Under the guidance and with the vision of Prof Sanette Brits, the NWU Faculty of Health Sciences recently concluded an inspiring Facing Race Week – a dedicated initiative aiming to foster racial awareness, promote inclusivity and celebrate diversity. Every year, this week-long event revolves around a central theme, and this year's theme was Expand your vision; appreciate diversity.
The significance of the theme was magnified through the use of a powerful analogy from ophthalmology. In medical terms, individuals with myopia (nearsightedness) have longer eyeballs than average, while those with hyperopia (farsightedness) have shorter eyeballs than average. These conditions disrupt normal vision and require the use of corrective lenses to adjust the focus point for clear sight.
In the context of race and diversity, myopia can be metaphorically interpreted as the tendency to pay attention only to people in our immediate surroundings, resulting in restricted understanding and appreciation of the diverse communities beyond. On the other hand, hyperopia represents the inclination to focus only on distant communities, neglecting the richness and diversity found within our own circles.
The analogy extends further to include eye diseases. Glaucoma is the excessive buildup of pressure within the eye, which can damage the optic nerve and lead to eventual blindness. Similarly, in our society, the pressures of conflict and racial tension can cloud our vision and distort our perceptions. Piling up judgmental opinions about others can be compared to cataracts forming over time, hindering our ability to appreciate diversity. The result is figurative blindness, with us losing sight of the beauty and value that diversity brings to our lives and communities. Finally, we can unknowingly irritate our vision, much like conjunctivitis, by uncritically accepting everything we read or hear – especially in the age of information overload and instant news coverage. To remedy this, we must verify information and be critical in deciding what we base our opinions and reactions on.
The underlying message of Facing Race Week is a call to action: expand your vision; appreciate diversity. It encourages us to challenge our preconceived biases and limiting perspectives; to seek out and engage with diverse experiences, cultures and perspectives. In doing so, we can develop a better understanding of one another and embrace the richness that comes from our differences.
Throughout the week, various events and activities were arranged to facilitate dialogue, encourage self-reflection and promote genuine interactions. The week provided a safe space for open discussions and thoughtful exchanges, fostering an environment of inclusivity and respect.
Facing Race Week has set the stage for ongoing initiatives and conversations that could lead us towards a future in which diversity is embraced and inclusivity is the foundation of our practices.
