More Than Colour Blind

by Lotan Matewere

(Defeating Prejudice to Lead)
Prejudice in more than colour blind
Prejudice is defined as any unreasonable attitude that is unusually resistant to rational influence. Psychologist divides it into three categories: Cognitive Prejudice which refers to what people believe is true. Affective Prejudice refers to what people like and dislike. Conative Prejudice refers to how people are inclined to behave. However, in whatever form prejudice might present itself, the story of Timothy in the Bible and that of Barack Hussein Obama shows us that the inner desire to change what is not good and the power we have within to do so is more powerful than the prejudice.
In the Bible, the Apostle Paul worked vehemently with the young boy Timothy to help him become blind to the prejudices associated with his age to become an effective leader in his own corner of influence. In 1 Timothy 4:12 Paul say to Timothy, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity.” On another occasion he also reminded Timothy to fan into flame the gift of God, which was in him through Paul’s blessing upon him and that God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control
The story of Obama’s ascendancy to power in the USA indicates not only that the world is now becoming colour blind but also carries with it the message that says there are possibilities beyond prejudice and that we all can make it if we can be a bit more shrewd and resilient. In one of his speeches Obama said, “In no other country in the world is my story even possible–that the son of a Black student from Kenya and a white woman from Kansas who grew up in the world’s most populous Muslim nation (Indonesia) could run for President of the most powerful nation on earth on the ticket of a major political party”. Unlikely as it may be, Obama is now the president of the United States of America, however, weather Obama will be a good leader or not is a chapter of his story that we all will live to see as he leads what is arguably the most powerful nation on earth.
The stories that are yet to be told are the stories of so many other people at the grassroots of whom Obama’s story typifies. Just like America was desperate for a leader on the top who would champion change (from the way things have been to the way things ought to be) and reinvigorate their American dream, people at the grassroots in all corners of society are in urgent need of potential leaders unique to their society to rise above prejudice and unleash their potential to lead and rekindle hope and the desire in people to practically contribute towards a better world.
The bottom line therefore is that in order for the perpetrators of prejudice to become blind to his prejudice, the victims of the prejudice ought to become blind to the prejudice themselves and take up position to lead. Whatever preconceptions people may have over those that perceive themselves as potential leaders should not be a deterrent for them to pursuing their goal to reach the frontline. It is the success of the pursuit that dispels prejudice.