Through My African Eyes: All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others
04-20-2022
By Stephen Apollo
In my High School days, I took English Literature as a mandatory class, in which we were supposed to read a set book. The book that was chosen for us was George Orwell’s, Animal Farm. The novel is both satirical and humorous and it is marked by great intelligence. Without delving into the political overtones in the small book, it is about farm animals who decide to revolt against their irresponsible owners and caretakers, driving them out of the farm and taking care of their own affairs, with the hope of creating a society where the animals can be equal, free, and happy. Fast forward, this cause is betrayed under the dictatorship of a pig called Napoleon and consequently, the farm goes back to the bad state it was before.
The reason why I have fondly remembered this book, is because in it there is arguably the most repeated phrase in the book: “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.” From mid last week, there is a short video clip that has gone viral, featuring the World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. In this clip Tedros is lamenting on how the world has treated war in some parts of the world, claiming that the world treats crisis and conflict differently depending on race. He references the crisis in Tigray in Ethiopia, Yemen, Afghanistan, and Syria. He then boldly asserts that the attention given to these countries is just a fraction of the attention the global community has given to Ukraine. While acknowledging that the Russian-Ukrainian conflict has some global significance, Tedros wonders whether the other conflicts are handled similarly. In the video he asserts that, “I need to be blunt and honest that the world is not treating the human race the same way … Some are more equal than others. And when I say this, it pains me. Because I see it. Very difficult to accept but it’s happening.”
One can argue that Tedros is stating the obvious, but like him we cannot be contented with an obvious evil. We need to speak out against racial injustices and treatment anywhere. Even as we protest and take necessary actions against this evil of hatred, breaking the silence is a good starting point. Since June 2021, all Premier League and English Football League clubs in England have been taking a knee before each match, to show support for the movement for racial equality. However, some clubs and individual players have refused to take a knee on different grounds. Some have argued that breaking a knee has lost its meaning and more action than breaking a knee should be taken against racism.
Borrowing Orwell’s words, we were all created equal by God, but some people are more equal than others, which is why we need to speak against racism and other forms of hatred from positions of power like Tedros, from sporting grounds like the English clubs, from classrooms like we do in McCormick, and even in our own small ways like writing a piece such as this one. Down with racism!
