Dave's 8th Blog about Africa

Dave’s 8th Post
February 14, 2011


Today’s post is a response to lectures we’ve heard the last two days on Apartheid in South Africa. Some is editorial in tone, and includes comparisons to the U.S. and South Africa. Those of you who do not agree with my position on politics and social justice may want to move on to someone else’s blog.

Yesterday Rhoda Kodalie, an African social justice activist, described her work as head of a NGO, helping South Africans who have good ideas bring those ideas into existence in the form of companies and organizations that empower citizens. Two examples were a clinic staffed and operated for Africans by Africans and a multi car train that tours the country offering free medical, dental, and vision care with state of the art equipment. To date, this Harvard trained miracle worker’s NGO has created over 200 organizations that today work to better the lives of Africans. She is truly a remarkable individual.

Here is a very short history of Apartheid for those of you unfamiliar with the issue. I’m sure others will write more detailed information in their blogs.
• In 1910, laws were passed to curtail the rights of native Africans by the ruling white minority that instituted an oppressive policy of segregation called Apartheid.
• In 1960, blacks rebelled and 70 were killed at Sharpsville and Mandela was imprisoned.
• In 1961, SA became an independent country and in 1958 Africans were relegated to separate “homelands” by the white minority
• Mandela was released in 1989 by President DeKlerk and apartheid ended.

Although comparisons were made to American segregation and data was presented to show how American cities are racially segregated in similar patterns to African, Kodalie stated that “comparisons to the U.S. cheapens apartheid.” She said that blacks called apartheid “black hate” and they understandably wanted equality, political power, and recognition of their humanity. Whites, after the Reconciliation Committee hearings in the aftermath of apartheid, wanted forgiveness, no black revenge or backlash, to be released from the role of oppressors, and didn’t want to be held responsible. She was critical of the commission’s results and thought those in power should have been held more responsible. She said blacks told their stories but whites did not confess enough. She claimed the commission only partially did its work and was basically a compromise between elite groups to share wealth and harmony.

Kodalie said that in SA today,
• Whites are worried
• There is a brain drain of educated blacks and whites out of the country
• Disease is prevalent and aids is decimating the population as men have many sex partners.
• Living conditions have improved but SA is an underfunded welfare state
• Women are unequal. SA’s leader and others practice polygamy.
• Black foreign nationalists who have moved in are hated by native Africans.

Our last speaker today spoke about the movie Disgrace (also a book) which is mandatory watching and reading for students. He claims it raises the issue of “Whiteness” which is never discussed in Africa and is accepted as the norm. Everyone else is “the other” and less than the white norm and defacto model. I had never heard the term “whiteness” before and it offered a perspective I had not fully considered. It would be an interesting subject to explore and I’m sure the students will be doing so.

I had a heartfelt talk with a recovering Republican yesterday who in a hushed tone confessed that he had voted for Junior twice. Whispering so no one would overhear, his contrition was so obviously sincere that I told him as a devout liberal who had voted for the Great Communicator once because of Reagan’s stance of fiscal conservatism and promise to balance the budget, I understood. I tried to comfort him with the thought that whatever god he believed in would surely forgive him. He seemed to feel better after our talk and I’m glad I was able to provide an understanding ear. He was relieved to hear that I know a lot of good people who are Republicans and are probably also embarrassed and guilt ridden for their past votes. This brings me to my personal observation and a comparison that some conservative readers, if they are still reading, may not agree with.

We went on to discuss an article I had read in the NYT on 2/12/11 by Bob Herbert titled Weakened Democracy. Herbert claimed that “we are in serious danger of becoming a democracy in name only”and that
While millions of Americans are struggling with unemployment and declining standards of living, the levels of power have been all but completely commandeered by the financial and corporate elite. It doesn’t really matter what ordinary people want. The wealthy call the tune, and the people dance…what we get in this democracy of ours are astounding and increasingly obscene tax breaks and other windfall benefits for the wealthiest, while the bought-and-paid-for politicians hack away at essential public services and the social safety net, saying we can’t afford them.

Herbert concludes his essay by stating that if there is going to be change in the U.S., “it will have to work its way from the bottom up, from the people themselves.” Having written my master’s thesis on the three great crisis’s in American history, the revolution, the civil war, and the great depression, I have to agree. We are now faced with the fourth great crisis in our history which I relate to Africa’s apartheid history and would label Economic Apartheid. How will our apartheid end? How will the majority of lower and middle class Americans take their country back from the increasingly entrenched and powerful political and financial elite? Will people take to the streets as they did in South Africa or will it be a peaceful revolution? The clock is ticking.