Why do you think you are defensive? And if a quick ebullient [don't worry, i had to look it up too!] slightly-too-loud I'M NOT DEFENSIVE burst out of you or at the very least charged its way into your mind, then that might be a helpful sign. Blessed are the Defensive... ...for they shall resist change! The online dictionary definition of 'defensive' starts off simply by saying, 'used or intended to defend or protect' which [...]
Sunday morning i had the privilege of attending a public conversation between Lukhanyo Calata [author of 'My father died for this'] and Wilhelm Verwoed [author of 'Bloedbande'] as the final session of the Restitution conference that took place this weekend. i dropped some soundbites on Facebook as it was happening and some other things that the reflections prompted in me and figured it might be helpful for people who weren't on their social medias to gather [...]
...for they will see change! i had an epiphany this morning that if more of us were a little more okay with being uncomfortable, we could completely revolutionise the world. When it comes to race conversations or men treating women better or even religious or political discussions, the moment someone starts to feel a little bit uncomfortable they usually find a quick way to end things or get back to more 'safer territory'. Where does [...]
"Sorry guys, did not realise it would be offensive." [Brett gives explanation of why it is offensive] "Brett. let's end the issue right there." = = = = = = = = = = This was the end of an exchange in a WhatsApp group that took place this morning. Yup, while you guys are coffeeing and breakfasting, this is how i choose to start my day. It is a sports team WhatsApp and certain [...]
Trevor and i have not done a Tandem Blog post for a while and so we decided to jump right into this topic of The White Saviour Complex with the rules being five comments per person at around 100 words back and forth until we have a conversation to share. You can see this and more on Trevor's Swart Donkey blog over here (1/10) Trev: Brett, you and I both come from incredibly similar backgrounds. [...]
Can i just start by saying that i absolutely LOVE the [majority of the] community who wrestle with me with aspects of race and privilege and poverty and more on social media. It is probably a wonder that more of you haven't given up on me, but when you stick around and when you push back and when we seriously engage with the topics at hand [and those hiding behind the hand] we learn so [...]
Dear Church [and in my brain i'm thinking church of Cape Town, but this really is good stuff for the church at large to hear], i have a deep love for you and a desire for you to be everything you were made to be. But it is a lot of love-hate relationship cos man, you confound me so much sometimes. Especially on the man bit. But i had a dream about you last night [...]
Words i heard last night. Not the kind of thing that feels great coming from someone who has a history of giving you a hard time or trolling you on social media, but something you learn to get over quickly and pull out the thick skin for. "Your very presence is violent." But what if it comes from one of your best friends? And what if you suspect they might be right? [Disclaimer: Now i imagine [...]
What do the spaces you inhabit say about you? On Saturday i shared an invitation with my white friends on Facebook: White friends. Do this experiment. Be aware of the spaces you occupy today. And tomorrow. Then take a moment to reflect Sunday night. How many of those spaces (gym, dinner table, sports club, restaurant, church, coffee hangout) were 100% filled with white people? (except those who were serving you/cleaning up) How many of those [...]
Who are your 'my people'? i was watching a typical exchange about some race issue on the book of face-offs yesterday when something struck me... The man commenting - who happened to be an afrikaner - said something about "my people" - and the light bulb went on and started pulsating to a disco beat. There is a very real problem for me when your "my people" all look the same or speak the same language [...]
