So a few days ago was the celebration of 20 years since the incredibly brave Madiba (Nelson Mandela) was released from Robben Island.
I was browsing facebook in search of interesting posts related to this very exciting day. Instead I came across this interesting piece of writing which I feel is more relevant to where we are since that 20 year release took place. Where we stand as a people. Or a snippet at least
I will let the piece do the talking (Thanks to Shikoh Gitau for letting me share this)
The ranting of a mad black woman – By Shikoh Gitau
"I usually note that i became racist when i came to south africa, and with good reason; i was brought up in a metropolitan town, with a large population of the asian and arabic community, went to school with them, played with them and did what most kids do and i honestly it really never registered in my head that they were that different. Given, they had a lighter skin pigmentation and i wanted their hair, but truly it really did not matter.
When, i came here all that changed, i became more conscious of my skin color and it does get to me sometime...but weeena today, i thought this race thing is madness, i was standing on a supermarket till behind an old white woman, i mean really old that she had started curling up.
In my very Christian and African upbringing i have been taught to treat older people with uttermost respect, so you can imagine my surprise when the supermarket attendants watched without flinching as the poor woman struggled to read the sum total of her purchase, as in she leaned so close to the monitor, that her glasses touched it; then painstakingly slowly counted out the money, at that point i would have offered to help but i feared that she would think that i am out to rob her. I watched as she begged the attendant to allow her push the supermarket trolley to the parking lot where she was being picked...can you imagine the nerve of the woman in stopping her.
Then the most heart wrenching thing happened she leaned back and whispered in my ear," thank you so much for your patience, you know i have a problem with my ears, and my eyes (obviously) and i have a brain tumor!!" i had not seen her face properly so true to all horror medical films i have watched, her face was twisted to the side, and one of her eyes was swollen. When it was my turn, i was almost in tears, the teller with a quizzical smile asked "why are you concerned?" (the nerve!!)to avoid deportation on grounds of assaulting a local (verbally and otherwise) i made my purchase and ran after the old woman and asked her if she needed any help, i give her this, she is a strong and brave lady, she said she needed to get to the parking space if i could assist her onto the lift.
I understand, there were some crazy white folks who were out to no good; but honestly do you have to take it out on someone who is inches from meeting there maker, what good will that do to you. I mean what does it take, in screaming out (if you have to) the total on the monitor and then helping to count out the total, does it take away human dignity in helping out someone that old onto a lift, and honestly where do you think that woman will take damn trolley, am sure if they walk around UCT they will find a few to replace it.
At what point does racism replace humanity. Would you want to be treated in the same way were you in her position.
I am really sad about this, but i am so mad, so mad that i am going to change me and my view of this black and white thing, i am human first!!!
Ohh yah it is 20 years since mandela was released!!"
When, i came here all that changed, i became more conscious of my skin color and it does get to me sometime...but weeena today, i thought this race thing is madness, i was standing on a supermarket till behind an old white woman, i mean really old that she had started curling up.
In my very Christian and African upbringing i have been taught to treat older people with uttermost respect, so you can imagine my surprise when the supermarket attendants watched without flinching as the poor woman struggled to read the sum total of her purchase, as in she leaned so close to the monitor, that her glasses touched it; then painstakingly slowly counted out the money, at that point i would have offered to help but i feared that she would think that i am out to rob her. I watched as she begged the attendant to allow her push the supermarket trolley to the parking lot where she was being picked...can you imagine the nerve of the woman in stopping her.
Then the most heart wrenching thing happened she leaned back and whispered in my ear," thank you so much for your patience, you know i have a problem with my ears, and my eyes (obviously) and i have a brain tumor!!" i had not seen her face properly so true to all horror medical films i have watched, her face was twisted to the side, and one of her eyes was swollen. When it was my turn, i was almost in tears, the teller with a quizzical smile asked "why are you concerned?" (the nerve!!)to avoid deportation on grounds of assaulting a local (verbally and otherwise) i made my purchase and ran after the old woman and asked her if she needed any help, i give her this, she is a strong and brave lady, she said she needed to get to the parking space if i could assist her onto the lift.
I understand, there were some crazy white folks who were out to no good; but honestly do you have to take it out on someone who is inches from meeting there maker, what good will that do to you. I mean what does it take, in screaming out (if you have to) the total on the monitor and then helping to count out the total, does it take away human dignity in helping out someone that old onto a lift, and honestly where do you think that woman will take damn trolley, am sure if they walk around UCT they will find a few to replace it.
At what point does racism replace humanity. Would you want to be treated in the same way were you in her position.
I am really sad about this, but i am so mad, so mad that i am going to change me and my view of this black and white thing, i am human first!!!
Ohh yah it is 20 years since mandela was released!!"
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