New Age2.png
We need real insights in this new SA
The black middle class have no new vision, they only harp on the indignities
of racism
Sandile Memela, The New Age, 9 September 2015
I managed to source the two presentations made at the Ruth First Memorial
Lecture at Wits recently to see for myself if they had anything new to say
that would not have been raised by Steve Biko in 1968. This is 2015. We need
new insights and perspectives.
There were no earth-shattering revelations except for predictable and
monotonous accusations levelled at white people and racism.
We need to find a new language to grapple with the patriarchal capitalist
economic system. I would have gone to the lecture if I thought these young,
gifted and talented women would give us something intellectually
stimulating, deeper and better.
I found that instead of dwelling on the disappearance or complications of
black identity and unity and the emergence of the post-black age, that are
the results of much sought-after nation building and social cohesion, Ruth
First Fellows Panashe Chigumadzi and Sisonke Msimang delivered presentations
that aimed at bolstering impotent black confidence. The thrust of their
presentations were full of blacker-than-thou sentiments.
For me, this revealed black failure to deal head on with the untransformed
patriarchal capitalist economic system. This is what is at the root of black
pain and suffering. Racism, just like poverty and unemployment, are just
consequences. We have to deal with the root causes and not the effects.
The patriarchal economic system that black people have become part of will
not deliver justice and equality. It is based on selfishness, greed and
presenting oneself as "Number One".
Malcolm X said expecting capitalism to deliver justice and equality is like
"expecting a chicken to lay a duck egg". It isn't possible.
The black middle class has become part of the system that the black nation,
if it exists, fought against. In the face of this, the offspring of the
black middle class have no new insights to offer except to point out the
indignities that alleged whiteness and its racism impose on blacks
irrespective of their class.
There can only be progress in terms of combatting racism when the black
middle class is willing to admit its complicity with an unjust economic
system and talks honestly about its conduct and attitude to the poor and
marginalised. It is not any different to white behaviour.
The coming of age children of the black middle class are angry, frustrated
and disaffiliating from white society because of rejection and black guilt.
They are neither combating patrimonial capitalism nor its consequent
inequality and injustice.
Let it be clear that they are fighting for their right to be treated as
truly equal to white people. White still equals good. Their biggest gripe is
that white friends are abandoning their flimsy friendships to scurry into
the privilege, security and comfort offered by the economic system. This
leaves a bitter anger in those who have been condemned as so-called coconuts
- blacks who are white inside.
This abandonment has compelled them to look for reasons why they are
suddenly left on their own and the only motive they can come up with is skin
colour, that they are black.
But, as Steve Biko said, being "black is not a matter of skin colour but a
reflection of a mental attitude". In fact, anyone can be black if they so
choose and are, in principle, committed to economic justice and social
equality for the poor and marginalised, irrespective of their skin colour.
Racism from poor working whites is laughable. They, too, are victims of the
economic system.
There is an urgent need for the new intelligentsia like Panashe and Sisonke
to have a frank talk about where the black middle class comes from and the
purpose it was created for. It was conceived to be a buffer zone between
those who wield economic power and the poor and marginalised.
When we obsess about race and attempt to promote white blame and guilt at
the expense of self-critical examination of the role of the black middle
class in economic injustice, we are settling for less when these times call
for more. Black people are afraid to have a frank talk about class because
it will expose and shatter the myth of African unity.
Class debates make it apparent that blacks or Africans are neither a
homogeneous group nor as united as they claim to be.
. Sandile Memela is a writer, journalist and media executive at SARS. He
writes in his personal capacity.
From: http://tnaepaper.co.za/DRIVE/main%20edition/09092015/epaperpdf/18.pdf
--
--
You are subscribed. This footer can help you.
Please POST your comments to [email protected] or reply to this
message.
You can visit the group WEB SITE at
http://groups.google.com/group/yclsa-eom-forum for different delivery options,
pages, files and membership.
To UNSUBSCRIBE, please email [email protected] . You
don't have to put anything in the "Subject:" field. You don't have to put
anything in the message part. All you have to do is to send an e-mail to this
address (repeat): [email protected] .
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
"YCLSA Discussion Forum" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email
to [email protected].
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
