I’m Not Black, I’m Coloured – Identity Crisis at the Cape of Good Hope
Greeting’s Everyone,
First, I need to thank Cedric McCay for bringing this video to my attention. He is a great person and I was trying to learn French from him, but I failed miserably. Cedric is an advocate to “Embrace culture, Serve humanity. 1914. Share Africa’s wisdom. Enjoy God’s gift of Life. Bilingue et intéressé par les événements en Afrique et en Caraïbes!”.
I encourage everyone to watch this video. It has affected me personally because being an African-American who lives in Cape Town, South Africa, I am understanding the social dynamics of this country and this coastal city.
I arrived in Cape Town, South Africa in June of 2012. I was excited, nervous, and curious to be moving to my third country.
I love it here in Cape Town, South Africa! You can certainly be successful here! It is interesting to see how much of the Black South African population follows the American hip-hop community. I am treated well. They ask me questions about Rick Ross, 50 Cent, and other artist. People will call me, “Obama”, while I walk down the street. I have to admit that was interesting for me.
However, in the beginning of my arrival, I had an interesting time because of the racial dynamics in the country. The black South Africans would just look at stare at me. Most were extremely friendly, but I did have a few that just gave me a dirty look. I didn’t understand the situtaion. I asked a good friend that I met in South Africa about the situation that I described. She stated, “Oh! You didn’t know? You one of us! You are Coloured”. She further stated that she new I was an American once I started to talk.
My mistake in this lesson was that I applied my knowledge of race and identity from the United States of America and applied the ideology to my situation in South Africa. Big mistake by me, but I learned from it.
As humans, we all desire to be part of a group or identity. South Africa is a great country and it has deep roots in regards to Race & Identity. This movie was made in 2009 and things have slowly changed, but in my opinion, the Identity crisis continues.
So check this video out (Click on the image)!
In the event, the link doesn’t work. The link is: http://vimeo.com/23617382
Peace,
altglobal
Great reflection about your experience in South Africa! And the lesson that we should not be ethnocentric about other cultures, etc but instead learn to understand them before drawing our conclusions!
Thank you for sharing,
Respect,
Thanks! you make an excellent point.
anytime fam….I started watching the video you shared and couldn’t finish it because every time a point is made I go ahead and research it…LOL..some of the things I am always thankful for are internet and of course electricity.They make it easier for me to read and do research on several topics including colorism in Africa and the diasproa.
Thank you for sharing the above information, it is vital to our growth as a people!
Hotep!
According to the 2001 South African Census, the Black African population constituted 79.0% of the total population in the country, followed by the White population with 9.6%, the colored population with 8.9% and the Indian or Asian population with 2.5%. That is to say that 8.9% of the population self-identified as Colored. So what is this film saying? Is it saying that since the Black Africans are in power that now the Coloreds want to be Black? If so this is new to me since I have never seen anybody go out of their way trying to be Black.
Hi Tshepo,
I will take your word in regards to the South African Census numbers. I don’t have the numbers in front of me. I think the film is just offering another perspective. I think that we have to think critically when viewing any source of information as we can only see the view of the director.
Stating that though, we must remember that numbers can be manipulated. I am not saying that the South African Census Numbers were manipulated. I want to make that perfectly clear.
I must emphasize that I have seen a very small window into this world. In my opinion, you are right, the Coloured people don’t want to be black, but they are also not white either. Sometimes, when a classification is put on a group of people by the government, then that can result in racism, prejudice, stereotypes. The group can feel “isolated”. It is a very complex situation and I know that I haven’t been able to answer your question, but it is a good question that you do bring up. I can say that I have personally seen discrimination against the “Coloured” population.
Thanks for your comments Tshepo!
We live in a very complexed world as we all know and identity crisis will always be. It does not matter if its among blacks, colored, whites, spanish or what ever we want to call ourselves or who wants to call us what. Its everywhere. So much unimportance with our color, who is smarter, who is more educated, who has more money, house, cars, who is a star, who looks better, younger and all other things. We all have stories of when, where, why and how it all started. All we do is question, put down, point fingers, offend and so on. Why? Because the only thing we have learned to do is to live with BIG egos. Yes, these stories are true, yes, these things happened to us or them but will they ever change? They may, and when/if they do everything will start all over again with someone else. Then all the new stories starts to be told too. If we can just peel away the the skin, the hair, throw away the thoughts and memories in our heads then we would remember who we really are. The most precious and beautiful beings who are loved and connected to one another. No outer layers trapped in the ego world. But the true connection to God! Everything else does not matter anyway because it will eventually disappear to no more existence. Check out the book “A New Earth, awakening to your life purpose” by Erkhart Tolle. Also, “Living In The Now” by Erkhart Tolle. This is definately not to push anyone to change but maybe just to open your eyes. I hope you will get something out of it as I have. Peace and Love to all of you out there!
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Hi Sel! Thanks for the response. I do like your thoughts on the issue. I truly like your perspective. It is something that I haven’t thought about. I will most certainly check out the book for sure. Since you have read the book, what is your opinion on the first step in action to reach the ideology that you have presented in your response?
This is for us who haven’t read the book or don’t have access to the book at this point in time.
Hi altglobal,
I think the first step is to read up on different books by Erkhart Tolle. Even better books by Thich Nhat Hanh or any books on “living here and now” just to get an understanding of why we are the way we are. Also, I would suggest “Mindfulness in Plain English”. This is a free online book from “urbandharma.org. This will explain one way of taking the first action to finding true happiness. You don’t even have to download it.
