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6 Our nation rainbow None of us are the stereotypes described here, yet most of us will recognise a bit of ourselves somewhere on these pages. Older generation returned expatriates They are mostly Black, Indian and Coloured: former freedom fighters and returned political exiles. They are worldly, experienced and sophisticated – even if not formally educated. They are politicised and angry about white entitlement, bigotry, racism, condescension and lack of knowledge about the rest of society. They are intimately familiar with the plight of marginalised people. The international generation They are the children of mostly Black former political exiles or they grew up, normally, in affluent areas in postapartheid South Africa. They are sassy, well-educated, well-read and often well-travelled. They are at ease engaging outside familiar racial and cultural boundaries and have diverse social circles. Many are leaving South Africa because of frustration with crime and discrimination, Photo: Henri Meilhac and in pursuit of better economic opportunities. They are annoyed by white condescension and the automatic assumption that being Black equates to poverty and lack of education. They may not understand the true depth of the plight of marginalised people in South Africa, because they did not grow up in it. They are annoyed by the automatic assumption that Black equates poverty and lack of education. Those who stayed behind, but got educated in spite of apartheid Black professionals – the lucky few who made up apartheid’s quota of Black people who were allowed to get an education. They are intimately familiar with the plight of their own people. Most are supporting extended, marginalised families. Many are involved with volunteer work trying to make a difference through faithbased or community-based organisations. They are not necessarily politicised, are often accepting of the status quo and are eager to fit in with White people at work or church – not considering the loss of their own cultural identity in this process. Despite their qualifications, there is a self-
southafrican CONVERSATiONS sample content 7 imposed and historically imposed ‘glass ceiling’ beyond which many find it difficult to move – especially in the presence of White professionals. the government – because of its promises – and especially White people – because of the history of apartheid and because White people are perceived as being rich. Educated, young people of colour who were raised in South Africa They are the new generation of young people who have had access to education and other post-apartheid opportunities. Many of them rose out of terrible disadvantage to achieve their ambitions. They are intimately familiar with the plight of their own people and most are supporting extended families. They are positive, hopeful and want to help make a difference. Even if not completely at ease, they are eager to engage outside familiar racial and cultural boundaries – often at a loss of their own cultural identity. They are often not treated as professional equals by Whites in the workplace. They are often not treated as professional equals by Whites in the workplace. Emerging historically disadvantaged South Africans They are mostly Black, skilled bluecollar workers and artisans, new to the South African workforce. They often struggle to make ends meet. A large proportion of their salaries are for family maintenance responsibilities. Many are supporting extended families. They are very familiar with limited access to services. They are frustrated with unfulfilled promises made by NGOs and government departments. They are intimately familiar with the complex challenges faced by Black communities. They are willing to contribute in any way possible to help make things better for their people. On the whole, they have little decision-making power in the world of work. They want to move away from what has held them back in the past … desperately trying to hide the other reality in their lives: the reality not known or shared by White people. They often spend disproportionate amounts of money on clothes, shoes, handbags, jewellery, accessories and cars to keep up appearances. They sometimes have a sense of entitlement, a culture of ‘the world owes me.’ That world is Marginalised South Africans The millions of poor South Africans who live lives of quiet desperation – who have given up hope of ever bridging the widening rift between rich and poor, educated and uneducated in South Africa. They are mostly Black and coloured, though increasing numbers of White people are becoming marginalised. They are people of all ages in positions of domestic responsibility – including orphans left to fend for themselves and their siblings. They are unemployed or employed in menial jobs, homeless or living in poverty in townships, city centres, abandoned buildings, building sites, informal settlements and rural areas. They are affected by all the social ills associated with poverty and marginalisation, such as alcohol and substance abuse, illiteracy, malnutrition, prostitution and neglect. They have little access to information and are often unaware of the extent of social programming Photo: Jan Truter | flickr
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