brutality, and now our country has reached a tipping point. After numerous instances of peaceful protesting, their voices have been disregarded. When Colin Kapernick tried peacefully kneeling during the national anthem, it was a disgrace to the American flag and he lost his career. When Kobe Byrant and other basketball players tried to wear “I can’t breathe” t-shirts during pregame warmups, they were met with hate from fans. After decades of trying to protest peacefully, their voices have still not been heard. Remember, this fight is not a fight between black and white, majority and minority- it is a fight between division vs unification.
ਬੁਰਾ ਭਲਾ ਕਹੁ ਕਿਸ ਨੋ ਕਹੀਐ ਸਗਲੇ ਜੀਅ ਕਿਤੁਮ੍ਹਾਰੇ॥੧॥ Panna 383
Bura (People Who Have Commit Wrongdoing) Bhula (People Who Do Good Deeds) Kou (Tell) Kis (Who) No (Sould) Kheeaa (Say) Saglae (Entire Creation) Jee (Soul) Kisthmarae (Belongs to the One)
Guru Arjan Dev Ji reminds us that differentiating between good and bad is pointless because we all come from the same source, Waheguru, the indescribable force that binds us all together. How can we label a bad person as a bad person and a good person as a good person if every being on this earth came from you, Waheguru? Why are we all seeing differences between each other if everyone came from the same source? For example, Bhai Khaneyaa Ji not only supplied medical aid to the Sikhs in war, but also the enemies, the Mughals. The focus for everyone in any situation is always the ONE which is seen in Bhai Khaneyaa Ji’s story. He saw Waheguru in even the enemies or the “bad guys”. Can we go up to someone who has done so many wrongdoings and do what Bhai Khaneyaa Ji did to the Mughals to them? Can we realize that even in that person there is Waheguru? In the media, we are focusing too much on the wrongdoings that happen in the world instead of the good deeds people are doing. There are people who have sacrificed their lives for other communities after that community had experienced hate. Why don’t we focus on both sides, the good AND the bad? We do not have an equal distribution of the good and the bad which is due to our own ego. We think that whatever we think is always right because of the ego. Open up your mind and begin to actually see everything! Your perception of everything will change. It is our responsibility to realize this ignorance and take the actions necessary to alter our mindset during these times of unease, so that we better swim through the world ocean of ignorance and falsehood.
- SikhTeens