I woke up this morning and checked my Twitter stream to see that David Bullard, a Sunday Times employee for the past 14 years had been fired from the newspaper. I found this quite odd since Bullard has always been quite controversial, annoying plenty people throughout his past 14 years.
Sunday Times editor Mondli Makhana finally fired the writer over an article deemed racist. I’m not going to copy the entire article but you can read the original text here: Sunday Times
For those of you to lazy to read the article it basically speaks about what would South Africa be like without colonialism. He waxes lyrical about how life would be idylic and peaceful without cellphones, the internet and ostentatious behaviour while living in traditional African villages. He then mentions that the people of Africa would feel as though something was missing until the Chinese come knocking for mineral wealth and finally the indigenous people have something to blame for ruining this idyllic lifestyle.
I think the article asks a fundamental question: Were it not for colonialism would the indigenous people of Africa have progressed to the point of equaling the west for wealth and progress? Fortunately it is beyond the scope of this blog to discuss that but the thing about Bullard is he is always trying to create a debate and some thought on an issue. I really don’t think Bullard was aiming at fomenting racism in his article but rather creating a debate. It seems that for Bullard futhering thought on a topic is incredibly important rather than subtly implying that the indigenous population of South Africa are inferior to the “powerful white masters”.
Here’s a thought: If the editor of the Sunday Times felt that this was racist then why did he have the article published? I’m so sick of South Africans being so uptight about “racism”. We’re so scared as a nation to discuss racism and actually deal with it so we react to anything that might be misconstrued as racism. As a nation until we deal with the past and the present issue we will never get any further.
Do I think Bullard should have been fired? Most certainly not, he’s just trying to make us think and I respect the man for actually trying to promote some thought.
Do I think Bullard should have been rapped over the knuckles? Maybe but if you look at it from my point of view then the man has a point in his argument.
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I don’t find the article Racist at all – even a Black Caller called in to 702 this morning saying he agreed that Europeans did improve Africa and he could see the difference in other African Countries and local hospitals.
I don’t think the column is racist or warrants a sacking!
I will NEVER buy another Sunday Times ,…. ever !!!
And I also feel that he has written more controversial pieces in the past….worse than this supposed Racist piece.
Look the state of a nation after coloniliasm is of course open to debate. What is of concern here are the words Bullard uses to describe Africans and Africa and the horribly sweeping generalisations, which are prejudice, which he makes about people as a whole. Not all Irishmen are drunks, not all Afrikaners are vulgar boors not all black South African are savages capable only of genocide and breeding. And herein lies the problem. I am insulted by Bullards conclusions of our how a uncolonised Africa would have developed but I am shocked by how far he has gone in search of inflammatory and offensive language to describe and denegrate Africans. While the latter is without a doubt racist the former is simply insulting and the combination of both is an idictment of a man who has always claimed to fight the good fight. Shame on you Mr Bullard for stooping so low.
Strange. I thought we had a constitutionally protected freedom of speech… and that the press was supposed to be one of the leading defendants of this principle. Now we have a major newspaper firing one of their own journalists for exercising that right.
I was also always under the impression that the Editor carries the can for what is published… so how come the journalist got punished? No matter which side of the fence you sit, this is wrong!
JD
i think white folk will never understand how black people feel after reading such a column.it is offensive on the grounds that it paints all nonwhite folk as stupid and primitive.bear in mind that most technological advances were made in the last 300years when non white folk were suppressed and denied any education.is it any wonder that blacks didnt contribute 2 technological advances?remember ancient Egyptians were an extremely advanced society.Are nt they africans?
Well well, the racists finally got their way. I read that Article on line and saw the racist abuse [ by Blacks ]that was directed at David. A real case of, The pot calling the kettle black.
Traveling as much as I do to other African states I can assure you all that David was not far off the mark.
One would have to be blinded by racial guilt not to see that Africa would have been quite happy to had been left alone.
Blacks will always blame others for whatever the shortcoming. This is a worldwide phenomenon.
I view the times action as problematic to the point where I will never buy another Sunday Times again.
So much for freedom of speech. I wonder what would have ahappend if david was Black and had ANC connections.
After reading the comments of others,i am convinced that white citizens are selective when interpreting SA law.According to the constitution Freedom of Speech is secondary to Human dignity.Every western European economy is built on the back of slavery and theft of todays third world countries resourbes.Europeans divided and conquered.whites today whinge about crime but glorify colonialism.colonialism was nothing more than theft and genocide cloaked as the civilised bringing civilization to savages
“Every western European economy is built on the back of slavery and theft of todays third world countries resourbes.”
Typical bollocks. Well then where is the exploitation in Austria-Hungary, Prussia (Germany), Poland, Scandinavian Countries,
Greece, even the USSR (which is arguably western in its ethinc/cultural makeup)? Yes many western European countries had colonies, but the time of reaping those rewards is long gone, and most of those countries put back at least as much into their ex-colonies … Hong Kong anyone? In fact all the ex colonies adapted the customs (legal and bureaucratic) as well as common customs (eg dress and technology) of their colonial conquerors. It seems its time now for countries like India to build up nuclear weapons and start fights with places like Pakistan, while refusing to feed their own poor. Come on…..
When a white man criticizes a black man it’s racism, but when a black man insults a white man it’s affirmative action? This is double standard!
