The Detroit Address — Page 15
15 Presently, I would like to say a few important things in light of these Quranic verses to all Ahmadis regardless of their color—be they black, white, or any other color. The fact of the matter is that immigrant Pakistanis who have settled here are victims of a type of complex, namely, the inferiority complex. In fact, this inferiority complex has nothing to do with the shade of your color—may it be pure black or lesser black. This complex develops due to a narrowness of heart and mind. The narrowness of the heart and mind of a per- son, regardless of his color, always expresses itself in a feeling of inferiority. Many ills of human society grow out of this complex, but the consequences are extremely devastating if people become its victims in the realm of religion. These verses of the Holy Quran tell us that truth and an inferiority complex cannot exist together. The two are in direct opposi- tion to each other and cannot flourish together. Truth suffers greatly at the hands of this complex. Like a thing destroyed by termites, one loses faith due to an inferiority complex; it preys upon truthfulness and nobility of character. However, at times it may be temporary. For example, immigrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh, or any Arab country may feel that they are financially better off as compared to the blacks, and further may feel that their color is lighter. Thus, uncon- sciously, they tend to become a part of the social setup of the whites. By making closer relationships with the whites, they may feel a kind of superiority over others. In my opinion, in most cases, this is not a consciously developed attitude.