Racism in South Africa: A Black Perspective
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Racism is one of the most painful realities that Africans in South Africa have to deal with daily. There are several instances where we see racism rear its ugly head, but there are also ways to combat it. Racism is generally defined as the belief that one race is superior to another, and this belief can be extended to include geography, culture, language, and even religion. Racism can be both subtle and overt – at times, it’s pretty blatant, and other times, more hidden.
What are some of the effects of racism in South Africa?
Any form of discrimination marks both the targeted and the discriminating parties. Racism in South Africa impacts society in a myriad of ways, such as:
– Long-lasting division between groups: Racism creates division. It creates barriers between groups, and rarely does integration occur. While one group may be more advantaged, both groups will suffer in the long run because neither will benefit from a collective approach.
– Instability and conflict: When any race feels like its survival is being threatened, it will act defensively. This is a normal human reaction. However, when one group feels threatened by another, the effect on society will be unstable, and conflict as each side tries to protect itself.
– Marginalization of groups: Marginalization occurs when one group is denied access to resources and opportunities. This can happen in a variety of ways. For example, help may be restricted to a particular group because they’re not seen as a priority, while other groups may receive preferential treatment.
– Regression: When one group feels like it has to defend itself against another, it will often get drawn into the other group’s level of thinking. It will begin making decisions based on fear, which often leads to regression. Groups under this kind of pressure often regress to old, primitive ways of doing things as they try to figure out a way to defend themselves.
The problem with reporting racism in South Africa
When one is experiencing racism, there’s a general tendency to want to report the problem. However, racism in South Africa is often an issue that is not reported because:
– The victim does not recognize the act as racism: Racism is often subtle, and many people who experience it don’t recognize it. This can be due to a lack of knowledge about the issue or an unawareness of the subtleties of racism.
– The victim doesn’t want to be seen as making a big deal out of nothing: Another reason for not reporting an instance of racism is because the victim doesn’t want to be seen as making a big deal out of nothing. This is a natural reaction when one feels that their complaint is extreme or unwarranted.
– The victim believes there is no point in reporting: This can happen when the victim believes that their complaint will not be taken seriously or that nothing will come out of it.
The prevalence of racist practices in the workplace
Although all forms of racism are insidious, workplace racism stands out as one of the most damaging forms of racism in South Africa. Many people who experience racism are among the most vulnerable in our society, such as Black workers and women. A lot of attention is given to the issue of workplace sexism, but the problem of racism in the workplace is often overlooked. The prevalence of racism in the workplace is closely linked to the lack of diversity among senior managers. The lack of diversity in the senior management team is often a reflection of the general state of affairs in the workplace.
Institutionalized racism: The struggle for land and housing
Another form of racism prevalent in South Africa is the struggle for land and housing. The battle for land and housing is closely linked to South Africa’s history and ways of thinking brought over by colonists. The Apartheid government implemented a system of racial segregation that artificially created separate races by designating areas for each race. Although this system has since been dismantled, its effects continue to be felt in South Africa.
Everyday racism: Denying Black advancement and job opportunities
Another common form of racism in South Africa denies blacks advancement and job opportunities. This type of racism is often done in subtle ways. For example, there may be a company rule that employees must be clean-shaven. A Black employee at this company is denied a promotion because he wears a beard. The beard rule may seem minor, but when applied unequally across the board, it can be a very effective way of denying advancement to a particular group. Another common method in which everyday racism is practiced is through stereotypes. Stereotypes are generalizations about a specific group. They are often false but are often believed simply because they’re repeated often enough.
Cultural racism: Stereotypes and language as tools of racism
Cultural racism exists when one culture is judged more favorably than another. For example, an employer may be more likely to hire an English speaker over someone who speaks Xhosa even though both people have the same qualifications. This is an example of cultural racism because the employer is judging the value of one person over another based on their cultural background. Stereotypes often fuel cultural racism. Several stereotypes exist against the Xhosa language. One of these is that Xhosa is an untranslatable, untrue language. Another stereotype is that Xhosa is too difficult for non-speakers to learn. This is also untrue. Xhosa is a tonal language, which means that variations in the pitch of a word’s pronunciation will change its meaning. However, this is true of many other languages as well.
Conclusion
Racism is a pervasive issue that has a lasting impact on all its victims. There are many forms of racism, but it can be combated by raising awareness and challenging false ideas about other races and cultures. Racism is always damaging, but it’s also always preventable.