Nobody said apartheid was right, what David is staying is that the black racists of the day needs to blame someone for their lack of civilization. You can’t overlook the fact that the FRIGGIN BLOODY WHEEL wasn’t even invented by any black nation south of the equator!
Colonialism wasn’t all bad for the blacks. At the very least we gave them hair straighteners…
I read the article and found myself quite amused by it. I thoroughly enjoyed the punch line at the end about finding someone to blame. It left me thinking rather than offended. I am convinced that we as black people would have advanced quite well thank you very much! To place a question mark on this is point is not racist, it’s smart! I say Bullard should send his cv to the Mail and Guardian. He’ll find a loving home there!
Please read Apartheid: Dead or alive in this weeks M&g!
Peace
You white racists in South Africa sure are stupid bastards. And you are ruining your country and your own lives.
This Bullard fellow’s column* is racist. You might think he makes some good points, but the column is racist.
If you showed it to anybody in a first-world country – they would find it racist.
You lot could make South Africa one of the richest countries in the world if you worked together – black and white.
Instead, you white racists idiots turn your backs on your black countrymen and braai and watch rugby and foul up the internet with your racist bilge.
*Not article: column. The two are very different things, you knuckle dragging dumbfucks.
all comments posted by whites are racist and hypocritical.u juggle buzz words like “taking responsiblity” and “being accountable”.whites deny all responsibilty and abdicate any accountibilty for past injustices.try 2 find a white that voted National Party previously,it is impossible.u are all hypocrites.u reinvent your reality.u all messed up SA.the ANC was left with an impossible task.u sit on the side lines and criticise everything the govt does,yet make no effort to improve SA.u pathetic fools!!!
So I’ve been thinking for a while now how to respond to the “column” and have decided that no matter what I say those with a chip on their shoulders will fight back with nonsense retorts and racist remarks.
I read the “column” a few times, and I’m still trying to grasp how it is racist. I think it is satiric and thought provoking, but it is not derogatory towards anyone. In fact, racism is technically only called racism if it comes from the people in power, and if those people are able to subjugate. If I’m not mistaken, the blacks have been the ones in power for the last 14 years, so TECHNICALLY it cannot be racism (if Biko was correct in his definition of racism).
My point is that the problem with these comments, as well as the reaction to Bullard’s article, is that so many South Africans are ignorant, and on top of that have a chip on their shoulder. Instead of taking offence at everything said maybe they should think about WHY they consider this “column” to be “racist” and maybe use that as constructive criticism…?
Racism in any form is unacceptable. I believe that there should be freedom of expression but David’s article has crossed the boundary. For those who have not experienced Racism, know absolutely nothing. They do not understand the pain, hurt, alienation until you experience it for yourself. Well I guess white people will never experience the torment they subject non white people to. Speaking from experience may David be born in his next life as a black ( non white ) man so that he can experience the hardship that black people have endured for generations and yet they can survive on barely nothing. Yet a white person needs a salary of R50 000.00 to live a comfortable life. We belive in Karma. What goes around comes around. May you feel the wrath of all the non white people in South Africa. May you never find employment and may you and your family starve just to experience what a black individual in South Africa only experiences every day.
So we think freedom of speech…..i think AWB, afrikaaner without brain. Does it hurt for white folks to read the above. Now my point is that I wrote this in context. (a thought provoker)
But for all of you, who felt something this is how all black people or none white people felt when reading Davids article.
FYI…. Equinsu Ocha….
Get your facts right before you make an ass of yourself.
The hair straightener was actually invented by a
“BLACK” Look up the name Garrett Augustus Morgan.
Remember that in the Eyes of God, every man is equal and we ALL will face him one day.
@Shami “Racism in any form is unacceptable” and then you say: “May you feel the wrath of all the non white people in South Africa”..?
Blacks are not the only ones who have had to endure a hard time. Think of the Jews? Think of women?? We have all, at some point, been the victim – every nation – every race.
People should stop thinking they are unique in their suffering and stop fighting against one another. How is South Africa supposed to heal as a nation if these are the opinions that are flying around? I read these comments and all I see is aggression towards the other. Bullard’s article is not the problem – WE are the problem.
He spoke the truth….. people dont do that enough. Wait…
i think this bullard situation has only served as a microcosm for a much larger ideology and sentiment shared amongst many people today… The idea that civilization is as a result of the ingenuity of white people is rather absurd. Necessity is the mother of invention. The wheel argument collapses under its own gravity, what on earth would a black person in the middle of africa do with a wheel…african civilization at the time had reached a point where progress was no longer needed.I appeal to the people arguing for bullard to see reason. The article is racist and riddled with ignorant stereotypes which perpetuate the already volatile racial situation in this country.Had and of the white fanatics here been thrown into africa a couple of centuries ago, could you tell me that the colour of your skin would be sufficient enough to aid you in advancing humanty? everyone is capable of invention, dont be so ignorant to believe that it is a privelage reserved for whites. Be careful when you begin to summise progression with the invention of a few items…today more than 80% of the world are in poverty and with global conditions as they are along with political tensions,, be careful when saying we have progressed. The danger comes when we began to equate civilization with technological advancement. If creating a weapon that could destroy millions of lives simultaneously is an example of civilization,,,then i am much happier with my spear and cattle thank you!