Telephone Conversation by Wole Soyinka
The price seemed reasonable, location
Indifferent. The landlady swore she lived
Off premises. Nothing remained
But self-confession. “Madam,” I warned,
“I hate a wasted journey—I am African.”
Silence. Silenced transmission of
Pressurized good-breeding. Voice, when it came,
Lipstick coated, long gold rolled
Cigarette-holder pipped. Caught I was foully.
“HOW DARK?” . . . I had not misheard . . . “ARE YOU LIGHT
OR VERY DARK?” Button B, Button A.* Stench
Of rancid breath of public hide-and-speak.
Red booth. Red pillar box. Red double-tiered
Omnibus squelching tar. It was real! Shamed
By ill-mannered silence, surrender
Pushed dumbfounded to beg simplification.
Considerate she was, varying the emphasis–
“ARE YOU DARK? OR VERY LIGHT?” Revelation came.
“You mean–like plain or milk chocolate?”
Her assent was clinical, crushing in its light
Impersonality. Rapidly, wave-length adjusted,
I chose. “West African sepia”–and as afterthought,
“Down in my passport.” Silence for spectroscopic
Flight of fancy, till truthfulness clanged her accent
Hard on the mouthpiece. “WHAT’S THAT?” conceding
“DON’T KNOW WHAT THAT IS.” “Like brunette.”
“THAT’S DARK, ISN’T IT?” “Not altogether.
Facially, I am brunette, but, madam, you should see
The rest of me. Palm of my hand, soles of my feet
Are a peroxide blond. Friction, caused–
Foolishly, madam–by sitting down, has turned
My bottom raven black–One moment, madam!”–sensing
Her receiver rearing on the thunderclap
About my ears–”Madam,” I pleaded, “wouldn’t you rather
See for yourself?”
Wole Soyinka
Red box
RACISM IS A THREAT TO HUMAN DIGNITY. The idea of the telephone conversation implies that a person can be easily judged based on his skin color.
In the beginning of the conversation, the man already told the landlady that he's an African, so, definitely he's black. Still, the landlady asked about his skin color. The man described his skin color, but still the lady kept on asking. Maybe, she was trying to pretend that she respect the man and she is not rude, or she was trying to insult the African that's why, she prolonged the conversation and kept on asking for the color of his skin. The African told the landlady that even if he's black, he can pay the rent and he has a descent job. The landlady, though didn't directly tell the African that she doesn't want him in her apartment, showed her indifference by hanging up the phone. It was a clear insult to him and to his race.
I haven't experience talking to a racist, but I've witnessed racism in movies, media, music and etc.
In the internet, I see people fighting against racism and they stand up for their rights.
If you are a victim of racism, you should not shut your mouth up and just allow yourself to be like doormats. We must bear in mind that all people has only one Creator - God - and in His eyes we are equal. God gave us wisdom and knowledge to help us stand for our rights! We should show to all the racist that we are worthy of respect and importance not only because we are humans like them, but also, we are intelligent and has a sense of integrity and self esteem. You just have to be brave to stand for yourself. Let us make them realize that we can do much better things than them and the color of the skin is not important.
source:
http://www.channelstv.com/home/2012/05/31/unilag-soyinka-calls-jonathans-name-change-a-gift-horse/
http://kinnareads.wordpress.com/2011/04/05/21-days21-poems-telephone-conversation-by-wole-soyinka/
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