Tackling black inferiority
Deeply rooted racism is based on culture of subordination
NELSON Mandela Foundation chief executive Sello Hatang has called for a full frontal assault on black inferiority, saying it allowed white supremacy to thrive. And while whites, since the dawn of democracy, had been willing to do anything to rebuild the country, Hatang said black inferiority had stood in the way of such progress, and berated the monopoly capital in the hands of the white majority.
He was addressing delegates attending the Anti-Racism Network of SA’s (ARNSA) media briefing in Houghton, Joburg yesterday about the network’s plans for the antiracism week to take place from March 14-21.
ARNSA, which Independent Media supports, is the brainchild of the Nelson Mandela Foundation and Ahmed Kathrada Foundation, and is aimed at addressing the scourge of racism and related forms of discrimination in the country.
Independent Media, owners of the Cape Argus, and its parent company, Sekunjalo Investment Holdings, have not taken the racism issue lying down.
The media group has joined forces with the SA Clothing and Textile Workers’ Union, in its bid to fight the social ill and promote active citizenry.
The campaign, “Racism: It Stops With Me”, is set to be launched in Cape Town next Thursday. The initiative would be rolled out across the group’s 20 newspaper titles and digital platforms. Public debates in schools and universities would also be held.
ARNSA’s slogan is “Racism Is Wrong”. Yesterday’s briefing coincided with the 26th anniversary of apartheid’s last president, FW de Klerk’s speech in Parliament, announcing the unbanning of the ANC and the release of Nelson Mandela, which followed a week later on February 11, 1990.
Hatang said: “It troubles me that below the thin veneer of a successful democracy is deeply rooted racism based on a culture and history of privilege and subordination. “We ignore this plague at our peril. “We have to fight it on multiple fronts. Anti-racism week is an ideal opportunity for all South Africans to focus attention on what needs to be done.”
Neeshan Bolton from the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation said: “To tackle it effectively South Africa requires consistent and sustainable anti-racism organisations and programmes nationally. We approach this work with the realisation it is not short term work but must span generations.”