Human Rights Day: Have We Overcome Racism?

Pulse

oi-Anjana NS

By Anjana Ns

Monday, March 21, 2011, 16:13

We keep hearing about a lot of racial attacks and racial discrimination around the world. The very reason why we have come up with the topic today is because the day has a significance with respect to racial segregation in other words "Apartheid". Today was the the racial segregation law in South Africa was confronted, today is the "Human Rights Day".

March 21 is marked in gold in the history of South Africa as several leaders like Nelson Mandela fought for the basic rights of the blacks, against the inhuman treatment. After the Apartheid policy (meaning Separateness) came into existence in 1948, the policy had resulted in the blatant killing of the protestors. In 1969, when the South African police killed 69 people and wounded less than 200 people in Sharpeville (Sharpeville Shootings), the African National Congress under Nelson Mandela changed the national holidays, the 21 March, previously known as Sharpville day as the human rights day.

Human rights day is not just a public holiday but talks sacrifice of many freedom fighters against ugly face of racism. Today, human rights day is the day to host rallies and to spread awareness of the bad old days but how far is it successful in removing the racial attacks around the world?. Recently in 2010, many Indian students were attacked in the Oz land. Many have even been killed in foreign countries.

To many, Human Rights day is just another day to party and have fun. When will people wake up from their deep slumber? when will the world be free from such a color curse?.