Thoughts on Racism

Between America and South Africa there is a fair amount of discussion going on about racism.

Here are just a few of my thoughts to start some discussion...

1. I agree with Affirmative Action/Economic Empowerment

In line with my strong feeling that everyone should be given an equal economic opportunity to succeed, I believe there should be some sort of policy that forces business to promote the economically disempowered. This should focus on grass-route schemes such as bursaries and training programs, this can be community based as directed to favour the company rather than generic.

2. I disagree with Black Economic Empowerment

By default, in South Africa, point 1 will primarily benefit `Black' people because the majority of the economically disenfranchised in this country are by no coincidence, Black. However, I strongly disagree with Economic Empowerment based purely on race. Economic Empowerment does not equate with the removal of prejudice and establishing a policy where 14 years after the fall of Apartheid, we still regularly have to fill in our race group on forms etc. is not cool. There is also the problem where those who benefit from BEE are not necessarily the ones that are economically disempowered. They may already be wealthy/have had the opportunities and need absolutely no help. People sometimes get upset that people who didn't even live in this country pre-1994 qualify for BEE deals. The fact that they are foreigners should not prevent economic empowerment... I am pro-free imigration and am happy if foreigners come here and become South African. I do have a problem though with those who do not need `additional help' receiving that help because of the colour of their skin. What ends up happening is the economically disempowered stay disempowered but the targets still get met.

3. Racism is hidden and not PC to discuss

People pretend not to have predjudices because discussing them is not PC. This results in people only letting their guard down when around people of the same race, who they just assume have the same predjudices. There is then that awkward feeling of whether to confront them or not. Sometimes this racism is subtle such as bringing the race of a person into the conversation every time you mention them (you wouldn't continually mention someone's hair colour), and sometimes it is explicit (These Black waitresses are all so stupid). An inablilty to admit your predjudices because they are not PC prevents discussion etc. to get rid of them.

4. Racism is not a `White's only' thing

South Africa is in a relatively unique position where the minority is actually economically powerful, and as such less palpably subject to the normal harsh treatment (e.g. Blacks in America, Tibetans in China etc.). This doesn't mean that the only people who can be racist are Whites. There needs to be an acknowledgement that all forms of racism are not acceptable.