In answer to an email I was sent about racism in South Africa ... No, we didn't hit any race issues personally at all. But we kept bumping into people who talked freely with us about race issues. It was all a little confusing. Asher bought up the question - do you think so-and-so is racist. There isn't a black and white answer!
Every country has it's specific problems to work through and SA is obviously a first world country with third world issues; evident by the many townships and children spilling out through the fences playing football along the highway verges. Very difficult to bridge the huge class seperations. However, for the little we saw in CapeTown there appeared to be hardly any trust between the different racial groups. On occasion, white SA could come across as very insulated ... and also genuinely threatened and frightened about their future. 'Is it going the same way as Zimbabwe?' We met many great people - and Ajay had some interesting conversations with blacks in the car, although not if I was present. The mistrust occured both ways. However, I would hesitate to use a brash and unforgiving word as 'racism' over such a complicated subject and I think would be more a reflection of my ignorance. Johannesburg sounded to be more intergrated.
But not straight-forward - many tones of greys and hopefully many other emerging colours ever reflecting the vibrancy of this country.
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1 comment:
Here's a 3min video clip from an incredibly wise dude describing the difference between "what you are" and "what you said" in the context of racism:
http://www.illdoctrine.com/2008/07/how_to_tell_people_they_sound.html
I think I'd have to describe Jay Smooth as a prophet of modern times.
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