Rainbow colours

Rainbow colours

Sometimes I wonder what would happen if our skin was multi coloured like this rainbow of colours formed by the mixture of leaking petrol, a winter shower and a Tarmac car park?

I went to see the film Mandela at the cinema over the weekend, I defied a bit of a social norm by going alone to the cinema on a Saturday- how risqué is that!

Anyway, that aside I knew I would find it emotional, the combination of Mandela's story, the fight against apartheid and that old chestnut the pull to Africa, would always tip me into another emotion filled experience so I just embraced it and got myself comfortable for the story.

A few years ago I was lucky enough to be in Johannesburg for one day only and on this day I chose to spend the day in Soweto. I spent the day walking around the museums and monuments to those who died in that struggle for freedom and equality and the whole experience was emotional but still challenged my belief in non violent protesting, I'd have loved to have met with mr Mandela and ask him about some of the thoughts that he had about what happened once he was jailed. Soweto and it's townships have always fascinated me, as a teenager, Mandela's story was headline news and the violence that had taken over South Africa was reported widely. It's was confusing as a teenager who knew something was very wrong with apartheid and I knew from that age that I was always going to have that strive for equality inside my soul. After all how can some people decide that their fellow humans are not worthy of respect because their skin is a different colour?

When it comes down to it none of us are transparent, we all have colour of some description, it might not be the same but it's still all colour! Every so often I like to examine my own prejudices, we all have them, and I know that sometimes I can focus on a persons religious beliefs or their country of origin and make all sorts of sweeping statements about that individual without knowing them at all, without knowing who they are, what makes them feel happy and what upsets them. Sometimes we have to think harder to treat others with respect, sometimes it's a real struggle but it still has to be done. When I'm very self absorbed I like to think about those not fortunate enough to live in an area where their basic needs are being met. As always some of the photojournalism that took place during those disturbing times still sticks in my mind especially the infamous photograph of the death of Victor Peterson.

I hope that one day we will live in a world where the shade of your skin tone is completely irrelevant and one where we can all be rainbow children.

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