June - 2021

Jun 28, 2021
3 min

Racism, Tribalism, and Ethnocentrism, any difference?

When words no longer mean what they originally meant. This is an unfortunate reality, and it makes it difficult to have any meaningful conversation and come up with solutions. Each time you think you have nailed down the problem, the meaning of the words is changed into something else. For example, the word racism the way it is being used by some in the United States of America right now is synonymous with being a member of the Republican Party. The term has even been expande

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Eric Tangumonkem, Ph.D.

Jun 26, 2021
2 min

Is Tribalism different from Racism?

There is one more term that needs to be defined and contextualized. This is the word tribalism, and it is one of the words that many people use loosely without a second thought. Part of bringing tribalism into this discussion is because as I child, I was taught that my ethnic group and all other ethnic groups in Africa were tribes and still are. Therefore, any conflicts, discrimination, and animosities between the different “tribes” are treated as some sort of tribalism and a

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Eric Tangumonkem, Ph.D.

Jun 25, 2021
4 min

The connection between tribe and racism

It is important to define tribe before tribalism because an attempt will be made to highlight the parallels between these words and how they have influenced and continue to inform our understanding of racism. The English Oxford Dictionary defines a tribe as “a social division in a traditional society consisting of families or communities linked by social, economic, religious, or blood ties, with a common culture and dialect, typically having a recognized leader.”[1] This stan

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Eric Tangumonkem, Ph.D.

Jun 24, 2021
2 min

What is ethnocentrism?

Another word that is of great interest to me because of its propensity to overflow into racism is ethnocentrism. While there is nothing wrong with having a strong affinity for your people who share the same culture, language, beliefs, etc., there is a cause for concern when the “ethnic pride” is turned into prejudice against other ethnicities. Unfortunately, ethnocentrism is often turned into animosity and bad treatment of other people who do not belong to the dominant or the

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Eric Tangumonkem, Ph.D.

Jun 23, 2021
2 min

What is racism?

Words seem to mean different things these days. For example the word racism the way it is being used by some in the United States of America right now is synonymous with being a member of the Republican Party. The term has even been expanded to include anybody that voted for President Donald Trump and also those who did not vote for him but have a slight inclination to support any of his policies. Is this the new definition of racism? Or are people invoking this word to keep

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Eric Tangumonkem, Ph.D.

Jun 22, 2021
3 min

The role of mass media in spreading racism

Even in the age of the internet, which is some sort of an information superhighway, there are a few major actors, such as Google and Facebook, that control the traffic and at times, introduce bias. The mass media houses are using this new information technology to get their messages out as well. In addition to traditional avenues like radio, magazine, and television, the internet is being highly utilized by different mass media organizations. Mass media is guilty of propagati

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Eric Tangumonkem, Ph.D.

Jun 21, 2021
3 min

The role our senses play in perpetuating racism

In the beginning, after God finished creating the universe and all that is in it was good. God, as we have already seen, gave the five senses so that mankind could enjoy the physical environment and all the good things that God had created. Unfortunately, things did not go as planned because the physical senses were used to break God’s law and have since then become the avenue through which the enemy uses to tempt people to disobey God. We already saw how Eve engaged her five

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Eric Tangumonkem, Ph.D.

Jun 19, 2021
5 min

The consequences of corrupting the senses

Before Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, there was harmony between them and there was harmony between God and them. There was no fear and no shame, but everything changed immediately after they ate the forbidden fruit. The most significant change was the spiritual death experienced by Adam and Eve. Death is simply a separation, in this case, there was a separation between God and Adam and Eve. This spiritual death resulted from this original sin that Adam and Eve committe

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Eric Tangumonkem, Ph.D.

Jun 18, 2021
2 min

Corruption of the senses

The five physical senses of vision, hearing, smell, taste, and touch have been given to us to enjoy the physical environment, but they are the pathway to our minds and eventually, our subconscious minds. We are our thoughts because any information that gets into our minds through these senses influences what we believe. What we believe determines our actions, and our actions determine the outcome of our lives. These five senses are neutral, but can be used for wrong purposes

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Eric Tangumonkem, Ph.D.

