SOUTH AFRICA
These are some of the recent posts that i and others have made to hopefully challenge and encourage and educate you as you try and figure out how to do life better in South Africa. Please feel free to share any of these posts that are helpful with people you think it might help to take one more step towards…
All Lives Smatter – a collection of thoughts about race, painting all people with the same brush and the need for whites to engage with whites
All White Lives Matter – a “Black Lives Matter for Dummies” kind of post
Ask before you leap [to conclusions] – a post looking at how we engage when we engage with others on race
8 Steps to help me become a better ally of my friends of colour – a short but helpful reminder
But pity the mutants – a painful look at how white people are able to feel more empathy for fictional characters and pets than black people
But What Can I Do? – 40 Tips for white South Africans genuinely asking this question
Entitlement with an “i” – a brief glimpse into the problem of entitlement in our country
If I were white, I’d have been able to breathe – guest post by Thandi Nkomo
Race with me – short video clips explaining race issues simply to white people
She turned to me and asked me if being an Umlungu was something i enjoyed.
The Better Black/Coloured/Indian – some friends share stories about the standard of whiteness that has been pressured on them
The queen, my dad, and Sarafina – guest post by Thandi Nkomo
Ways in which white people are better than black people [part I] – a very short post.
Ways in which white people aren’t better than black people [part II] – a more wordier post.
When someone with an African name gives you their “easier” English name.
When the offence is that you’re offended – looking a little deeper into entitlement in South Africa.
Open Letter to School Principals in South Africa
Dear Principal, This week we have all been shocked and deeply dismayed to witness the Selborne College Class of 2017 scandal with the dog-faced Hector Pieterson photo incident. Another week, another SA school making the [...]
Hope for South Africa: From the Bottom Up
Last night tbV and i attended the end of year function - AGM and celebration - of the local non-profit organisation Bottomup. Who are Bottomup? i will let them introduce themselves to you in their [...]
Changing Cape Town one garden at a time: Meet Ujamaa
Let me introduce you to Ujamaa... Definition: The Swahili word ujamaa means 'extended family', 'brotherhood' or 'socialism'; as a political concept it asserts that a person becomes a person through the people or community. Yesterday i was [...]
Be Kind, yes but to who?
Can't we all just be a little more kind to people online? And maybe offline too..? i would say, "Yes, absolutely!" But also, "No!" Well, i mean kinda, but probably not in the way you [...]
Time to leave the old South African flag behind for good
What a week, South Africa. Of old flags and racist rants and countrywide demonstrations and polarised conversations and threats of rape and questions of intelligence and more. How do we move on from here? i [...]
After the #BlackMonday dust clears…
So #BlackMonday was a thing. And wasn't, depending on who you were. And was accidentally so for tbV and others who just happened to realise into the day that they had unintentionally worn black. For [...]
Some more thoughts on #BlackMonday and #AllDeathsMatter
Yesterday i shared a whole bunch of thoughts - mine and others - about the concept of #BlackMonday and wearing black to honour the lives of farmers who have died. Two statuses i added later [...]
Some thoughts about wearing black on Monday for the farmers
Today's Facebook status with regards to the #BlackMonday in response to farm murders has garnered a lot of attention. This is what i wrote: Anytime someone is murdered it is a tragedy. But, if you [...]
A Storey of Race
What is this race thing all about? The other night a bunch of us went to go and listen to Alan Storey from the Central Methodist Mission in town share some of his thoughts as [...]
On the search for South African worship vibes
What does it mean to worship as a South African? As an African? Is there any difference to worshipping in any other place in the world? We do tend to import our worship songs from [...]
Make South Africa great again!
Make South Africa great? When Donald Trump runs a campaign with the slogan, "Make Americaland great again!" a large majority of white Americans cheer, because they have grown up with the notion that America is [...]
Biko: A Biography – some thoughts and words
So recently i finished reading the book, 'Biko: A Biography' by Xolela Mangcu It is not often that you get to hang out with the guy who authored the book you are reading [unless you [...]