Questioning "Black"

This is a questioning blog post. Entry in dictionary: a blog post that contains many questions.

I am all for telling it like it is. Call a kettle black, if it’s black. But reading Maya Angelou’s poem “Televised” made me stop to ponder. She poeticises (is there such a word?) about watching lunchtime news and seeing faces of starving children. Then she asks the question “Why are they always Black?” (Note capitalised B)

Black. That is a complicated word (apart from the fact that it’s a colour) I know all the stereotypical characteristics that are associated with being Black. I mean, if you love food you are Black. If you dig basketball and hip-hop you are sooo Black. All this is in an American context by the way. If you are an ex-con and you are unemployed you are most probably Black. Worse, if you are in jail there’s a big chance that you are Black. (Sigh!)

I know the scientific explanation given about being Black. I remember something from my bio lessons, when I was still a child. Those were the days. There was something called melanin that gives Black people the Blackness, although it is possible that some people have more melanin than others, ‘cause they are so dark they are nearly green.

When Barack Obama was elected president of the USA, he was called the first Black president of the USA. I’m sorry to be to be this daft, but why wasn’t Bush called the 43^rd white president of the United States? Why was it so important to point out that he is Black?

So, if this word “Black” were to be entered into a dictionary, what would the definition be? If you are Black, what are you? Please don’t say being in jail; being out of jail; living in jail; dodging jail etc. It’s bad for my mental health. But seriously, is it about the dark skin? Is it a philosophy or a way of life? Is it a myth or a mystery? Is it about Africa? Is it a social construct that has been created to make out some people to be better than others? What does is mean to be Black?

Oh by the way I’m in denial (whisper: “I don’t think I’m Black!”) Just kidding!

If we are going to say someone is Black, then “Black” needs to have a definition. I just don’t want to be told about Obama or Bolt or some Black man who has made it in this dreary world. I’m an academic. I want it written and defined. I need something to refer to when I’m writing a linguistics essay.

What is “Black”? Does “Black” even exist?

Relax my afro

Relax my afro
Black women need to embrace who they are, with every fiber of their being.

I mean duh, beauty is the epitome of your monthly visit, even if it is at the cost of a minimum of R120 depending on the location and how beautiful you really want to be.

I was at the hair salon the other day, ironic on the grounds that my “hair” I’d had on for the past two months had now hit expiry and it was now time to go “black” to my natural state. Seated next to me in an almost anticipatory manner, was a young girl. Drawn on her face was the same expression that was forced on me the day before photo day in preparatory school. My own mother pre photo shoot, in order to comply with the circulation notice as well as her oppressed notions of beauty, hinted that beauty, in its fullest would be achieved with a quick press, iron and even burn more often than not.

Recently there has been a row over this social construct that has been dictating to the black woman worldwide for centuries. Chris Rock recently did a documentary inspired by his daughters after their mother relaxed their hair for which he could not understand the purpose. Lebo Mashile says that we ought to embrace our diversity, I think that means not deter from our natural state (and yes she too has an afro).

Perhaps the term “Goodbye my nation” used in the olden days was an appropriate one; because the more we chemically treat our hair is the further we get from our roots.

Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa’s indulgent stay using tax payer’s cash.

I found the recent coverage on Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa’s expensive (R570 000) hotel stay exceptionally interesting because every single report that I read condemned it; I expected at least one ‘pro-government’ organization to try and justify the clear misuse of tax payer’s money but on a positive note, I found none. What I did enjoy however, was the different slants each report took. In the Mail & Guardian article, they made it very clear that the Congress of the People party was extremely angered by this abuse of government funds which, perhaps, points at a fondness for the party because it suggests that COPE would never accept such behaviour if they were in control. On the whole, they covered the event very briefly in comparison to the News24 article which I found, that was of a good length and contains all the facts and figures that the Mail & Guardian article does not. I found the use of quotations interesting because News24 and the Times Live have mostly the same quotations throughout both of their articles and also have a similar factual style of writing that does not hint at an allegiance with any organization; be it COPE or the ANC. In general, I found the News24 article to be the most valuable because it is easy to read for the average person, presents all the facts, contains strong headings, relevant quotations and lastly, is not overtly opinionated (which lets the reader decide for themselves what they think) because an ‘unclouded’ view is what we aim for!

Mugabe and Bennett and jail. Oh my!

The Zimbabwean Mugabe and Bennett saga is at the news front yet again with another arrest.

