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 government, business… and me!
Imagine a better country! No, that is not a passive dream-about-it suggestion. It's an imperative. As in, while we are spending three weeks largely stuck in our homes, here is an opportunity for all [...]
Tips on surviving the corona virus lockdown
These are some ideas i have about surviving the first three days of hometivity! And just like that, South Africa was in lockdown. Today is Friday, and my advice for the first three days [...]
Another [sigh] Open Letter to the Proteas (team and management)
An Open letter to the South African Mens' Proteas Cricket team... Hi there, Yes, it's me again. Brett "Fish" aka Scuba Steve [That's right, i'm the guy who attended a cricket test at Newlands [...]
We Are Dying Here: a review and recommendation
these poems do not let themselves be written without lifting lids and disturbing the dead these poems are hauntings they could not live without bringing buried things back ghosts out of silence bearing witness [...]
16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children
The idea of 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children seems crazy to me. When what we obviously need is 365.25 days of Activism for No Violence against women and [...]
the party
i attended a 50th birthday party last night. Of someone i have met twice... i was in the minority [as a white person] and one of the youngest people in the room [which doesn't happen [...]
Rugby World Cup: Good or Bad? Or some measure of both?
South Africa are the World Cup Rugby champions [of the world, as Queen might add, but possibly not the queen, as we completely smashed her side!] which is a really good thing. Or a [...]
What Bishops sex scandal incident has to say about us…
Yesterday i wrote some thoughts about the Bishops sex scandal where a female teacher allegedly had sex with an 18 year old learner from Bishops. There were possibly more incidents involving other learners, possibly [...]
Bishops sex scandal is no joke
Have you heard the one about the Bishops Sex Scandal? i knew something was up when 'jokes' containing the words 'Bishops' and 'Water Polo' arrived in my hockey whatsapp group. But i had not [...]
Why i joined Conversations for a Just South Africa
There is a new group on Facebook that i am a part of called Conversations for a Just South Africa. At the moment there are around 1500 people in the group and climbing every [...]
40 Tips for Parents: Parts 21-25
Continuing the journey of #40TipsForParents with another five you might find helpful: 40 Tips for Parents: Tip #21 Give them Justice/Compassion/Generosity-flavoured experiences. We have spoken about being honest and dealing with difficult topics when [...]
A few MORE good [South] African books… for children
What [South] African stories are your children reading?A while back i compiled a list of super amazing books for young children from suggestions made by a lot of my friends, with a specific focus on [...]