#FeesMustFall

One of my recent assignments were to unpack the #feesmustfall movement. I found this assignment more on the creative side and through doing it, I learnt of the scary reality. What prominently stood out for me is that by doing nothing, through choosing to avoid this heart wrenching topic, you are actively not only not helping the cause but also, in essence you are not allowing our country to move forward, IN ANY KIND OF WAY.

This is my original assignment, read and more importantly ENGAGE with me. This was distinction worthy so I would like to believe that it is worth a read and that my sentiment is shared.

The growing need for a South Africa where free higher education exists.

The #feesmustfall movement is one that leaves a bitter taste in the mouths of all South African students and probably, most South Africans alike. The movement served as a reminder of our shattering past and once again, the effects of apartheid became glistering clear. Many years into our democracy and we are still not where we should be, there are still shortages, inequality, imbalances and a young person of colour who simply will not be afforded the opportunity to go to university simply because of a financial constrain. This essay will look at where South Africa is post 1994 and unpack the growing need for free higher education.

The standpoint of South Africa post 1994.

The statistics paints a disheartening picture of the reality of how much has changed since our democracy. According to Statistic South Africa[1], very little has changed. The semi-skilled and low-skilled still make up for the biggest part of the South African workforce. Lack of higher education is a problem that directly causes poverty and makes entering the middle and higher class an unfortunate impossibility. Since 1994, there has only been a small shift in people of colour moving from the ‘unskilled’ category and into the ‘skilled’ category but a large increase in the white counterpart. Very minimum improvement was recorded in people of colour entering into the professional workplace.

Furthermore, these statistics presented to us the scary reality that least amount of growth occurred in youth (25-34) population due to lack of higher educational opportunities. The unequal distribution of progress reveals that people of colour are still at the losing end of the higher educational spectrum. The reality of the situation is that tertiary education is the only routes to a better life but a route that only the select privileged can take.

South Africa shows a scarily low growth rate. The employment and education growth since 1994 is inadequate and very little has changed. The statistics further revealed that since 1994, the unemployment rate has also increased and the employment rate for those with a tertiary education has increased. The unemployment rate for the youth is the highest as opposed to adults. People of colour simply are not afforded the right opportunities to escape the life of poverty. The need for free tertiary education is simply not seen as urgent enough.

The principles of the Freedom Charter.

The Freedom Charter as entrenched in the Constitution[2], consists of the core integral values of our country. The Freedom Charter is central to the #feesmustfall movement. The argument is that unaffordable tertiary education goes against the spirit of our very integral value system. Free and compulsory education was the political aspiration prior to 1994 and was as essential to the ‘new’ South Africa as democracy was. The doors or learning has still not fully been opened and affordable education is still not a reality in 2016. The aspiration was that higher education and training would be accessible for all through state allowances and scholarships.

Equality: Our inherent right.

One of the most far-reaching effects of apartheid is the role it played in generating extreme economic inequality between various race groups in South Africa. Section 9 of The Constitution[3] speaks of the importance of equality. Equality is a fundamental human right that we are all promised. According to this section, discrimination is prohibited and this section further allows for affirmative action to be taken to address any past unfair discrimination. Evidently and unfortunately, inequality is still prevalent in the marginalised groups.

In the Minster of Home Affairs and Another v Fourie and Another[4], the court once again reintegrated the importance of equality in all areas of our lives but constantly fail to see the need for equality in the higher education sphere.

Social justice and growth externalities.

As discussed Keswell[5], the premises on which the #feesmustfall is based on, social justice and growth externalities. Social justice means correcting the wrongs of the past through increasing the access to higher education for the poor, especially to the marginalised groups.                                                                 While growth externalities mean increasing the level of skills the youth possess. This is a form of investing in the lives of the youth and ultimately ending the cycle of poverty. There is a shortage of trained, skilled and educated people in our country and through investing in their educational lives, we alleviate two problems: the shortfall that South Africa is facing and the cycle of illiteracy and poverty.

The Higher Education Act.

The purpose of the Higher Education Act[6], is to reform and restructure our higher educational system to better cater to the needs of South Africa. To address and alleviate past discriminations and inequality. To ensure equal opportunities for all and mostly to respect and give rise to our Constitutional values, the essential value of equality.

Conclusion.

The post-apartheid legacy is one filled with many expectations, dreams and hope. The South African dream has been to bring about equality in a previously unequal country, to do this, we need to fully grasp the need to tertiary education as it is only through, education that our county can move forward. Higher education is the one of the only ways to break cycles of poverty, unemployment, inequality and discrimination. Free public higher is very possible, realistic and necessary. Exclusion due to financial constraints and inequality due to apartheid has not place in our Constitution and should have no place in our hopeful South Africa.

