Higher institutions of racism

TWO students at Stellenbosch University in south africa decided to jump onto the “blackface” scandal by painting themselves black.

TWO students at Stellenbosch University in south africa decided to jump onto the “blackface” scandal by painting themselves black.

The two were pictured on a Twitter post supposedly masquerading as the Williams sisters at some bloke’s 21st birthday party celebration.

I know if I were any part of the Williams sisters, I would truly take offence to this characterisation. However, beyond being a Williams sister this will undoubtedly cause indignation in many people who are sensitive to issues of race.

This incident comes barely two months after another “blackface” incident that occurred at the University of Pretoria.

Two students posed in domestic worker uniforms with their faces smeared with black paint and their buttocks padded in exaggeration. The students were expelled from the university residence, but not from the institution.

In another time and place one could think of laughing this off as just another party prank.

However, when one takes into account South Africa’s history which was blighted with apartheid it is no laughing matter. Needless to say this comes 20 years after the so-called democracy which clearly highlights the systemic and institutionalised racism that still exists.

“Blackface” is a form of theatrical make-up that was used in film production to depict black people.

It originated in the United States in the 19th Century as a way to portray African-Americans and gained popularity and form and spread to countries like Britain.

Often it would exaggerate the features of black people in a derogatory manner.

However, it came to an end in the 1960s with the United States Civil Rights Movement that deemed it offensive.

However, in South Africa we still see the blackface caricature in Leon Schuster films and laugh out loud.

This is why “blackface” in South Africa will continue to be a laughing matter. The two students from Stellenbosch will face no impunity for their distasteful actions.

Instead it is felt that this incident will help to contribute to “critical debate and conciliatory conversations” which the two students have agreed to take part in to mend race relations.

So let’s not be surprised if in two months’ time we have another display of “blackface” because the message is clear: “It is okay to make a mockery of black people. Despite the fact that many are upwardly mobile and educated, we can still belittle them in any way we like and get away with it.”

South African universities are plagued with many incidents of racism. In 2007 four white students at the Free State University urinated on food and forced the cleaning staff to eat it while they captured this humiliating act on film.

More recently two white students at the same university allegedly drove over a black student, as he was walking on a pavement and beat him after he confronted them.

There has been very little transformation in many South African institutions of higher learning. Some universities like the North West University remain racially divided.

The university was formed in 2004 through merging two institutions: Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education and the Former University of Bophuthatswana.

However, 10 years after the merger the Potchefstroom campus remains predominantly white (74%) and the Mafikeng campus black (97%).

This clearly demonstrates how the merger was effected in name only and racial integration has failed. Early this year students from the Potchefstroom campus made headlines with their Nazi salutes during initiation week.

However, authorities dismissed it as ignorance on the part of university students as to the origin of the salute. Some purported it was “clean” fun.

Just as it was clean fun to paint “black faces” and go partying, in my book it stops being “clean” fun when it is offensive to someone else. It is nothing short of dirty.

However, many will say the blame lies squarely on the parents of these young adults.

It is often said that we are not born racist, but we are taught. It is a learned behaviour.

These young adults are merely demonstrating what their parents have chosen to impart to them. They live in a world where black people are viewed as inferior and denigrated.

Universities are supposed to be breeding ground for an enlightened educated generation.

It is unnerving to think many institutions will churn out students who will go out into the world only to perpetuate the hatred and inequality of the past.

Sue Nyathi is the author of the novel The Polygamist. You can follow her on Twitter @SueNyathi