"What a chop!" "What a flippin punk!" "Oi!" These are statements i utter in my brain space, and sometimes out loud, when young people who i know are passionate and committed to the cause of racism interruption and poverty transformation and reconciliation and restitution jump on to social media and act like... well, like teenagers really, little kids on a bad day. And it happens a lot. To be fair, i imagine i inspire my [...]
Jacob Zuma is still the president. Not too many surprises there i don't think, although the 21 vote margin may have been a lot closer than many people suspected. But it certainly was no Brexit or Trump sideswipe [maybe we're saving that for 2019!] and the result of the vote of no confidence certainly revealed some things. While we try to figure out what that means and doesn't mean, here is a repeat of yesterday's [...]
When i hear the words 'secret ballot' i immediately change them to 'secret ballet' and feel like there is some kind of underground mysterious quite-possibly-Russian dance extravaganza happening that i wasn't invited to. And will there or won't there be need for the traditional tutu? But then i hear that it's a No confidence vote in the president, Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma and i instantly realise that his middle name is a lot more creative than mine, [...]
Sometimes lying can be fun. Last week i was part of two of the three shows that Improguise - Cape Town's longest running show and Improv group - put on at the Alexander Bar. Both shows were the first time i had taken part in the specific format and one of the formats - On The Couch - was the first time Improguise had tried this brand new style of show. And they were both [...]
The other day i started a series looking at the concept or idea of 'The better coloured/black/indian'. i am still hoping to share a few more stories on it as they come in, but i think it has already been useful in helping some white people to become aware of its existence and hopefully get some more helpful conversations and actions going. As a white person it is important to note that while i don't [...]
First dates are all about making that good first impression and so we asked you to put your heads together to come up with some places that may not be the best for that. And you did! #WellOfCourseYouDidDontBeRidiculous [The Story So Far: Every Wednesday at 12 noon South African time [6am EDT] an inspired and growing number of brilliant, creative and absolutely fun people from all around the world take part in what is called [...]
Firstly, let me start off by saying I vehemently disagree with the term “(Better) Coloured” it has way too many links with the ‘amper baas’ (almost boss) apartheid assertions. I struggle with being confined to the label “Coloured”, I myself am still grappling with it. Although, I understand to some extent that for people to make sense of me I have to fit in some category. I would like to have the option to decide [...]
i asked me friend Terence if he would share some thoughts about the concept of 'The Better Coloured' and he came up with these: “Yeah, but you’re one of the good ones” My friend and I were standing under a tree trying to escape the summer heat during break-time. He had been talking about those “gangsters” and “kak okes” of the school – the Coloureds. Luckily for me, I, with my meekness and my white [...]
i first heard the term 'the better black' from a friend of mine who i am hoping will share a bit of her story for this series at some stage. It was shared in the context of her being part of a church congregation that looked very diverse on the outside but where she felt pressure to look and behave in ways acceptable to white people so as to fit in. Phrases like; "You speak [...]
Another day, another person calling a grown man who works in your garden 'boy' - these racists are everywhere, right? Except this time it wasn't a racist. And in fact, it came in the context of a social justice looking-out-for-people-of-colour post [because let's face it, i have still to experience a white domestic worker in this country, although i'm sure your friend knows of one] in the form of a Facebook status: Seeking justice for [...]
