I keep thinking about the thought-provoking words of James Baldwin in this interview with Welsh writer and host of Mavis on Four, Mavis Nicholson. As their conversation was coming to an end, he goes;
"We've yet to understand, that if I'm starving, you're in danger. People think that my danger makes them safe. They're in trouble."
It resonated deeply with me, and I could not help but to relate it to the current situation in Nigeria, where suffering and high costs of living have become prevalent issues.
The Wave by Mudi
A friend reached out to me, after seeing the quote on our page, asking what it meant. To break it down, I offered her a perspective from the vantage point of the masses – the security guards, the drivers, the house helps, and anyone who has found themselves at the receiving end of this malfunction.
In this trying condition, imagine the desperation that can arise when basic needs are unmet. When push comes to shove, and individuals feel cornered by circumstances, some may turn to crime as a means of survival. But who becomes their target? Who is the next person they might consider in their quest for sustenance? The next man! It's people like you and me – those who seem (emphasis on this) to be doing relatively better amid the prevailing struggles.
Hunger is a terrible thing; it knows no respect for morality, values, or even Godliness. As poverty takes its toll on the less privileged, the divide between the privileged and the impoverished widens. The consequences of widespread suffering and deprivation extend beyond individual circumstances; they affect the fabric of society as a whole. My starvation, my suffering, does not end with me. In the long run, it affects you too.
If the cycle of suffering persists, are any of us immune to its potential ramifications?
Are you safe?
This is a profound observation. As the situation continues to deteriorate, I find myself unable to escape thoughts of the worst possible outcomes. The question arises: 'Could any of us be exempt from the potential consequences of this ongoing cycle of suffering?' This unsettling truth leaves me filled with fear and panic. Thank you for candidly sharing your thoughts with us.
It affects us all.
I'm a firm believer in the power of "collective effort". I do my part and you do yours.
If today, I decide to always give the girl hawking groundnuts on my street or the wheel barrow boy at the market a little extra change and you also do same for those around you, we've certainly made efforts even if it doesn't solve the problem.
A little compassion is all we need.