. I’m the black one, he is the colored one and dad is the white one. We definately can relate to stares, unfriendlyness and much more (mostly me). Thankfully “Obama” has no problems and he was born here. Still, to see this video and to read that you saw your own mistake is a wonderful thing. Without this video we would not have known the colored peoples perspective. I too fine this subject very interesting. I’ve learned to not judge anyone without knowing or being in their situation. Although sometimes very hard not to do. But to recommend what has helped me to try and become the best I can spiritually. Keep the discussions going. We can always learn from them. Continue having a great time in Cape Town.
Now I definately know where you are coming from being an African-American myself moving to a new country and trying to understanding the social dynamics. I moved to Germany almost 20 years ago and have my on teenage “Obama”
Thanks yoknyamdabale! It is indeed very interesting. I had to stop the movie several times to do research. I find it very interesting from a cultural anthropological viewpoint.
Excellent video. I too was affected personally mainly because it reminded me of the colourism in Jamaica when I was growing up. The lighter ones skin tone, i.e, the closer you were to being “white”, the higher your social status which directly related to the educational, employment, economic and political opportunities you were afforded. Those of my generation remember the song by Buju Banton, celebrating the “Browning”. Not much has changed in their attitudes today. Just like in Africa, some engage in skin bleaching to lighten their skin colour.
My mother is half white. Her father was Scottish. She has only met him once and he basically rejected her. My mother has commented that growing up in Jamaica she was rejected by both the Blacks and Whites. She married my father who was a dark skinned black man. My younger sister is light toned like my mother, I’m medium and my older sister is dark like my father. Interestingly if we were living in South Africa, my mother, younger sister and I would have been classified as “coloured” while my older sister and father would definitely be classified “black”.
A few years ago we had a conversation here that focused on the premise that when it came to “color”, White people suffer from a type of mental illness which was termed “Extreme Color Arousal”. It was a perspective that explained why they do crazy shit when it relates to people of color, especially black people. I always believed this diagnosis had some merit and led to a deeper understanding of their behaviour. However not only do white people, to a lesser or greater extent suffer from this disorder, but many coloured and black people have internalized certain of their attitudes which has led them to suffer from it too. This video revealed some of that crazy shit the white South Africans instituted during Apartheid which still has an affect today!
I’ll share the links to the posts on Extreme Color Arousal:
1. Racism vs Extreme Color Arousal
2. Extreme Color-Aroused Emotion, Ideation and Behavior, Disorder (ECEIBD)
Hi asabagna,
In many ways this is still true that if you are lighter skinned more doors are opened for you. We can see it as something positive for many people of color and shades though. It had to start somewhere or somehow. Today I see more and more doors opening up for darker skinned as well. Hurraay for us all
. Oh yes, the skin bleaching is so sad. That is not good for the skin at all. So dangerous. I too looked more at someone with lighter skin (along time ago). After not seeing any kind of black/colored people for some years after my move to Germany I began to appreciate every single shade of us and realized how incredibly beautiful we are when I did see it. As far as my own skin color I will love it as it is till the day I leave this earth.
). But in the salon a very very light skinned young woman set across from me. For some reason she gave me a horrible look. I smiled but her eyes rolled. Another horrible look. Again I smiled and her eyes rolled again. Oh well I thought. She is the way she is. A long time ago I would have been so hurt. Now I know it was just her ego needing to feel pride and maybe she felt something negative in me that I didn’t feel at the time.
Your mother’s father has no idea of what he missed out on. No idea! I can understand that your mother did not have it easy. There was simular situations when I was growing up where lighter skinned had it hard as well and darker skinned.
Just last year I visited a hair salon in the Netherlands. There are so many different shades I ran out of names for them
Let me check out the links you posted.
Thanks Sel….good point being made.
Good to hear your story Asabagna. I have similar experiences growing up. I have to commend you on your willingness to write your personal experiences. I think we can even take your viewpoint and take it a step further as well. I didn’t know until I got older, but the media is a large part of what is considered, “beautiful” and sometimes can be considered, “privileged” in our society in addition to the views that can be passed down from generation to generation. A cycle that must change.
Sel:
It would be great for you to go in depth about your experiences in Germany. I have visited Germany several times, including last year, but I haven’t lived in Germany.
Well, my first visit to Stuttgart, Germany was the first experience. During a visit to a restaurant as I and a boyfriend entered and were escorted our reserved table, everyone and I do mean everyone! in the place stopped talking and just stared (in total shock). Many continued to stare as we sat there. It was so uncomfortable that we left the place. After moving later to Dortmund, Germany from the US I experienced being called the N word many times. Naturally it was always said in discretion. Once a sausage and french fry stand owner said “Don’t let the sausauges cook to long or they would turn black like a N”. This was in German but I could clearly understand the language. There were/are times cashiers or sales persons would walk away or pretend not to see or here me as I asked for help. Often times some people don’t react when I greet, smile or try being friendly to them. When working as an aerobic trainer (years ago) in many different fitness studios some members who took part in my classes would ignore or pretend not to see me outside ot the studios (shopping or in the city) although attending my classes for 3 or 4 years. And these were people I thought I knew. Constantly, people stare and laugh when they think I don’t notice. Sometimes others walk farther to the side as if not wanting to be touched as I walk toward them. Then their are some who will turn their backs to me as not wanting to look my way as I walk in their direction. If I asked friends (white) it was always, “Oh, they just find you attractive”. Or, “They probably haven’t seen many black people before “. Or, “They don’t mean anything by it”. I felt that none of them wanted to discuss it or had some kind of excuse for it. So for me it wasn’t easy. And I stopped asking.
I know many foreigners will have different experiences when living here or anywhere. I have met some who’ve had negatives as well as positives. But I now believe, that the only way to over come pain, suffering, anger and much more, you have to recognize what you are carrying within youself. No matter how difficult it is.
Which state and city do you visit here in Germany? Can you speak the language?