Comments on: Racism Tastes Sugary

By: Rob

Rob — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 14:23:37 +0000

I have to say that the accusatory bits have died down a little from previous years – now it’s more a general questioning. I think a lot of that has to do with South African penetration of the internet – more SAfricans out there telling our story.

By: Alex Papadopulos

Alex Papadopulos — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 13:13:40 +0000

@Zak – do they ever insinuate anything when asking you?

I found that when living in London, I got quite a bit of “so you must be racist then” comments

but in the US, I get more inquisitive questions about what South Africa is/was like. I’d like to hope that I’m contributing to tourism.

By: Zak Wood

Zak Wood — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 12:53:16 +0000

@ Good Charlie – Are you saying one day we might have a black president all of our own?

Rob, lovely piece.

@ Michelle – you need to come to China. I have been questioned quite often about apartheid, by my kids and my colleagues. It’s ok, never in a nasty way, just questions about what it was like living under it (I don’t remember, I was too young), and about what’s happening in South Africa since it ended (wicked awesome for the most part).
Zak Wood´s last blog ..Belated

By: Rob

Rob — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 11:26:31 +0000

I don’t blame the candy – I blame the people who popularised the name

Besides, it’s not about the candy – it’s about the little things.
Rob´s last blog ..Enough with the camera shake.

By: robin hawkins

robin hawkins — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 08:20:03 +0000

DOnt blame the candy.

By: Carla Nunes

Carla Nunes — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 06:37:30 +0000

I will never give up hope. Rome wasn’t built in a day.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 16:21:30 +0000

Good piece, Rob. Quite hard hitting, but accurate.

I’ve also never been questioned on apartheid in my travels, but I always expect to be. I feel like anyone I meet who is even vaguely clued up might challenge me on it, so I constantly expect the question. Probably my own issues talking (ref: my article on 1st Sept) .

I think its probably unrealistic to think that racism will ever be completely obliterated. However, I do think it is realistic to think that many, many people in South Africa (and indeed the world) can positively adjust their mindsets to, at the very least, think before speaking.

How often I’ve said, or heard someone say, something totally un-PC without even thinking. There was no intention to be racist in the statement, but the words came out wrong. Experiences like that show just how deeply embedded it is.

So, yes, its in the little things. But anyone knows that if you’re going to facilitate change of any sort, you have to start with the little things…perhaps there is hope after all.

By: Rob

Rob — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 15:14:53 +0000

It’s quite possible that we will eventually overcome those little inside voices but I don’t think (even with a black president) that the US has overcome theirs. I think part of the problem is that people expect it to happen overnight. We’ve only had “democracy” for 15 years, that’s nothing when compared to the world stage.
Rob´s last blog ..Enough with the camera shake.

By: Good Charlie

Good Charlie — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 14:59:47 +0000

Rob, your frankness is refreshing.

Good piece, too.

It’s the little things… But I believe we will eventually close the chapter on racism in South Africa. Who would have believed in the 1960s that just 40 years later, the USA would have a black president? Things change. So will South Africa.
Good Charlie´s last blog ..Children of God repost

By: Rob

Rob — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 14:36:46 +0000

I think one of the huge problems we face is that the bits of us that are so blase about using words like nigger or k****r are often totally subconscious. So what are we actually thinking deep down when we look at someone who isn’t our race?

Sure, it may not be so “in your face” but it’s there and it’s insidious so we never really get rid of it. It’s easy to stop saying “I hate blacks” but perhaps not so hard to stop tiny bits of yourself thinking it…