We are all to blame for the Adam Catzavelos’s of this world

Adam Catzavelos posted a video of himself on a Greek beach. In it, he expresses his joy at not seeing a single black person and uses the k-word. 

Hearing that Adam’s family had decided to fire him from the family business, one Twitter user commented:

“Racism is not picked up at a supermarket counter like a packet of chips, Adam is a reflection of conditions and environments he grew up in. These types of disclaimers do very little to go into the heart of white racism directed at Black people.” 

Race-related complaints, consistently represent the largest proportion of alleged violation of the right to equality received by the South African Human Rights Commission.

Last year saw a variety of racial incidents, from Judge Mabel Jansen, Sodwana Bay guest house owner Andre Slade, estate agents Vicki Momberg and Penny Sparrow, to name a few. 

Let’s take stock for a minute. How many times have you sat in a car and cursed a taxi driver for cutting in front of you. Not just used a swear word here and there but said something like ‘these black drivers think they own the road’. 

How many times amongst friends or family has the discussion about any race group come up? Have you ever felt uncomfortable enough to speak up and walk out or have you just laughed along or even offered a comment or two? 

How many times have you called your domestic worker or gardener girl or boy instead of respecting the fact that these are adults you are speaking to? 

How many times have you shared a meme that openly stereotypes a different race and found absolutely nothing wrong with it?

I read an article last year where Ahmed Areff, national news editor at News24, said “These racist comments are just a reflection of the comments some people in South Africa make around their supper tables.”

To eradicate racism, it's important to understand the different types of racism that affect society.  

According to the Oxford dictionary you get:

• Colorism - When minorities discriminate against those with darker skin than they have. 
• Subtle racism - Discriminates against individuals through often evasive or seemingly passive methods. 
• Internalised racism - When minorities experience self-hatred because they believe the ideology that they are inferior. 
• Reverse racism - Prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism on the basis of race directed against a member of a dominant or privileged racial group. 

Yes Adam Catzavelos is a complete idiot and should be called out for his comment. Yes Penny Sparrow and all the rest should feel embarrassed, but what about you?  

By you sharing something or joining in the conversation behind closed doors, you are no better than these people. If your mother, brother, husband, etc sent a voice note commenting on someone’s skin being ‘darker than shoe polish’ should you laugh about it or end that relationship with that person? I actually know of a politician who is the butt of many of these jokes.

If someone you knew said all Coloureds just know how to drink, make babies or have missing teeth, would you stand up for the Coloured race?

 If someone you knew put on a fake Indian accent (and I mean that accent from India because not many South African Indians I know shake their heads and talk that way) would you laugh or would you stand up for Indians?  Let’s not forget that white people are also exposed to racism. I have seen enough of those memes showing ‘receptionist starter pack’ and it is a picture of a white woman with a short haircut, crusty heels and always ready to complain about someone at the printer. Sorry that is racism. It comes in many forms people. 

Every single day we all face South African problems and author of 'Finding the Rainbow: A personal journey in the new South Africa', Prof Jackie Naude says in her book, “Transformation is a journey where we all change our mindsets, attitudes and behaviours in order to build new relationships." 

The ‘I have a black friend’ or ‘oh wow you don’t see a black man with an Indian lady very often’ lines need to stop.

There are still people in this country who feel that their race is better than others. I attended a workshop with the professor in 2017 and she insisted having uncomfortable conversations at home, the workplace and with friends is the only way we can move forward as a country.

I like how journalist Nadra Kareem Nittle sums up racism: Racism doesn’t just concern a dominant racial group overtly oppressing minorities. There’s subtle racism—slight snubs or racial microaggressions based on race. There’s also colorism within minority groups in which lighter-skinned people discriminate against their darker-skinned counterparts.” 

If I have someone call me a ‘yellow bone’ one more time…

Political analyst Somadoda Fikeni said South Africa has given itself the wrong accolade by referring to itself as a rainbow nation without having discussions about race.

I remember when I posted a column expressing my sadness at how South Africa was divided over the H&M monkey T-shirt debacle and how so many South Africans were not showing empathy. I was attacked for that. 

“Oh my word. Talk about blowing things way out of proportion, is there no possible way normal human beings can just look at this kid and make a comment like " Cute kid in a nice top" or something like that. All you haters just love making comments about racism, slavery, rapes, murders and whites against blacks. What a truly sad life you all must lead, always looking for stuff to hate about. Shame on you all.”

“Not everything is about race please guys a lil humor is needed now really, aibo”

It’s so hard to talk about racism, or even recognise it when it’s going on and just because you’re not using the K-word every 5 minutes or holding your bag a little tighter when a black person stands behind you, doesn’t necessarily mean you’re not part of the problem. 

Racism comes in many different forms. Sometimes it's subtle, and sometimes it's overt. Sometimes it's violent, and sometimes it's harmless, but it's definitely here. It's something that I think we're all guilty of, and we just have to make sure that we deal with our own personal racism in the right way. – American actor Jordan Peele.

What about you? 

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