[1] Statistics South Africa “Employment, unemployment, skills and economic growth” 2014 THESOUTHAFRICA 1 46.

[2] The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1994.

[3] n 2 above.

[4] Minster of Home Affairs and Another v Fourie and Another (232/2003) (2004) ZASCA 132, (2005) 1 ALL SA 273 (SCA) (30 November 2004).

[5] Keswell “Education and Racial Inequality in Post-Apartheid South Africa” 2016 1 28.

[6] The Higher Education Act, 1997.

Stay blessed x

August, the third 2016.

It is currently a few minutes shy from midnight and I am finding it rather difficult to fall asleep, my heart is heavy as I think back to all the sleepless nights this particular subject matter has caused. The upcoming national elections. The who is deserving of my vote leaves an unanswered question in my mind.

So I am twenty years old, this meaning that, my vote was cast in the previous election and will be once again in a couple of days.

TWENTY, young enough to not have directly been affected by apartheid but old enough to STILL have to live with the effects and consequences thereof. See, I might not have had to march against inequality, Bantu education, discrimination or any of the injustices, but I am STILL fighting. I am a varsity student, I am directly affected by the impossible (but still rising) cost of university fees. I often ponder on how it took a whole nation to rise in the #FeesMustFall movement for the ridiculous cost of education to be acknowledged. I also look back to the blatant disregard, lack of interest and support that students received from the government throughout the movement, with Blade Nzimande notoriously saying “students must fall”. This remark from our very own, Minister of higher education and training. The fight for education (the key to unlocking all kinds of injustice) was explicitly disregarded and disrespected by the very person meant to protect and uphold it.

Then I think about the value of our dear Rands. No denying that our money has a very minimal value abroad. Travelling has become an unattainable dream. Everything in South Africa is interlinked to countries abroad. We need them, our livelihood depends on the global market. Many of our goods are not locally produced. It is impossible to be 100% local. With our currency value dropping daily, we are all directly affected. Your money means very little abroad so travelling becomes far too expensive. Importing anything becomes more costly. The value of our local goods exported abroad is not much and definitely worth much less than it was a couple of years back. Inflation has reached an all-time high and the cost of living is impossible for many South Africans. Many of these problems are primarily caused by the unrest in our government. We have lost the trust of the world (think back to all our recent minister shuffles).

Now, my mother is a government employee. Her role in society is one of the most fundamental and essential roles in the effective running of any society but yet, she and all others in her position are not appreciated. Underpaid, unappreciated and unvalued. There is a shortage of everything in our country and a scarily high percent of graduates moving abroad after graduation. This speaks volumes of our dear country, we are losing fate. South Africa is one of the richest countries in the African continent but yet, so many people constantly search for better lives abroad. Opportunities have become so scarce and most of us feel trapped. Many of us have stopped fighting and have given up. We come from forefathers who saw potential, who fought, who hoped and had big dreams for our beloved South Africa. Twenty two years later, we have become a complacent generation. A tolerating of anything generation. A lot has changed since our colonial past but in the same breath, a lot still needs to be done. We are SO far from living in the South Africa that our forefathers sacrificed their lives for.

There are so many instances where I have and all of us have been failed by the ruling party. It has become really difficult to separate our president from the humble legacy of the African National Congress. We need to understand that the policies of ANC are to establish a united, non-sexist and democratic society. Furthermore, liberation of political and economic bondage for all South Africans. This means uplifting the quality of life for ALL South Africans. We simply need to take one look around to see that we have all been failed. What we have been settling for is NOT the ANC dream.

We deserve a government filled with accountability and integrity. We deserve better. We deserve to see our 1994 dreams come alive.

I am in no means endorsing or promoting any opposition party as none are without fault (think back to the millions and billions spent on Camps Bay and Clifton despite Cape Flats being a growing but not improving problem or simply refer back to all the problems our opposition parties seem to find but never any solutions or recommendations).

We, South Africans deserve worthy parties! We deserve SO much more than what we are receiving. This is an urgent call for all our leaders to step up!

 

 

 

Neutrogena visibly clear correction range.

When I first received my special package from Beauty Bulletin and Neutrogena, I was filled with complete excitement. This was their new Neutrogena visibly clear correct and perfect range which promises not only to hide imperfections but improve them too! This included correcting spots, fading marks and giving me a much sought after, clearer and healthier looking skin. Their test, for me was to see just what is possible for my life while using this range.

Their new correct and clear uses a ‘Microclear’ technology which helps to break through blocked pores by dissolving oil. Basically, it helps gets rid of excess oil as closed pores is mostly what causes the imperfections.  As a result of the Microclear technology, the size and redness of spots is immediately reduced. This was much to enthusiasm as my skin type falls under the ‘combination-oily’ type which makes me prove to breakouts. This is also why I find it essential to only use oil free products and products which gives me a matt effect right throughout the day.

