Yip, our country is totally screwed. Not only do the white people apparently hate black people but now black people are hating black people! As a white person how do I know if any black people I associate with are actually racists? I for one am petrified.
Jokes aside, there’s been a lot of perceived “black on black” racism in the past week. Fortunately, anyone with a double digit IQ (clearly not a lot of people in South Africa) knows that this is a rubbish statement.
Last week, ANC Spokesperson, Jesse Duarte had a mad tirade on a journalist from The Times. Somehow she thought the journalist insinuated that our lord and savior Jacob Zuma was unable to read. Saucy Jesse then went on to tell the journalist that “If you weren’t black I’d call you a racist. In fact maybe you are a racist”. See, clearly black on black racism happening here. I think Duarte went into crisis mode which usually result in her calling someone a “racist” then realised she was actually talking to a fellow “black” person. I say “black” mostly due to the fact that Jesse is pretty light herself. She’s about one skin whitening treatment away from having to change her name to “Tabitha Munroe” or something equally white.
If that wasn’t enough, (in my opinion) colourless 5FM presenter, DJ Fresh went and played a song called “Kaffir” (sue me) and got a terrible rap on the knuckles for it. Now in my little world I was always told that it’s okay for black people to call each other “nigger” (this is sarcasm) so did I miss the memo here? So ultimately Fresh has been fined ten thousand rand for playing the song. There’s no doubt that this word is an anachronistic throwback to a horrible past but surely context is important? It’s a song that is about not being called that name and being proactive. How on earth would a child born after 1994 know that if they get called a kaffir it’s a horrible word? Let’s be honest, this is more educational than offensive. Either way, it seems DJ Fresh is a less than subtle racist.
Finally, today the ANC Youth League has had a major apoplexy after a Nando’s advert featuring Julius Malema was screened. The advert parodies Julius and the Youth League has threatened “Militant action” if the adverts are not taken down and a full apology given. Ironically the man himself, Julius Malema is in good spirits about the advert, according to a report in the news this morning. Why is this considered black on black racism? The marketing manager of Nando’s is a one “Sylvester Chauke”, clearly an agent of colonialists. South Africa was built on satire and if we cannot laugh at ourselves then who can we laugh at? Satire follows people that do stupid things and if the Youth League can go so far as to threaten militant action then in twenty years voting for the ANC will be an even worse proposition than it is now.
If for some reason you’re still reading this you’re asking the important question: “What is Saul saying though?” Quite simply I ask this question: “Can we all chill out?” Stereotypes are fun and satire is one of the few forms of intellectual humour we have left today. Don’t go hating on Nando’s or DJ Fresh for trying to make you think, it just makes you look totally ignorant.
Here’s a thought though: “Vote for Nando’s for fast delivery and efficient service.
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Stereotypes aren’t fun, Saul. They’re only fun when you’re not the one being made fun of. And stereotypes contribute to [institutionalised and covert] racism. I do not approve of black people — used without quotation marks — calling each other the n-word but I do understand why some do it; they are trying to reclame the word. Same goes for the c-word and the b-word. But only those who belong to the specific marginalised groups may use those words. We use satire to poke fun at things we disapprove of. But satire only works if there’s a kernel of truth to it. Anyway. Duarte was wrong to call the journalist a racist: it’s an ad hominem attack. But I agree with you. The Youth Idiots are, well, idiots.
Ah but Joy-Mari, how else can we laugh at each other?
I enjoy stereotypes because they are similar to satire in the sense that there is often some smidgen of truth.
You’ve heard that Jews are cheap? Well it’s probably because they are but then again if you said that and not me there would be trouble.
I think people need to take a step back and take a break from this rampant finger pointing. We’re all human, we all have different opinions and I don’t think it’s fair to force your opinions onto other people. If you don’t like what DJ Fresh plays then don’t listen but don’t ruin it for everyone else.
Extracts from an article by Marc Ambinder at http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/07/enough_phony_outrage.php
“Outrage is supposed to be extreme anger about an extreme and dignity-damaging insult. It has instead become the quotidian autonomic emotional register of most species of political actors, including partisans, campaign operatives and pundits. Hence: what used to be normal is now considered extreme.”
and:
“Outrage is often phony; major campaigns contrive their outrage precisely for effect. (When I ask about these contrivances, I am told that they are “part of the game.”) But outrage is often phony even if it seems real. Phony outrage is outrage for the sake of feeling outraged; it’s a comfortable outrage, an outrage that serves to reinforce feelings of solidarity and get rid of feelings of dissonance. Outrage is a covering emotion, like its close cousin, self-righteousness. We love to be offended. We love to feel affronted.
Everyone is so outraged, outraged, outraged all the time that we’re defining outrage down. If our outrage meter hits 10 at every conceivable sleight or remark, then when something really outrageous happens — something truly morally despicable or cowardly takes place — we’re numb. Outrage moves votes and changes opinion. But if everything’s outrageous, then nothing is.”
Makes you wonder about our seeming lack of outrage at really important issues. Like chickens pecking furiously at the ground, who don’t notice the approaching farmer with an axe.
My point is we should be less outraged at things like satire, that have US as the stereotype being poke fun at, and more outraged at the things which threaten our very existence in this country.
That’s my 50 cents…:))
Personally, I love Nandoes. Mostly because it tastes great.. secondly, because they bar no holes!
I have had more discussions about Politics in the past 2 months than I have about my love-life (that says a LOT). I’m over it (Politics).
In a couple days, the results will be out and everybody will be happy. Or as happy as they expected to be.