Racism – Black
and White South Africans in a Stalemate[1]
Racism
is at the heart of the problems that South Africa as a nation faces in the
democratic dispensation. This is a truth that many do not want to accept, people
hoped that by pretending that it does not exist it will quietly dissipate by
itself. From the political arena to religious platforms and even within
communities, no active conversations about race exist; bar those with an
accusatory tone. It is as if the country believes that when apartheid as a
regime collapsed, so did racism. But what most South Africans are naïve about
is that while apartheid was a form of governance that discriminated people based
on colour, racism was (is) a state of mind. And while laws and systems of
governance can be legislatively disintegrated, it is not as easy to deal with a
person’s state of mind. The country wants to almost sweep the issue under the
carpet, but centuries of oppression; first colonial then apartheid make that an
impossible feat. This piece argues that racism has always been an issue
among black and white South Africans. It has always been bubbling beneath the
surface, something that people spoke about under their breath within their
respective circles. Penny Sparrow[2]
broke her silence, and she represents the opinions of many white South
Africans. Velaphi Khumalo[3],
in response to Penny Sparrow also represents the opinions of many black South
Africans. Therefore I argue that black and white South Africans have reached a
stalemate with regards to racism in South Africa. Both have reached a stage
where neither is willing to budge from where they stand, therefore dialogue on
the issue is of utmost importance.
Reconciliation
was the gospel that was preached when South Africa had its first democratically
elected president. Black South Africans had to find it within their hearts to
forgive what apartheid had put them through. This was seen in the project of the
TRC, the proponents of reconciliation almost pressured black South Africans
into forgiving the atrocities of apartheid. One young black woman exclaimed: What makes me really angry about the TRC and
Tutu is that they are putting pressure on us to forgive. For most black South
Africans the TRC is about us having to forgive…the oppression was bad but what
is much worse, what makes me more even more angry (sic) is that they are trying
to dictate my forgiveness.[4]Because
of how impatient reconciliation was, the forgiveness confessedby black South
Africans was not earnest.They publicly expressed forgiveness but secretly
nurtured resentment. While white South
Africans have expressed and continue to express regret for the atrocities of
apartheid, it is also not true that all of them believe that they are equal
with black people. If anything, the racist slurs that dominated social media
conveyed that certain white South Africans do not want to share the amenities
of the country with black South Africans. The comments have also showed that
certain white South Africans have become apathetic about apartheid because they
feel black people ought to be over it by now. For most white people, this is
fueled by the belief that they did not take an active part in the apartheid
regime, their ancestors did.
I
therefore argue that black South Africans are still hanging on to anger and
resentment because of apartheid. Not only because of the regime, but also
because of its legacy that continues to give preferential treatment and thus
unequal opportunities based on skin colour. Many of white South Africans show a
lack of compassion by their insistence that black people are not willing to let
go of the past. They feel that apartheid is now being blamed for every evil
that happens in South Africa and are therefore tired of apologizing about the
past. I contend that because of this, black and white South Africans find
themselves in a stalemate. The country will not pay attention to this at its
own peril. If the country is to heal, constructive and earnest conversations
about race need to be created. We need not to be afraid to speak about colour,
because currently, race almost seems like a taboo subject. All people; Black, White,
Indian or Coloured, belong and are made in the image of God. The covenant
between us and God is both vertical and horizontal[5],
that while we have peace with God, we also must have peace amongst each other.We
therefore need to have peace across our racial lines, and recognize each other
as human beings, and not what colour our skin is.
[1] My reference to black and white bias in the article is neither
statistical nor empirical, it is rather a phenomenological study.
[2] Referred to black people as monkeys. She commented that they flood
the beaches and leave them in a dirty state.
[3] Stated that white South Africans needed to leave the country and
that they should be treated like how Hitler treated the Jews.
[4] This was quoted from the Sunday Independent Newspaper, 6 December
1998.
[5] The symbol of the Cross.
