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• Painting is not 'racist'

The ANC simply doesn't know how to deal with racism. The worst thing is that it behaves as if it's not in power, as if the laws, the power dynamics and black reality we witness today are not of its creation.

So when Advocate Gcina Malindi broke down and cried like a baby in court, I said: "Tshotsho (the chickens have come home to roost)".

If a senior black advocate can be reduced to tears in court 18 years into democracy, what does it mean about our freedom?

I was taken back to May 1976 during the South African Students Organisation (Saso) trial.

There stood 29-year-old Steve Biko, who was not a lawyer, who was called to testify on behalf of his comrades. Biko faced the arrogant white judge head-on and won!

He spoke without fear or hesitation. He exuded black intelligence. He was black consciousness and taught the white judge some basic lessons in black logic!

How can we forget Biko's response to the judge who tried to minimise the importance of self-identification as black by black consciousness?

He barked at Biko: "You people are more brown than black."

Biko replied: "In the same way as I think white people are more pink and yellow and pale than white."

It was game over!

Murray's painting is racist from beginning to end. The fact that the ANC has no language to explain and speak back to white arrogance speaks volumes about its state of mind as a party in power.

Any black person who honestly expects the ANC to liberate black people from racism needs to have their head checked.

Malindi operates from within the ANC discourse.

When the judge stared down at him he knew in his black soul that it was white power at play and he and his president were powerless blacks in a white court.

The truth that 1994 didn't happen for the majority of blacks hit home painfully.

During the Saso trial it was said that every day Soweto was abuzz with debate and pride.

The community followed the trial as closely as possible and every time Biko showed the judge up, Soweto and other townships roared with approval!

That court case and Biko's brilliant performance is often credited with what happens six weeks later - the June 16 uprising!

The children of Soweto, guided by Biko's friend and comrade Okgopotse Tiro, took the spirit of defiance so beautifully displayed by Biko's testimony to the streets and shouted black power!

I think the ANC has nothing useful to offer injured black pride. Now they use insult to organise the battle for what will happen in Mangaung.

At times like this I wonder if I shouldn't offer the whole ANC leadership free lessons on black consciousness. I believe we shall all be better for it!

Comments

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Sat May 18 16:42:51 SAST 2013 ::

May 29, 2012

wesbuw22

This is a yawn, can they create jobs instead of running their mouths with a painting
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May 29, 2012

MommaC

I still do not see how this is 'racist'. I do, however, see how the lack of pride has made EVERYTHING into a personal insult instead of simply a statement.

The great Steve Biko should be mandatory reading for every school child of ever colour. His work is not about racial hatred, it is about accepting your own self for whom you are and not trying to be someone else
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May 29, 2012

DA-DBN-GUY

Fu kk you dude!! Murrays painting is NOT racist and anyone who thinks it is, is a closed minded f ool! His painting was of the President and is symbolic of the way he is leading this country. Funny how the anc can rally support to march on the gallery but not support lack of service delivery, corruption, misuse of tax money. The anc are once again using the only defence they will ever have R A C I S M!!
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May 29, 2012

SebolaNtimetseAdikateMoketla

@Andile Mngxitama

The ANC simply doesn't know how to deal with racism.
...............
...............

For the first time in my life

maybe only today

I will aggree with you

my brother the ANC has no teeth!!

YIZINJA EZINGANA MAZINYO!
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May 29, 2012

Groovisto

The painting has nothing to do with Black People or South African Males at all. THE PAINTING is about President Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma. This is a portrait , meaning its about how Murray sees Zuma. A painting or portrait needs an analysis, not just a simple eye and you conclude. It has a meaning and it must stimulate a debate.

The painting is not racist and is not about Blacks or anyone of us> There is one JZ and the painting is about him. ANyone to interpret the Painting. And for the media to say Isitho sikaMongameli is just too much exxageration. that s not even his real thing. I have passion and empathy bt hey this ias a portrait not a national crisis!!!
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May 29, 2012

DA-DBN-GUY

SebolaNtimetseAdikateMoketla

My friend, the anc has no defence for their uselessness in ruling this country and their only come back is raci sm. Yet they are the ones who use the rac e card EVERY election time and the fo ols who vote for them fall for it all the time. The courts are run by the b lack man. the police are run by a bl ack man, the education and health systems are run by you guessed it the b lack man yet the whit es still get blamed for everything that goes wrong. Its about time the b lacks of this country open their closed eyes and see the shyte the black man has brought them. Get over yourselves and start putting blame where it truly belongs and its 3 little letters a n c
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May 29, 2012

MsKinkyakaKamaSutra

The ANC simply doesn't know how to deal with racism
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Simply dont know how to deal with anything excpet, looting, corruption, debauchery, etc
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May 29, 2012

tpaz

Make no mistake about it, and this is quite sad, but the time has come for blac.k Africans to understand and do something about the tragic fact that while South Africa’s de jure leadership is black, the de facto control of that country is a whi.te minority which owns and runs the economy, the judiciary and the media, all which are racist to the core.
The uncomfortable bottomline is that South Africa is a wh.ite-controlled blac.k country and the dysfunctional consequences of this tragedy are yet to fully play out with very worrying signs everywhere that all hell is about to break loose.It is a shame that the whi te minority which has de facto control of South Africa is taking full advantage without let or hindrance of self-serving and false claims to human rights, governance and anti-corruption in the false name of international law not only to halt but also to reverse the gains that bl.ack South Africans made in 1994 when democracy was allegedly won or achieved in that troubled country.

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May 29, 2012

ThirdEye

Another painful truth?
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May 29, 2012

Bodigelo

Do not undermine the power that comes with ANC. The editor lady on other press has been taught an unforgetable lesson. The gallery has seen that no matter you are in Sandton or Hyde Park, black people will reach you.
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