One East, one West, Buddhist women, Boudha, Kathmandu, Nepal

Is the West Best?

Anyone working in missions will come face to face with the reality of racism at some point.

Historically it has been an issue of skin color. In most nations black was wrong and white was right.

I live and work in South Africa. Perhaps there has never been a nation where racism was more evident than in the apartheid regime which Nelson Mandela led a peaceful overthrow of.

While historical racism is still alive, there is a new, more subtle form of racism which is occurring.

The new racism is Western or Non-Western. 

One East, one West, Buddhist women, Boudha, Kathmandu, Nepal
By: Wonderlane

We may not make these statements out loud, but in many of our minds they ring true.

Only Western people can work with money.
Only Western people can study science.
Non Westerners are not able to think in a linear way, thereby will never grasp certain concepts.
Only the Western people write about how to be African

I’ve seen elements of this first hand.

When dealing with cultural differences, we always say things like, “Well, in the West, we do it this way…”

Where is the West anyway? And is the West Best?

Find out more of these culture forms racism takes today from missionaries and expats serving all over the globe. 

Head on over to A Life Overseas to be a part of the discussion.


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