Buraku Problem Q&A
Many journalists, researchers and students from abroad come to visit us at the BLHRRI. Although they come from different parts of the world, they come to us to learn more about Buraku problems and ask for much information. Among the many questions asked us, we picked out those most frequently asked in these occasions, and will try to answer them as a new series of"Q&A"in this news letter. We hope this will be a help in understanding Buraku problems.
Q "Don't-wake-up-a-sleeping-baby "
A That is a so-called concept of "Don't-wake-up-a-sleeping-baby " which some people believe. You may think that as far as we do not know about the Buraku at all, we will neither talk about the Buraku nor discriminate against Buraku people.
In reality, there are people who disclose the family background of others and who want to know it. In addition, detective agencies are engaged in investigating it as a business to give customers information in preparation for marriage and job recruitment. Ten kinds of Buraku lists that give the locations of nationwide Buraku areas have been found so far.
As indicated in such instances, it is not realistic to follow the concept of " Don't-wake-up-a-sleeping-baby " to eliminate Buraku discrimination. The idea only negates the need to correctly teach about the issue.
Anyhow people know the existence of Buraku people. In many cases, people in their early years are first impressed by the prejudice of others close to them, such as parents and friends, who often say that Buraku areas are dirty and that Buraku people are horrifying.
In such ways they grow up with false understandings about the Buraku. When they later face Buraku people in marriage, etc, " a sleeping baby ", discrimination consciousness, will raise its head.
It is important, therefore, for everybody to be correctly taught about the Buraku problem without having the reality covered over. If we leave "a sleeping baby" as he/she is, prejudice and false understanding will be taught for generations and Buraku discrimination will be continuously reproduced.
On the other hand, there are also some Buraku people who seemingly support the concept of " Don't-wake-up-a-sleeping-baby ". Those people choose to keep silent in fear of facing further discrimination since they have been seriously discriminated against in society.
They would not tell their children that they are of Buraku origin probably based on the idea that they won't have their children suffer from the same hardship as they, even though they are strongly angry about the injustice.
Judging from those facts, it is wrong for non-Buraku people to insist that even Buraku people insist "not to wake up a sleeping baby." If you say that just by keeping quiet, discrimination will go away, you are just telling them to be patient with discrimination.
While we have to try to understand the background of why some Buraku people keep silent, we should respect the rights of Buraku people who raise their voices denouncing discrimination and appeal for Buraku liberation.
All the people, including non-Buraku people, should tackle the issue.
( reference; "Dowa Education" published by the Buraku Liberation Research Institute in 1995 )