MyPE

Community Business Directory, Event Listings, News and Views from Gqeberha, Nelson Mandela Bay

Black Poverty vs White Privilege

By

This narrative needs to end if we as South Africans have any hope of moving on as a nation

Black Poverty vs White Privilege
Black Poverty vs White Privilege

The Facebook Post embedded at the end of this article bears reference.

The sad reality of this juxtaposition is that it will only serve to drive us further apart – by us I mean everyone no matter their colour, gender, status or social standing as each one of those groupings can see offence.

As a white male over 50 in South Africa I operate on very shaky ground:

  • If I question your BLACK POVERTY vs WHITE PRIVILEGE images and statement I am being racist
  • If I point out that as a result of sheer number superiority South Africa will always have more poor black people than white then I am being insensitive and racist
  • If I say that I cannot afford to shop at Woolworths I am accused of hiding wealth
  • If I say that BEE trumps White Privilege then I am not a friend of the struggle
  • If I say that I was part of the struggle for equality AND part of the machine upholding apartheid everyone stops listening to me
  • If I say that I have suffered and continue to atone for my sins during apartheid, people have NO sympathy
  • If I say that I do not see colour I am not believed
  • If I favour a black person over a white person as part of my personal crusade to right the wrongs of my actions my motives are questioned
  • If I apologise for the actions of my forefathers I am not believed
  • If I have an opinion on the current government I am immediately racist
  • If I support the DA I am racist
  • If I discipline or fire an employee of colour for poor performance I am being racist
  • If I question why Service Delivery sucks I am being racist
  • If I point out that the ANC swept to power promising jobs and education for all and then bought arms I am racist and unpatriotic
  • If I point out  that the Freedom Charter was actually a wonderful piece of work I am ignored
  • If I ask for equal treatment in the job market I am spat upon for trying to make money off of others struggle
  • If I say that I am African I am asked why I am not black.

IF I can carry on supporting my country and the people in it DESPITE the challenges above then I know that I am a man, my friend.

Here is one more reality check from Carte Blanche:

https://youtu.be/-kMNNaNhyQk

The march of COVID-19 continues relentlessly through this country, where government and scientists have issued strenuous warnings about how deadly the highly contagious virus will be if it tears a path through densely constructed informal settlements, where social distancing and frequent handwashing remain challenging. Carte Blanche investigates whether lockdown can slow the virus in communities where millions of South Africans live from hand to mouth.

The following two tabs change content below.
My Twitter profileMy Facebook profileMy Google+ profileMy LinkedIn profileMy Flickr profileMy Pinterest profile

Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.