The Neutrogena Visibly Clear Correct and Perfect Complexion Scrub gentley exfoliated my face without over-drying it. There also was none of the tight feeling that comes with exfoliating that I usually experience. This was an indication that not only did the product remove the dead skin but moisturise my skin too. I immediately noticed a big difference in my complexion. Usually my skin ritual is the old wives ritual of wash, tone and moisturise but with this range, I felt that my skin did not need all those other added on steps.

I was probably most delighted at having to try the Neutrogena Visibly Clear and Correct and Perfect CC Cream. I have tried BB cream but unfortunately never CC cream. What I obviously first noticed was the fact that this CC cream contains 100 % NO oil. I was mightily impressed with the coverage this product gave me, just the right amount of coverage! I loved that this product was not heavy on my skin, looked completely natural and allowed my skin to breathe. This will FOREVER be my go to for my makeup free days and those lazy days on campus when I want to look good with minimal effort.

 

This range is comes highly recommended, trusted and absolutely adored! Both of these items individually retail at R99.95 at Clicks, Dischem, Foshini and selected pharmacies. Perfect skin does not have cost a fortune.

 

Using the scrub, definitely scrubby enough and definitely not too harsh

 

 

 

What was possible for my life you ask, a new found confidence!

 

 

 

Thank you BB!

 

#SeeWhatsPossibleSA

 

 

A father, a son, a best friend and a boat.

My first encounter with Christianity was through my parents. I grew up in a Christian family and that was how my parents were raised so naturally, their children would be raised in a similar manner. I am because they are.

It is the same with most of us, we live in a culture where we become who we were taught to be. We live in a world where imitation is the way of life. We are born with nothing to us, no character and no values. We are taught that along the way and our teachers are in the best case scenario, our parents or our guardians.

This is important to realise because the way we were raised ultimately shapes who we become and how we someday raise our offspring’s. Whether we decide to raise them the way we were raised or even if your childhood was not ideal and you vow to do better. Point is, this determines who we are and what future generation we bring into the world.

I was baptised into a Christian church and went to a Sunday school for most of my initial years.

That is how I was introduced to what is the most important facet of who I am.

The reasons why I stay and continue to serve in a Christian church is completely different and if I am brutally honest, it has become less of my parents and their lifestyle but me. A decision I make every day.

When I moved to high school, my environment changed completely. I came from a coloured township school to a multiracial suburban school. That was probably my first real experience with peers with different religions from mine. I must have been no older than 14 and came home and told my parents about my new atheist friend. All my dad said was stay away from her. Which now makes sense to me, I was at a vulnerable age, it went against my faith, it was confusing, I was no longer sheltered by them but now exposed to so much and it was different.

Around then was I started questioning and doubting my faith, this turned out to be the best thing I felt could have ever happened to me (don’t stop reading here 🙂 ).

That was the only time I, personally began to actively learn about Christianity. It was when I started researching and understanding that my faith grew. Going to church has never been enough, pastors are just as human as we are and their preaching’s are based on the bible, a bible we all have access to. I had so many questions and in trying to find reasons why I do not need to be Christian, I found God. I found God in the way that I needed.

My biggest question were always about the resurrection of Jesus. I did not understand it. While going through my testing phase, I do not know when or how this association came about but this is how I visualise it. I imagine me, my dad and my best friend out at sea. It is high tide and a rough storm. It is impossible conditions and my best friend and I are flung out of the boat. It will be difficult to save both of us, weather conditions, time and equipment makes it impossible. My dad chooses to save my best friend and I am left in the sea before I am whisked away deeper. He does this because I am Christian and my friend not, because I know and have experienced the love of God and my friend not, but mostly because I have a guaranteed place in heaven and my friend not.

That’s how I imagine Gods love and sacrifice for us, a second chance at life, a second chance at doing better and a second chance to be who God has called and predestined us to be. Sacrificing his only begotten son for me. God’s crazy about us. This is immeasurable, uncontainable and unconditional love. Surely he deserves more than just an hour on a Sunday,
I have been having the worst time ever with my cell phone contract, the amount repaid is almost double all the time, service is pathetic and there is never any network coverage. I cannot even fathom how many times I have called to complain to no avail. It is now time to renew/cancel my contract. I have been called everyday wanting to know how I found the service/ when will I be upgrading/ ‘benefits and perks’ just for me. These people are sucky.

Gods the manufacturer with the lifetime guarantee. He is not only our creator but he sees us to and through. We can call on him at any given time and definitely do not have to wait till our contract seizes for great service. That is huge! God has not and will not give up on us ever.

