posted by Jolene McCall
In our recent post, “The 2015 John Langalibalele Dube Memorial Lecture: ‘Reconscientising South African Communities Towards Self-Reliance- A ‘Ghost Dance’ with John Langalibalele Dube and Steve Bantu Biko?’” Dr Duma Ndlovu spoke about the legacy of Steve Bantu Biko as well as the revival of the “Black consciousness movement.” Last month marked the 38th anniversary of Biko’s death, yet his relevance seems to be growing, particularly among the black youth in South Africa. Author Mashupye Herbert Maserumule echoed this notion in an article titled, “Why Biko’s Black Consciousness Philosophy Resonates With Youth Today,” while discussing how Biko’s philosophy will remain relevant as long as “black pride is not attained in post-apartheid South Africa.”
In a separate article titled, “Students in South Africa Protest Slow Pace of Change”, covering the recent protests at the University of Cape Town, Norimitsu Onishi highlights widespread dissatisfaction with the country’s slow progress to give Blacks equal representation in many important sectors, including the economy and education. During the protests, students held “marathon reading sessions” reciting the work of Steve Bantu Biko while demanding for the “decolonization” of the university. In the following post, Comrade Ekwealor Chinedu Thomas reflects on this article and the necessity for dialogue in order to achieve transformation.
How the Whites Beds were Laid in South Africa: Proving to be Black
by Comrade Ekwealor Chinedu Thomas
It is needless to narrate how powerless one seems when confronted with the reality of identity struggle, especially within the South African environment and polity. Yes, irregularities and oddities in the past fast became a tradition — where White supremacist views and colonial tactics were celebrated at the expense of the politically marginalised and economically deprived mass of Black population. Reading the work of Norimitsu Onishi, “Students in South Africa Protest Slow Pace of Change,” I recalled that it was never unprecedented but most unfortunate that Black South Africans after more than twenty years of collapsing the arrogance of apartheid, still try vehemently to prove to the White population that ‘Black life matters’ in South Africa, on African soil. What a tragedy!
In an atmosphere of ‘if the Mountain will not go to Mohammed, then Mohamed will go to the Mountain,’ Black students of the University of Cape Town registered the need to abrogate colonial order within the University, by disuse. To be sure, the protesters’ rallying cry is the need to “decolonise” the university. Specifically, they called for more Black faculty members, continued affirmative action policies to increase the number of Black students, and a curriculum that is less Eurocentric and more African-oriented. While this call is laudable, the method of expression that communicated this need, is such without a long span of life — demonstration. While demonstration is an efficient method of expression in South Africa, the demonstrators do not always have the elementary resources required of them to demonstrate for two years non-stop. And this is a huge problem; demonstration is not sustainable. In order to find a reliable and sustainable method of deconstructing the pillars of second-leg-apartheid in South Africa, the entire society is to engage in a youth-led themed dialogue, championed by the families of the Black and White population. The problem thus far is that post-apartheid South Africa is solo in orientation as was apartheid.
Against the pursuit of dialogue, academics have entered the league of reform but as usual, they are exceptionally good at talks. Talks that intellectually and intelligibly avoid the core issues. In many transformative areas, academics are clearly devoid of actions. One of the observations made regarding the slow pace of reform thus far is that “the White population have legitimised themselves by befriending Black people who can be their spokespersons and who can drive their values – Man-Fridays. In this regard, White South Africans, in essence, changed the government from White to Black, but chose the Blacks who will protect White values.”
In the face of these inauspicious developments that are paralysing the Black South Africans in general and their youth population in particular, it is imperative that the Black youth arrogate unto themselves the duty to develop relevant modalities that will ensure greater success and larger freedom, especially from the strangle-hold of apartheid particles deflowering the land. Dialogue is an option for a sustainable peace and security. Demonstration, despite its short term effectiveness, is not sustainable and may not be a preferred alternative to constructive transformation inspired by the responsibility to save led by the youth – Black and White.
Comrade Ekwealor Chinedu Thomas is Leader of World Youth Movement for Democracy – African Region.