Culture, they say, is the way of life of a people. Language is an essential part of culture, as without language, a culture is bound to go extinct. People often talk about integrating into a community or society by understanding the rules and regulations that guide people's conduct and by behaving like the members of that society.
There is no way someone can claim to be integrated into a society without speaking the language of that society; otherwise, it would be considered non-conforming. However, there are other ways in which someone can fit into society, such as by offering services and contributing positively. It is actually easy to identify people through language and also the colour of their skin. Asians have common features, as do Africans and Europeans.
Many of us are bothered or treated differently just because of the colour of our skin. Some even treat people differently solely because of their skin, and I think some of us are guilty of this, particularly in Africa. When we see a white person, we often accord them some kind of respect. This is not to say that it is wrong to respect strangers, but we should not stereotype or give them undue advantage over others. I have seen people segregating and favouring others because of the colour of their skin. I think one of the reasons this happens in Africa is largely due to colonisation. The Europeans came with their culture, language, and religion, colonised us, and made us feel inferior. Many Africans were driven into slavery, and many are still marginalised and oppressed today. So, it is not surprising that many Africans still view them as superior rather than as fellow humans. There is a popular saying, "them, ape obey," which many Africans misquote today, and I think it reflects how cultural identity can almost go extinct.
The way we perceive ourselves as humans also matters. Some even see themselves as inferior to others due to their background or life experiences.
We shouldn't let our race or the colour of our skin limit us in how we deal with our environment and the people around us. We should treat people equally and allow peace to reign. We should focus on what binds us together rather than what separates us.
