Demon of black oppression
ALLOW me to vent my frustration at what is increasingly the easy way out for those who would rape the truth for their own ulterior motives.
I choose not to mention any names, not for fear of reprisal but because of the endemic and pervasive presence of the rot.
Where does one begin because "all tables are full of vomit".
In recent years I have observed with keen interest how the politics of race, particularly the politics of blackness in South Africa, have morphed to suit whoever wields the pen or microphone at any given time.
I have seen how from the lips and pens of luminaries such as Steve Biko, the consciousness of what it means to be black and how to claim our rightful place in the context of racial oppression have been expertly formed.
I have watched with shame how the selfish agendas of our politicians, awkwardly disguised in well-crafted speeches about the "defence of black dignity" or the "protection of the black masses", have been exposed.
Or the sly motives of greedy merchants that have been expressed in terms such as "black economic empowerment" have surfaced.
Let me declare at the outset that there are exceptions and may they continue to be the beacon of hope that they are.
Being black or more precisely, the condition of blackness (not to be confused with black people per se), has over time graduated from being the most undesirable of conditions, in the old South Africa and before, to being the most powerful political currency in the hands of skilful pundits in the new SA and beyond.
Perhaps it would be useful to explore the reasons for this situation.
I contend it is largely because of the blatant oppression that blackness has evoked and endured throughout history.
The absurdity of the reasoning for so venomous and prolonged a hate for blackness, by different oppressors of every colour, even some black people themselves, is in fact the reason why blackness has been elevated to a position of mystery and wonder.
People in different ages contemplated this condition in prose and poetry in an attempt to understand the sheer hatred, abuse and misuse of this "condition" through slavery, mockery and other forms of oppression.
More importantly, it is the relentless, irrepressible resilience of this condition that has overcome and vanquished racism through the different struggles of black people and others, that has rendered blackness in and of itself a noble and desirable identity.
It is this trajectory and history of struggle and triumph, like a refined precious stone, that has given blackness untold value.
This value, this precious, fragile and yet rugged value has in many instances been the very source and reason for the abuse of blackness.
The abuse of blackness has manifested itself in many ways throughout history in slavery (imperialism), colonialism (apartheid) and neo-colonialism (cronyism, graft and patronage) and it continues with renewed vigour.
The demon of black oppression has become more and more cunning and sophisticated as it even changes colour and uses the rhetoric of black struggle and liberation.
It has become so brazen as to use the unbearable economic, social and political conditions of black people to deceptively mask its agenda of unabated, indiscriminate looting and disregard for law and common decency.
It has rendered our once-revered leaders impotent.
It has possessed our youth leaders and turned them into foul-mouthed fat cats with no social conscience and enemies of truth.
It has made us visionless, directionless and immoral.
Never before has blackness been more mercilessly ravaged than in present day black Africa by black Africans.
- Masango is a talk-show host. He writes in his personal capacity
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LBS
It has become so brazen as to use the unbearable economic, social and political conditions of black people to deceptively mask its agenda of unabated, indiscriminate looting and disregard for law and common decency.It has rendered our once-revered leaders impotent.
It has possessed our youth leaders and turned them into foul-mouthed fat cats with no social conscience and enemies of truth.
It has made us visionless, directionless and immoral.
Never before has blackness been more mercilessly ravaged than in present day black Africa by black Africans.
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Amen!!
So how do we rectify this untenable situation?
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RobinH
BRILLIANT ARTICLE! Thanks.How do we rectify it? By rejecting the blatant corruption and abuse of law and order utterly, before it taints the very legacy so brilliantly analysed here. And by rejecting this as vocally as possible.
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CorporalPunishment
Your commentary reiterates a point pushed across in the book 'Animal Farm' by George Orwell whereby the formerly oppressed so easily begin to oppress each other sometimes far worse than their former oppressors. Africans need to reclaim their former glory and revive the pride and efficiency of past kingdoms. We need stron leaders who will not be led by greed to sell out Africa's vast resources to the west and to China but to rather develop their peoples to be producers, manufactures, and beneficiaries of those resources and not merely consumers. We must change our mentality of expecting handouts from anybody to having pride in acquiring wealth through hard work, determination and self development.Report Abuse
ketane
Change begins with individuals, not masses.Report Abuse
Tasto
My take is this; the ignominious ignoble politicians found a fertile ground of illiterate black masses that are so gullible they do not need to feel guilt or worry about being found out because blacks do not read!!Ours is a negotiated settlement and on top of that we r global now.Very soon will have non-SAS native as president of this country Chinise,Congolese.We are screwed and F#$%# president had a corrupt relationship, Heads of the police force are always for SALE !!
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amjaytee
Well said Mr Masango. Perhaps I should add that the Communists have become the worst Capitalists who order luxury vehicles worth millions of rands even before spending a single day in the office!Report Abuse
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