The Inheritance of Suppression: How Generations Pass Down Their Fate

“The most potent weapon in the hands of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed.”

— Steve Biko

Society is built on the labor of millions, yet not all labor is viewed equally. Some professions are born out of pride and confidence, their practitioners moving forward with self-assurance, their place in the world validated by social structures. Others, however, seem to stem from a much darker origin—suppression. These are the professions that are often labeled as menial, not because they lack importance, but because they are carried by those who have inherited not just skills, but a silent burden passed down through generations.

A Legacy of Suppression

Imagine a worker who toils day and night in a job that offers little dignity or social recognition. His labor is essential, but he remains unseen, his aspirations bound by the invisible chains of expectation. He was not born into this role by choice; rather, he inherited it. It was handed down by his ancestors—not as a gift, but as a curse. A curse that took shape over centuries of systematic suppression, each generation unknowingly sealing the fate of the next.

The cycle is cruelly self-sustaining. A child born into a family where struggle is the norm often grows up absorbing an unspoken lesson: This is your place in the world. Dreams are stifled before they can take root, ambition is dulled by survival, and creativity is crushed under the weight of daily hardships. This is not merely an economic cycle but a psychological one, where inherited trauma and limitations are deeply ingrained, shaping identities before they can be questioned.

The Weight of Invisible Boundaries

What makes this suppression so powerful is its invisibility. The boundaries that hold back those in menial professions are not made of iron but of belief. Society does not need physical chains when it can instill mental ones—barriers that whisper, This is all you will ever be. Over time, individuals internalize this suppression, becoming prisoners of a system they did not create but were born into.

On the other hand, professions that are seen as ‘respected’ are often fueled by an entirely different force: confidence. Generations of security, pride, and education create a mindset that allows ambition to flourish. A doctor’s child grows up seeing possibilities, not barriers. An artist’s child sees expression, not survival. They inherit not just wealth or knowledge, but a belief in their own potential.

Absorbing Negativity, Limiting Potential

When a person is trapped in a cycle of suppression, they begin to absorb negativity like a sponge. Every rejection, every instance of disrespect, every reminder of their supposed place in society weighs them down. Over time, they unconsciously limit themselves, fearing failure before even attempting to break free.

This negativity does not stay confined to an individual—it spreads. A suppressed person passes down their fears and limitations to their children, just as their ancestors did. This is not an intentional act of cruelty, but a byproduct of survival. When one spends their life fighting against forces that hold them back, it becomes difficult to imagine a different future, let alone inspire it in others.

Breaking the Cycle

So, can this cycle be broken? The answer lies in awareness. The moment one begins to question the script written for them, they take the first step toward rewriting it. Education, exposure, and self-belief are weapons against this silent inheritance. But more than anything, it requires a shift in perspective—seeing oneself not as a victim of fate but as an agent of change.

For centuries, the world has functioned on the divide between those who believe in their power and those who do not. But every great movement, every act of defiance, every revolution has begun with someone daring to reject the limitations placed upon them.

The question is: Who will be the first to unshackle themselves?