Minority Report

There is a word here in Uganda with which I have become well-acquainted. Little kids, boda-boda drivers, and other perfect strangers will holler it at me from the side of the road, and during my first couple of weeks here it made squirm every time:

“MUZUNGU! MUZUNGU!”

{{Look out! Muzungu on the loose in Mukono Town! ;) }}

Translation? WHITE PERSON.

Coming from America, where race is nowadays largely glossed over for the sake of anti-discrimination and common courtesy, it has been an adjustment for me to get used to the blunt way that Ugandans address the issue of race and other physical attributes. It is not that they are intentionally rude, but they just tend to “tell it like it is.” For example, it is not uncommon for a Ugandan to point out a change in your weight, a pimple on your face, or a fashion faux pas. On the same token, they also do not hesitate to tell you when you are looking “smart” (aka- nicely dressed), which is an important compliment in a culture that emphasizes being presentable in public. Either way, Ugandans say what they mean and mean what they say!

At first, I was taken aback by such honesty. I mean, can you even imagine a similar scene in America? If a muzungu pointed and shouted: “MEXICAN! MEXICAN!” from the side of the road, I think that most Americans would probably find it totally insensitive. Why? Because it’s drawing attention to someone’s status as a minority, which could easily be misinterpreted as some kind of racial hatred. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that there is anything bad about being a minority. In fact, I am a big fan of multiculturalism! My point is that, due to the combination of the American obsession with equality and the history of racial tension in our country, white Americans tend to tip-toe around the issue of race (and to even consider race an “issue” in the first place) – which is why Uganda has been a shock to my system in this arena.

{{Statue of the current King of Buganda
(kind of like the original version of Uganda),
Kabaka Muwenda Mutebi II! From a field trip
to the kingdom headquarters last week.}}

The fact that I would be in the minority here was simply not something that I had anticipated in advance. (And when I say minority, I mean M-I-N-O-R-I-T-Y!! Outside of the study abroad students, I have seen a total of 6 muzungus in all of the places I have visited combined – including the capital city!)  Because of this surprise – along with my academic study of the negative impacts of colonialism and the history of unintentionally oppressive Western missionaries in Africa within the first 3 weeks of this program – I initially felt terribly isolated and uncomfortable in my own skin. Not only did I suddenly become acutely aware of my race upon entering Uganda, but I also felt very self-conscious about Ugandans’ perceptions of me. In addition to the race factor, I was especially disturbed by the general quietness of Ugandans, thinking that I would never be able to be my true (loud…) self here.

“Do they think that I have some kind of hidden agenda here as a Westerner? Are they still bitter about the damage that white people have done to their country, and are they indirectly blaming me for it? Is there any way I can possibly serve here effectively with the stigma of being a muzungu following me around everywhere? WILL I EVER MAKE FRIENDS ?!?” During the first couple of weeks, these were the thoughts that raced through my mind each time that I left the comfort of the study abroad program quarters and ventured out into the unknown sea of beautiful black faces on campus or in my community.

Now that I have been in Uganda for a month, however, my racial anxiety has decreased significantly. I still do not enjoy being called muzungu, but I understand now that the intense negative connotation I had been associating with it was my own misperception. I am still not convinced that term is completely neutral in all circumstances, but in many cases it is, in fact, merely a descriptor – and therefore nothing Uganda get upset over ;). I also understand now that just because Ugandans are generally more reserved in nature than Americans (especially the crazy ones like me… 0_o), it does not mean that true friendship is not possible between us. It has definitely taken me more time to make friends here than I expected, but I am especially beginning to feel the seeds of kinship take root in my relationships with my host brothers and my internship colleagues, in particular (I’ll fill you in on my internship soon!!).

{{Rodgers cooking up some beef (African style!)
for a friend's graduation party...with the biggest spoon
I have ever seen in my life!!}}

Another thing that my new exploration of race has helped me to realize is just how much I appreciate the “melting pot” that is America. There are a lot of things about America that I have problems with, but this is something that I think is truly worth celebrating. I didn’t realize how much I have taken the multi-cultural nature of our country for granted until I came here to Uganda, where a far fewer number of ethnicities are represented. (From what I have gathered, there are small groups of people from other African countries here – mostly the neighboring ones like Kenya and Sudan – but the vast majority of the population is Ugandan, through and through.) The fact that in America we have people from all different cultural backgrounds in our own backyard is a unique blessing! I believe that it enriches every aspect of our society, and that it is a small reflection of John’s description of heaven in Revelation 7:9:

“After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.”

(Now, that’s not to say that America is in any way spiritually superior to a less multi-cultural country. It’s just something that I like to think about. :) )

So, what is my point in telling you all of this in the first place? My hope is that in sharing some of my emotional ups and downs as a minority here in Uganda, you will be able to better empathize with the plight of whatever “minorities” may be in your own sphere of influence. In this sense, I’m not just talking about race. I mean anyone who may feel isolated because they are different. Maybe it’s the single mom in your workplace who can’t ever go out for happy hour with the rest of you because she has to get home to her kids. What can you do to bring the party to her? Maybe it’s your college classmate who feels lonely and disoriented because he’s an upperclassmen transfer. How can you warmly welcome him into your campus community? Maybe it’s the elderly woman in your church who never gets any visitors anymore because her adult children live far away. When can you glitter Sharpie her into your social calendar?!? Maybe it’s the deaf child in your neighborhood who doesn’t have many friends because people are shy about trying to communicate with him. Why don’t you find a way to break the ice?

{{Members of the Ndere Dance Troupe performing traditional
Ugandan dance in flying colors!! Best field trip so far!}}

After all, this is exactly what Jesus Christ calls people to do, and he was the best befriender of marginalized people in all of human history! In all the Bible stories about his life, we constantly see him hanging out with the people that no one else cared to be around. Though he was popular and powerful, he had no problem associating himself with the prostitutes, the thieves, the lepers, the widows, and yes, the ethnic minorities. His mission was to “seek and save” not the confident people who have it all together, but the lost. (Luke 19:10) At the end of time, our attitudes and actions towards “the least of these” will be a determining factor in our eternal destiny, for:

"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’" –Matthew 25:31-40

I encourage you to be intentional about reaching out to the minorities in your life this week, whoever they may be – because I can now tell you from experience that even just the smallest gesture of friendliness can go a long way in making them feel welcome. Invite the stranger in, and you yourself will be blessed!!

{{Me and my youngest brother, Kisaakye!
His name means "grace" in Luganda. :) }}

Welp, that’s all for now, folks! I’m heading out of town this weekend to a city in northern Uganda called Gulu. We will be visiting non-profit organizations that help with rehab for child soldiers and other victims of the civil war that took place in that part of the country for many years. I’ll let you know what I learn when I get back! :)

Until then, be good to yourself and be good to everybody else!

Thanks for caring,

Kelsey Jo