Modern racism: It pays to pick on sensitive issues -- because we have to address these important issues or future generations will pay for the sins of the parents. Racism still persists today simply because people think it is non-existent. And most people think it will magically go away, if we ignore or don't talk about it. Racism will exist as long as humanity exists.
Modern racism masquerades in many indirect ways. You probably know that statement "We are all human. I'm not racist. You're the racist one" right? This is an emotional based statement that appeals to our feelings, not an rational one. I also agree with some parts of the statement. We're indeed humans and have one blood and there's one human race. But this statement is often used by people who would prefer that things stay the same or even get worse. I do think racism helps only the perpetrators and perpetrators only.
Unlike the victims, generally, perpetrators don't have to think much about race because it doesn't negatively affect them on a day-to-day basis.
Racism operates on "Us vs Them" mentality. If you are looking "different" from us then something is wrong with you. Sparrow wrote: "These monkeys that are allowed to be released on New Year’s eve and New Year’s day on to public beaches towns etc obviously have no education what so ever so to allow them loose is inviting huge dirt and troubles and discomfort to others.
"I’m sorry to say that I was amongst the revellers and all I saw were black on black skins what a shame. I do know some wonderful and thoughtful black people. This lot of monkeys just don’t want to even try. But think they can voice opinions and get their way of dear," she continued.
"From now on I shall address the blacks of South Africa as monkeys as I see the cute little wild monkeys do the same, pick and droplitter," Sparrow added. The KwaZulu-Natal white woman compared African people to monkeys on her Facebook page and this reveals how white South Africans view their African counterparts. I think many people don't know how the myth of Africans ("Blacks") being sub-Human is reinforced -- when most white people think of African people they tend to think of monkeys. Now what is shameful about the African skin? People like Penny Sparrow believe the myth of inferiority of the African people -- we are the problem.
How could she make comments like that when she stated in her own words, that there "wonderful" and "thoughtful black people"? It is evident, her biased perceptions of Africans stems from racial stereotypes that she had been taught all these years. But when there was an outrage from Africans, the white perpetrators dictated how Africans should view their Africaness and humanity.
Racism is also used to control or put restrictions on any form of unity among Africans. "You're a racist", why can't you marry other people of different races?" and "Africans are separatists. They don't want to assimilate" is what these people say when Africans try to unite among themselves and define their own course. Funny thing being, these people who make such accusations live very isolated lives and marry people of their own race.
On 9 March 2015, there was a student protest to remove the bronze statue of a seated Cecil Rhodes at the University of Cape Town, which commemorated Cecil Rhodes. A man who represented British imperialism and supported discriminatory laws that caused great suffering to the native populations. But to many people's disgust there were Africans who suffered from apparent Stockholm Syndrome, they were against the removal of the statue. Imagine a few group of Jews opposing the removal of Hitler or Himmler statues. Why should we keep the statues of Rhodes, Louis Botha or Kruger, especially in the new South Africa? Cecil Rhodes, Paul Kruger, D F Malan, Hendrik Verwoerd and P W Botha were colonial racists who laid foundations for the apartheid system, that alone indicates that we cannot honour evil racists who oppressed and committed atrocious acts against Africans.
But notice how unrepentant white racists will compare the white farm killings to apartheid. But facts speak for themselves: “ Whites are far less likely to be murdered than their black or coloured counterparts,” Lizette Lancaster, who manages the Institute for Security Studies crime and justice hub, told Africa Check. This is supported by an analysis of a national sample of 1378 murder dockets conducted by police in 2009. In 86.9% of the cases, the victims were Africans. Whites accounted for 1.8% of the cases (although whites make up 8.85% of the population). Also we know that farm killing reports are exaggerated: "According to a 2003 police committee of inquiry into farm attacks, cited by Solidarity, 38.4% of farm attack victims were described as being black, coloured or Asian. TAUSA’s figures suggest that 208 (or 13.5%) of those murdered in farm attacks between 1990 and 2012 were black."
Yes, white people are being killed in South Africa but it is a far cry from the gross human rights violations perpetuated by the apartheid government. People like Steve Hofmeyr get paid to spread fear and distrust between Africans and whites. He once claimed that the number of white South Africans killed by blacks would fill a soccer stadium, that white Afrikaners are being killed “like flies” and that a white farmer is murdered every five days. See how White supremacists seem to do nothing wrong and if they do wrong, it is very "little" compared to what other people do. The methodologies used are often based on a predetermined conclusion that ignores
overwhelming evidence to the contrary.
There are many examples of modern racism like preferential treatment being given to an individual on the basis of their skin colour: certain racial group getting better jobs, paid more, and benefiting from skin-colour based privileges. It may not be outright racism like in the apartheid years, but it takes more subtle forms. Many people think this type of racism is harmless and less dangerous.
To be sure, Africans are racist too. But people of color have an easier time admitting to it than White groups. Because most Whites tend to blame the other group for their racism while denying that they ever harbored racism in their hearts. Here we are not talking about the 000000.01% that is respectful, civil and loving toward other racial groups but the 99.9 % that consists of brazen bigots, racists and white supremacists that represent the worst human behaviours. I once read a comment made by a white supremacist: " We whites are Gods chosen people,white people are superior to all othher people, therefore we will always achieve always the best in world also." If it qualifies as racism, then we Africans are "racist" when we protest or come together as a response to our oppression. Clearly not all white people are racists and Africans are not racism free, but it seems like white pride was founded on bigotry, supremacy and exclusion.
If only we can learn to treat our fellow human being with respect and dignity, we could avoid much of the suffering, resentment and bitterness that strains relations between people. Racism won't go away, because we don't talk about it. It will go away when we resolve our differences between ourselves.
References
1. Julian Rademeyer. 24 June 2013.
"Are SA whites really being killed “like flies”? Why Steve Hofmeyr is wrong." https://africacheck.org/reports/are-white-afrikaners-really-being-killed-like-flies/
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