The Iconoclast FEB 2018

TO A NATION IN DENIAL:
MUSINGS ON RACE
KUTEMBA SONDWAPO discusses life as a minority
Where to begin…I suppose
you are wondering what exactly
we – as a nation, people
or country; however you define
yourself, are in denial of.
To be fair, there exists plenty of
things; however, in this insistence,
I am talking about racism –
social, economic and political.
We are all victims of this illness,
albeit – to varying degrees depending
on ethnicity, class, gender,
sex, orientation, religion
and disability/or lack of.
Racism affects everyone
Obviously, a straight white male
does not experience the same
victimhood compared to a disabled
queer black or Asian male.
However, racism affects them all
- albeit in different ways. The
straight white male is ‘victim’ to
BLACK LIVES MATTER RALLY IN MINNEAPOLIS 2015
a system that profits him, and in
return oppresses anyone that is
not him. Anyone out of this
standard is victim to not belonging
to the norm with varying
consequences. Naturally, it is a
simplistic way to look at racism,
therefore, everyone – no matter
your geography, race or class
should venture to educate themselves
using the numerous credible
resources available. There is
no excuse that justifies conscious
ignorance or deliberate
nonchalance to this issue.
As products of history, we live in
societies that are deeply entrenched
with many prejudices -
racial stigma being one. It is a
structural problem that has influenced
and regulated the very
fabric of societies – this issue
has taken on different forms and
even birthed unjust behaviour
within minority communities.
Issues of colourism have pervaded
these communities as byproducts
of oppressive social
constructs, that have been facilitated
by notions of inferiority.
Society teaches whiteness
Although, scientifically race is
not legitimate, sociologically it is
very real. I mention this because
people who look like me are subjected
to be victims of this. Society
teaches to be White is to be
human; to be white is universal,
to be white is the norm. When
white people pick up a magazine,
scroll through the internet
or switch on the TV, it is never
rare to see people who look like
them in positions of power or
authority. The notion of white-