Jun 17, 2021
2 min

The first broken relationship

After God had finished creating the man and the woman, He placed them in the Garden of Eden, and there was perfect harmony and fellowship between God and humankind. In addition to the harmony between God and the first humans, there was peace and harmony between the first man and woman. God, out of His foreknowledge and deep love for the well-being of Adam and Eve, gave them special instructions on how to conduct themselves in the garden. Out of all the trees in the garden, th

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Eric Tangumonkem, Ph.D.

Jun 16, 2021
4 min

The Beginning of Racism

Parents and schools should place great emphasis on the idea that it is all right to be different. Racism and all the other 'isms' grow from primitive tribalism, the instinctive hostility against those of another tribe, race, religion, nationality, class or whatever. You are a lucky child if your parents taught you to accept diversity. Roger Ebert It has often been said that if we fail to understand history, we are doomed to repeat it. Nothing is truer to this than in the area

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Eric Tangumonkem, Ph.D.

Jun 15, 2021
4 min

Why is racism such a charged word?

A lot of ink has already been spilled on paper regarding the subject of racism, but the issue seems to be as stubborn as a granite mountain that resists any attempts to be broken down by agents of weathering and mass wasting. While many governments and communities have passed legislation to tame this “monster,” it somehow finds a way to raise its ugly head and stare mockingly at us. Each time the issue of racism is mentioned, tensions are high, reason is thrown out the window

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Eric Tangumonkem, Ph.D.

Jun 14, 2021
1 min

52 Proven Strategies That Will Position You to Excel as an Immigrant #53 Make up your mind

“There is nothing more powerful than the made-up mind.” ― Lewis Gordon Pugh The intention of this book was to introduce you to what is possible, and no attempt has been made to treat any of the subjects introduced in great detail. This resource was put together to prevent you from falling through the cracks, as many before you have. Instead of taking responsibility, they resort to blaming everybody and everything under the sun. You have overcome a lot of odds to make it to th

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Eric Tangumonkem, Ph.D.

Jun 11, 2021
1 min

RAcism is DEAD!

Nobody can say that “Racism caused me to discriminate against some other person, treat then badly, segregate them, enslave, Lynch, and murder them with impunity.” Therefore, we must dig deeper and look for the root cause of all the hate, resentment, and wickedness that people express towards one another. It is entirely unacceptable and uncivilized to think that the color of somebody’s skin or their economic situation define who they are and determines how they should be viewe

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Eric Tangumonkem, Ph.D.

Jun 8, 2021
0 min

Why you don't need to fake it

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Eric Tangumonkem, Ph.D.

Jun 5, 2021
3 min

The power of 1$

I will share a story that caught my attention a few days ago and set me thinking. The story was shared with me by a total stranger on LinkedIn. I can only guess that this story was shared with me because they believed I could make a difference in this young girl's life that is in need. We are bombarded each day by many needs, and times we can become overwhelmed because we feel that there is little or nothing in our power to do anything that will make a difference. The desire

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Eric Tangumonkem, Ph.D.

Jun 2, 2021
1 min

52 Proven Strategies That Will Position You to Excel as an Immigrant #52 Start a Business

“Starting your own business isn’t just a job - it’s a way of life.” ―Richard Branson Most people were raised to believe that they go to school, get a good education, and get a good job, and that will guarantee a successful life. This formula works to a certain extent, but to excel, one needs more than a job, and the United States of America has lots of opportunities to start and own a small business. The Small Business Administration (SBA) is a good place to start.120 It is a

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Eric Tangumonkem, Ph.D.

Jun 1, 2021
1 min

52 Proven Strategies That Will Position You to Excel as an Immigrant #51 Learn How Money Works

“Money is a good servant but a bad master.” ―Sir Francis Bacon “You have to learn the rules of the game, and then you have to play better than anyone else.” ―Albert Einstein Most countries in the world do not have a functional and well-organized money market. As such, most immigrants are clueless about the American money market and how to take advantage of it. This chapter exposes the immigrants to what is available and how to take advantage of it. In his book The Richest Man

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