Roy Bennett is the treasurer for the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and a key ally to Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, the party's leader and President Robert Mugabe's chief domestic rival. Bennett was first arrested in February and has been free on bail since March after his arrest on charges of banditry, terrorism and acts of insurgency.
On 14 October, Mutare Provincial Magistrate Lucy Mungwari ruled that Bennett be apprehended. The MDC called the jailing “another serious attack on the credibility of the inclusive government” (Associated Press) and according to The Christian Science Monitor, the recent ZANU-PF activities is pressuring the MDC to either fight back harder or completely pull out of the unity government.
The local independent radio station, SW Radio Africa, has released a comment by an unidentified human rights lawyer, “The previous Magistrate who ruled in favour of Bennett in the same matter was committed to prison and arrested at some point. So we believe there is a lot of fear and clearly political interference”.
The saga has even crossed international borders. BBC News has reported that The US has called for Mugabe to stop “harassing” his rivals and the EU also said it was "deeply concerned" that "politically motivated abuse persists".

Will Bennett be granted bail? Will Tsvangirai announce party withdrawal? It looks like the whole world has to play the waiting game.

Ghostwriter

Can the women be beyond gossip pages

On Sundays I usually read our Sunday papers as I feel that they cover in depth the happenings of the week as well as follow up stories. Even though I am a serious journalism student and read detailed accounts of hard news stories I do tend to be drawn to the entertainment pages more often then not. Lately though, I have been disturbed when reading these pages following an article that I read late last month that has identified most of these gossip columnist to be women.

It is worrying to note that of the masses of women that study towards a journalism degree, few of them follow the path of hard news, let alone hold management positions or even run news desks. According to a survey conducted by the SADC in September of this year, only 39% of South African women are on boards in media companies, 25% in top management postions and 35% in senior management.

The above makes me wonder whether the gossip and entertainment side of journalism is innate in women and whether or not the gap between men and women in the industry will ever be bridged.

Educaction Storm brews in Eastern Cape

The Eastern Cape has seen controversy around the tertiary institutions, which has resulted in violent riot, primarily around financial issues. The Daily Dispatch has recently covered a few related stories, that are all well written in that they give for a first hand account of the issues that have been probing these institutions, from the tertiary sources.


In Fort Hare female bursary holders were alleged to have been coerced into extending sexual favours to the lectures in exchange for an increase in marks so that their bursaries are maintained www.dispatch.co.za/article.aspx?id=351177. In the same location Mugabe has stripped students in support of the MDC of bursaries http://www.thezimbabwetimes.com/?p=20919. Shortly after these incidents, violent disputes broke out at Walter Sisulu University over a steep hike in fees http://thezimbabwe.com/?p=20919.



It is sad to see that to this day students are still being opressed by powers that are beyond their control and that all the promises that are being made by the government, to make attaining an education more of a reality, have still not come to life. Instead we have the minister of education blowing enough money to fund a Rhodes student for the duration of their bjoun degree on a party http://news.iafrica.com/sa/1989300.htm. This behaviour is unacceptable because it is a demonstration that the political party that governs this country extends false hope to its voters. It seems that the efforts of June 16, 1976 are falling short.

We need a government that is inclusive of the needs of the least well off and one that uses the monies of tax payers wisely in fulfilling such.

Touch my blood on stage

My learner colleagues and I have had the task of doing research on one of the most popular writers that this country has seen. Fred Khumalo, Sunday Times columnist as well as award winning book writer who has had the pleasure of having one of his books, which happens to be his autobiography being adapted as a stage play.

The book, “Touch my blood”, was adapted as a stage piece, by one of South Africa’s leading directors, James Ngcobo and was show cased in our very own Rhodes theatre during the national arts festival this year. Being a drama student and having watched the play after reading the book, I must confess myself disappointed by the efforts made by James Ngcobo and his chosen cast. This is surprising seeing that he is renowned for being able to take a literary piece and give it theatrical value which I have seen him do with “The Suitcase” by Es’kia Mphahlele and a few other adaptations that have had wonderful ratings. Unfortunately, the play, “Touch my blood” was lacking in capturing the most important aspects of the book which was impressively well written. The performance levels, although not of a poor standard were not fitting for a theatre piece which requires for the performers to show the story to the audience rather than to tell it. The long, yet crucial monologues could hardly be heard over the exaggerated use of the props which ended up taking away from the dramatic tension rather than adding to it.

James Ngcobo is a good director, but he missed the mark on this play. I think that he should re-vist the idea and give the piece another try. With the correct directing, Touch my blood as a play could become award winning.
In the video, see a snippet of the play and Fred Khumalo’s thoughts on the work done.
http://www.myvideo.co.za/video/premiere-of-touch-my-blood

Hilarious journalism

Journalism is not always all that serious…And as it is human-made, mistakes slip in and funny stuff can happen. The next video is ridiculously hilarious, showing a journalist working in the field…and the influences of the field on him...



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kK9_DPYlve4



*AllStars*