Systemic bias: Equality is Equity

"There is much beauty in humanity. However there are other aspects to humanity."

Throughout history, there have been many men and women who were unjustly imprisoned. In the 17th century, Galileo Galilei was put under house arrest for contradicting the established teachings of the Catholic Church by supporting the idea that the earth revolved around the sun. During World War II, a courageous young woman named Sophie Scholl was imprisoned and eventually executed for speaking out against the Nazis. Martin Luther King, Jr. one of the most prominent leaders of the American Civil Rights Movement was arrested and jailed on countless occasions. And then there is Gandhi, the leader of the Indian Independence Movement, who was imprisoned for standing up to British colonial rule. 

Africa is not left without history. We had our Ancestors held captive against their will, sold Slaves forced away from their homes. They were treated with no iota of dignity. Remember also Nelson Mandela who was thrown in jail for standing firmly against Apartheid, an institutionalized form of injustice in South Africa. Our very own Fela, was hounded by the Nigerian government for speaking against social injustices and the brutish treatment meted out by Military Dictators. 

The term Equity cannot be bounded by any rules or limits, it can only be controlled by Conscience and natural Justice, Equity is synonymous with Justice and fairness. Equality is the state of being equal, this connotes the equal treatment of people irrespective of social or cultural differences. Both concepts connotes fairness to all. Systemic Bias on the other hand means systems which favors or places one group over another. Oxford languages defines bias as prejudice in favor of or against one thing, person, or group compared with another, usually in a way considered to be unfair. Equity and Equality do not play favorites, they are the complete opposite of bias. 

Worthy of note In this regard is that in some situations what is equal may not be just or equitable. Some people are naturally disadvantaged, life places them in situations where they require more of a boost than the other person, this is where Equity comes in and levels the playing field so fairness accrues to all concerned. Equality depends on Equity. To my mind, the concepts of Equality and Equity is the grease that keep human engagement rolling without a hitch. Take them away and the Human society may well descend into chaos.

In recent times we have seen the rise of various movements championing one laudable cause or the other. As always we see these people subjected to inhumane and unjust treatment because they choose to speak out against an oppressive, biased and unjust system. 

We constantly see people receive degrading treatment from security Officers. These agencies charged with serving and protecting Citizens have become the very tool for their oppression. 

Sooner or later, you become one of the targeted groups. The injustice that is being done to Someone today, could be done to you tomorrow. There is need to resist unfair and unjust treatments at all times and at all levels. It won't be easy, but we can start and have others follow same path by our examples. 

Protest is a human right, it is not a crime. Even if it were a crime then the punishment must be spelled out and those accused must be given fair trial before they can be condemned. Security agencies cannot be Judge, Jury and Executioner.

 

When you see any level of injustice as acceptable, is it more likely that the abuses will stop, or that they will get worse? It then follows that, irrespective of Race, Gender or Identification we must always have at the fore of our consciousness this important and indisputable FACT:

Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere 

Sadly, we as humans are uneven and unjust, so are the systems we design. Thus, we must consciously work towards being as even and just as we can, so all may have justice. We must not look away when we see injustice no matter how much we want to. We must remember our collective humanity, keep standing for good and always shun evil. You must ask yourself, how can I help to make this better? 

One little act at a time brings us closer to the justice we want to see in the world.

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Images: Images showing inhumane and degrading treatment meted out by Security Agents on Citizens protesting various forms of injustice.