December 20th, 2021
Racism in Mauritius is a language that often expresses itself indirectly through social and spatial segregation, with intersections with class privilege. Here is a tool for reflection:
_____Among my close friends, I have _____ close interracial friendships (in my best circle of friends).
_____In my location(s) of residence, my immediate neighbors are of the same race as me.
____ I speak Kreol with my employees, colleagues, and on the street.
_____I speak French at home.
_____I am able to walk in front of the beach of a hotel without getting kicked out by security.
_____ I inherited a house, land, and other assets that were passed down from generations of colonialism from my ancestors.
_____ I have a household employee that I call "bonne" or "zardinye" by their first name. They call me "Madame or Monsieur." This employee is not the same race as me.
_____ My last 10 social get-togethers I participated in were with a majority people people of the same race.
_____ I have more than one home which is staffed by employees of a different race than me.
______The company my family works for is led by a person of my race.
_____ My children go to private school. Public schools are not good enough for my children.
_____ My children's friends are mostly of the same race.