"اما نژاد فرزند نژادپرستی است نه پدر آن"
— Ta Nehisi Coates
Simplified Meaning:
Imagine a tree growing in a garden. The tree didn't just appear out of nowhere; it started as a small seed and then grew over time. In this context, the tree represents 'race,' and the seed represents 'racism.' The quote is saying that racism came first, like the seed, and race came afterward, like the tree. In other words, the idea that different races exist was created because of racism. People didn't always think of each other in terms of race. This thinking started when some people began to treat others unfairly based on their skin color or where they came from, and that's how the idea of different races was created. For example, in history, when one group wanted to feel superior to another, they created categories to divide people. So, they invented the concept of different races to justify treating others badly. If you believe people are different races and that some races are better than others, it’s easier to accept discrimination and unfair treatment. To apply this to your life, think about how you view and treat people who look different from you. Understand that the idea of race was made up by those who wanted to create divisions and inequalities. Instead of seeing race as something real that separates us, recognize that we're all humans and should treat each other fairly and kindly.