UCT too white

The protest started with calls to remove the statue of Rhodes, which symbolizes the oppression of black people by the colonial powers and the resulting hurt and shame. The original message was that after 21 years of democracy, blacks are still living in poverty and forced to make use of poo buckets.

The shame, anger and frustration needed to be brought to the door of the affluent, so that they may understand this shame and the need for change. The Rhodes statue is used as a “symbol” of continued “white privilege” and lack of transformation, apparently in South Africa as a whole.

The protest then gained traction with media exposure and morphed into something more specific, targeting the perceived Institutional Racism at UCT. In an attempt to contextualize this, I did some research and noted various opinions, which include the following: UCT is an institution where racial alienation and profiling exists, where blacks do not have equal rights, where blacks are forced to “act white or keep quiet”, where blacks are limited or denied access to UCT (due to outdated admissions policies and funding challenges, and a need to hold onto “white privilege”, etc.), where black lecturers are denied equal opportunities, where black staff are unhappy with transformation in the workplace, etc.

It was also noted that UCT still has a “colonial outlook” and that “white privilege” forces are systematically and vehemently resisting transformation at UCT and refuse to bring about substantive change that is so desperately required to move UCT’s students towards “forgiveness, liberty, reconciliation and transformation”.

Supporting the above opinions is the focus on demographics at UCT (i.e. staff and students). Number of black students vs. whites is considered an important measure and indicates the lack of transformation at UCT. Others (as per Brian Kamanzi’s blog) have expressed their frustration with the “sea of unfulfilled promises regarding equal opportunities, freedom and liberation for blacks at UCT”.

There were testimonies about racial alienation, anger and misery, all of which is considered “part of the parcel for blacks teaching and/or researching at UCT”. Some reiterated their frustration with student demographics, expressing regret that absent blacks could have benefitted from being there.

It is not made clear “why” they are not present, but given the context, I assume that these non-present black students have been denied access due to the same issues being discussed here. Concerns were raised around “patriarchy and violent masculinities” evident within UCT structures and this supported the need to prioritize “African Feminism”.

All in all, there appears to be a “hunger and thirst for change” and they have attempted to define what a “transformed UCT” should look like. Based on what I’ve read and understood, I am assuming that a “transformed UCT” will look something like this:

• Admission policies that cater for the apartheid-legacy challenges which have made it difficult for black student admission into UCT. The goal is to have a demographically representative student population at UCT.
• Equal rights for black lecturers (and black staff). It is not clear what this means, but I assume it relates to salary, positions, promotions, respect, etc.
•  More black professors – should be demographically representative
• No more discrimination against African women at UCT. It is not clear what this means as no examples were provided.
• A transformed curriculum that caters for African students. I.e. that African students can relate to. Unsure of what this means.
• Abolishment of all colonial structures, monuments, names, etc., that remind blacks of the atrocities of the past, given the fact that racial discrimination still exists in various forms.
• A culture where blacks at UCT are made to feel welcome by whites students and lecturers, where they are permitted to be proudly black, to dress like blacks, to behave like blacks, to talk like blacks, without being judged or alienated for doing so.
• Leadership at UCT should be majority black. If transformation is truly a priority for UCT, then it needs to be driven top-down. UCT Leadership should be demographically representative.
• Removal of anything or anyone that endorses or protects the concept of “white privilege” at UCT.

Now, the protest commenced with socio-economic issues being raised (i.e. poverty still rife after 21 years of democracy) and this quickly escalated into more specific issues relating to the perceived Institutional Racism that underpins the lack of transformation at UCT. Many believe that the “UCT-transformation-lorry” is currently parked in “Institutional Racism Rd”, and is stuck in first gear. The driver, “Mr White Privilege”, is apparently uninterested in resolving the issue and getting going.

I think that the term “White privilege” can be classified as “Institutional Racism’s” personal bodyguard, since it’s being used by both black and white #rhodesmustfall supporters as a means of lumping whites into a “you should remain ashamed forever” cage, whilst bullying, ridiculing and silencing those who disagree or offer alternatives as to the root cause issues at hand. Blacks who disagree are awarded the honouree title of “Protector of White Privilege” for daring to offer any form of logic to the discussion.

You see, it’s far easier to “package” unverified symptoms of problems into a “product” with a catchy name (like “Institutional Racism” or “White Privilege”) and then suddenly everyone is buying this “product” at half price, claiming to relate to the problem without bothering to verify the integrity of the original argument. 

And the BOOOM, we’re all consumed by a plague of irrational thinking and unfounded accusations combined with fuzzy logic and good old stupidity.

Now, this paragraph was intentionally written in a fuzzy and confusing way to illustrate my point, which is the following: What are we really protesting about, where’s the proof (apart from Blog data, hearsay and gut feel), what are the root causes and how can we address them? Somehow this is lost on the masses.

I am not here to insist that Institutional Racism does not exist at UCT or elsewhere, but I have not seen any real evidence that this is in fact the cause of poor transformation at UCT. I’ve also witnessed a shift from the original issue (poverty and shame), to UCT is not black enough, to UCT makes us feel like we have to act like whites, to African Feminism and so on. For me, this is evidence that people are grasping at straws and looking for ways to justify a protest that started out with a different purpose. 

A moving target is difficult to pin down and to debate and I suspect that this is being done deliberately. I think that opinions relating to so called “White Privilege” and “Institutional Racism” at UCT need to be considered objectively and within context. We also need to remember that each and every person contributing towards the discussion/debate has a belief system in place, which is has been shaped by upbringing and personal experiences.

We are all subject to bias and for every personal experience relating to “racism” at UCT, there is the other side of the story, which doesn’t necessarily have a voice, particularly when the bodyguard “White Privilege” gets called to attack. Based on my personal debates around this topic, its clear to me that there are many (both white, black and foreign) who have jumped on the “#rhodesmustfall bandwagon” without bothering to purchase a “show me the evidence of institutional racism” ticket.

Furthermore, they seem to have left their “let’s focus on root cause issues” luggage behind. This doesn’t add value.

Finally, I personally believe that the transformation problem lies elsewhere and is infinitely more complex to resolve, as it relates to government effectiveness, economic growth, employment, schooling, etc.

I also believe that as long as South Africans (black and white) continue to bicker about statues, poo, white privilege, ANC (black)-privilege, apartheid, racism, etc., then we will fail to take advantage of Madiba’s dream of a truly united South Africa. Right now, there are forces which oppose Madiba’s vision and I’m confident that they are not white.