The RACE conversation.

Yesterday, while talking to a friend of mine, Makungu Mabunda, he mentioned a sad story that he witnessed at GoldReef City this past Saturday. It involved a group of white kids acting inappropriately towards black kids. The details of the story are rather sadly disgusting and sharing it would cause an unnecessary poke to some people’s emotions.

His story reminded me of a tweet by Project Hoopoe that I saw about a week back. It was a picture of Jesus crucified on the cross with the following words written next to his body: ” The Black Son of God died for White sins.”

The tweet.

This got me thinking about how prevalent racism is in our society. Why is it even prevalent?

During June this year I attended a week long Wits Emerging Leaders camp in Magaliesburg. One of the sessions was dedicated to transformation and we had members of the Ahmed Kathrada foundation facilitating it. The main focus of the session was on racism. Numerous participants of the camp gave their definitions of racism and any experience they have with it. Bitterness and hurt were the main feelings lingering in the room.

We were asked to think of ideas on how to educate society on racism and how to get people to talk about it. One of the participants mentioned something very true: “There is no point in talking about racism when only one race is ready to talk about it and is vocal about it.” Whenever there are talks of racism, only one race dominates the talks; black people. Yes, we dominate the South African soil, no doubt, but how many times do we hear any other race willing to tackle the issue?

I took it upon myself to ask South Africans belonging to the four major race groups on our soil to give me their thought on this matter. I asked each of them a set of questions just to evaluate whether all race groups are on the same page as far as race issues are concerned.

The participants are Savyasāci Dās (Black), Ashtride (Indian), Chandrè (White) and Juwaid (Coloured).

As a South African of your race, what is your take on racism? Do you think it exists in our society, especially looking at where you live?

Savyasāci

Savyasāci: Yes, racism exists. It is an unavoidable condition for society mainly because everyone is influenced by the bodily concept of life. It is more of an issue with South Africans, considering our history. The racial stigma will continue to exist as long as the image of success, beauty and progressive standards is set by the western white globalist so who influence and run through their multi national corporations the entire capitalistic democratic world.

Ashtride: Yes, racism does still exist. I have seen it where I live. My neighbours mainly blamed every problem on us. They wanted to dictate to us how we should live. I have seen racism from white to black, and even black to white. The latter happened where a black friend of mine in high school refused to serve food to white people because “they all must be punished for what they all did to us”. While I do understand his anger, I did not find it fitting for him to take it out on people who probably were not even alive to experience it. It’s a case of adding fuel to a fire.

Chandrè: I do think that racism is still a great issue at large in South Africa. For me personally however I perceive it from both sides. I have perceived racism from other parties for being a white person. As a working student I have been economically excluded from work and academic opportunities due to being white. I feel that I’f a person is able to do a certain task or get assigned a job they should be chosen for their ability over colour. However, I feel that it is fair for a previously disadvantaged person to get a position if they have the same qualifications as I do.

Juwaid: Racism is a real issue within our society. Over recent times it has been become more apparent within our society. I remember one of my black friends stated that they will never date a white girl simply because she is white and that is when I knew that racism is now explicitly within our society. Even with my Indian friends they said they will never date a black girl and their parents told them that if they ever brought a black girl home they will be disowned.

How do constant talks about racism by controversial black people affect you? Do you think their statements are valid?

Savyasāci: They have many valid points in as far as identifying the psychology of racism that still exists in South Africa. They feel though lack in identifying and outlining a worldview for Africans and the world which is divorced from the Godless materialistic paradigm of their professed colonisers.

Ashtride

Ashtride: I rate them based on how it could benefit us as a society. If the talks add fuel to the fire of racism, through remarks that degrade another race, it will set us back, and probably ignite more fires of racism in people where it was previously dormant or extinguished. However, talks where people expose racism, and where people offer up solutions to combat it, is something that I admire and wish would happen more. Also, the validity of their statements, must be backed up with some form of evidence, and must offer a solution for analysis and debate.

Chandré: You hear about racial discrimination against blacks still being active in places like Stellenbosch for instance. So I don’t think talks and discussion about racism is unjustified and think there is a great deal to be done about the situation.

Juwaid: What I have realized lately is that black people are always playing the race card. If they can’t get a job they don’t say that they don’t have the right qualification however they say that they didn’t get the job because they are black. With BEE and affirmative action now enacted I feel that it’s not meeting the objectives of being broad based because during apartheid not ONLY blacks were discriminated against, so was Indians and Coloureds.

Does the fact that most people of races other than black aren’t vocal about the issue of race bother you?  Savyasāci: I feel that being vocal without a deep and effective cure for racial discrimination is not the most effective approach. Being more vocal many times just arouses feelings of mistrust, anger about the past, resentment and even hate.

Ashtride: Most indians are not vocal about race because of a variety of reasons. I as an Indian, have not faced any racist action or attack against me. I cannot speak for my race as a whole, but maybe we have not faced as much racism in post apartheid RSA.

It does not bother me that indians are not vocal about the issue. Many SA indians strive to live in peace with one another. We as indians get on with our daily lives, and focus on other issues that affect us personally, like our families, businesses etc. However if there is a racist incident against an indian, you can be sure that the indian community WILL make their voice heard on the issue.

Chandré

Chandré: I don’t think thinking about racism as this concept of white people being racist against black people as justified. Racism is hatred against anoher race regardless of it’s point of origin. One also has to look at things like xenophobia as well as gender issues when considering issues like these.

Juwaid: To have a law stating that the majority of a company should employ (substantially the whole company) with blacks “or else” seems like a racist policy. What about the Indians and Coloured who were also discriminated against during apartheid have? They have simply been left forgotten.From the new tender laws stating that a small business owner who tenders for under R10 million cannot be Indian, Coloured or White, what opportunities are these small business owners getting to progress their well-being and community?

How do you relate with people of other races?

Savyasāci: I personally have always had hope to be able to mix freely and happily mix with persons of other races, but I know that unless we are united a course much higher than social and economic concerns the divides will always be there.

Ashtride: I am a non racist. I relate well with people of other races. I have friends and relatives across all race groups. My brother’s girlfriend is white and that is perfectly acceptable to me.

Chandré: I grew up with a racist family and have faught against their principles rendering me in a position that I have no virtual relationship with them anymore.

Juwaid

Juwaid: New legislation is only benefiting one race, blacks.‘Ubuntu’ in the New South Africa really means, Only help those who have the same skin colour as you.

It is very clear that our country still has a long way to go as far as learning to live freely together without seeing race. What can be done about this pressing issue? Will we ever move forward as a nation when we can’t even connect as brothers and sisters?

Signing out… Ramadimetja Rami Makgeru