Talk of the Town: Lowest, smallest
Comment on “Lowest, smallest,” (Gray Matters by Michael Lim Tan, 7/16/24) via https://opinion.inquirer.net:
When I read textbooks in history when I was about Grade 6 or so, I encountered the word “pygmy” which was used to describe indigenous or native Filipinos. In a derogatory sense, the word also meant someone of small build and figuratively meant someone weak and lowly in stature. This was how white historians and anthropologists who comparatively had towering heights liked to depict people they viewed as inferior in intellect and generally weak, in every way.
Clearly, there is obvious bias and apparent discrimination in their views, seeing themselves as belonging to the so-called superior race, the great race. The way I see it, we seem to be trapped by these stereotypes that box us into the label of being inferior. While there is an undeniable link between poverty and nutrition when speaking of children seen as below the so-called height standards set by other countries who are higher in the economic hierarchy, we fail to consider the fact that we have among us, Filipinos who came from average or poor sectors who became professionals, who excelled in their respective fields and contributed much to society and I am not exactly thinking of former chief executive PGMA.
RamonN