Our saviour is definitely worth all our love, praise and honour.

Seeking and finding God on my terms was definitely what I needed. Serving him is not anyone’s decision but mine. How can you simply not give your heart to the one who died for you?

In the spirit of valentines day, lets remember the one who loves us uncontainably, unconditionally and limitlessly.

I am because, i choose to be…

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Lipidol Cleansing Face Oil.

 

Firstly, welcome to 2016. Thank you for all the love and support you gave me and my blog throughout 2015. May this year be our best year yet!

So today we are reviewing the Lipidol Cleansing Face Oil. Exclusively available at Clicks for R79.99, a steal.

 

Basically, the oil is applied with dry hands onto your dry face and it will then infuse with all the impurities on your face. Then you simply rinse it off with water.

Cass’s Ratings.

Texture	7/10
Smell	8/10
Efficiency	10/10
Price	9/10
Overall	8.5/10

 

Definitely something I will recommend, repurchase and continue to love.

I have uploaded videos on my personal Facebook page so a definite must see, ‘Cass-Leigh Oranje’

Thank you BB!

#ClearlyLipidol

The R20, 00 per hour rule.

I grew up knowing how crucial respect is. My parents encrusted this into my mind and will remind me of it when I even dare try and forget it. This is especially true in the coloured community. Anyone older is referred to as ‘aunty’ or ‘uncle’. No negotiations.

Recently, I started a new job. If you have been keeping up with these posts, you would know that I have been working for as long as I can remember. The new job is however very different in the sense that I have to build relationships and not only make sales.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             I have to know that you have a high acidy level and that’s why you prefer a solid perfume, that you have French ancestry and that’s why your hair curls the way it does, that you cannot have silicone or sulphate in your shampoo because that messes with the curls. I also need to remember that you were in the store before and that it is your daughter’s birthday and she prefers floral as opposed to fresh fragrances.

All I am really thinking is I do not get paid enough for this!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         No red carpets will be rolled out, I am afraid, that is above my pay grade. I am only joking, remember, ‘customer is always right’. Truth be told, this is hardly accurate. I have not being working at this current company for very long but in my short period, I have met people who drove me to tears, to vulgarity and to absolute disgust. Every day at work reintegrates how vital respect is. Parents, if you are reading this, BEND THAT TREE. “Just kids” becomes “just a phase” and eventually they become obnoxious thorn like adults. Respect, respect, respect! So, customers, regardless of how you treat me, I will treat you with the utmost respect because:

1. I was raised that way.
2. I would get a smack if I tried to be out of line , fyi, 20 in a month does not matter.
3. It is my character.
4. I would probably be unemployed if I did not (LOL!).

The sad truth about retail is, for its employees, it is hardly a profitable venture to go into. In fact, most big retail chains has employees earning less than R20 a day! Whereas R20 is 20MB to you, it is a loaf of bread to most. So before, tantrums are thrown and managers are called, remember, that this person really does not have it easy. Long hours, ridiculous wages, pressure from managers and probably a lot going on at home too. I am not saying accept bad service, I am saying, be human. A nice ass understanding, reasonable, compassionate human being.

It is currently 12:08 and I was woken up by my agonisingly painful feet. I am soaking my feet in this nifty foot massager and despite the fact that I know how fortunate I am to be working, I allow myself to be a human (without super hero powers) from time to time. Right now, all this is blamed on finishing at 21:00. Extended Christmas hours are the work of Vlad Dracula. Tomorrow, I will be back in my post, still smiling, still wondering how I can making ‘it’ look like an accident.

• *it = having a glass bottle fall on miserable customers.

 

 

Eylure Lengthening starter kit.

A while back, I was asked by Beauty Bulletin to be their ‘proef konyn ’, their guinea pig. The product: Eylure Lengthening starter kit, code for falsies.

I’ve never tried false lashes before and always loved the look mascara gives me, so I was obviously very excited. I’ve always heard the worst kinds of stories when it comes to false lashes, ‘you can glue your eyes shut together’, ‘your actual eyelashes fall out as well’ and many other horror stories so naturally, I was a little hesitant.

If you guys never done online shopping before or do not really understand the excitement that comes with it, it is wonderful. It is the equivalent of Christmas Eve. Seeing and knowing that there are gifts waiting for you but knowing that you may only open them the following day.

The Eylure lashes has a wide range and I have seen it being sold at Clicks and Dischem. The set of lashes I tried are being sold at R79.99.

These are specifically for the lengthening effect but there are other variants available like, volumising and party options (party options = lashes with glitter/diamante on them) (I think that is what they are called).

The Eylure starter pack comes with a pair of a pair of plastic tweezers to make application easier (I personally preferred not using them), there is also a practice lash (makes so much sense as it is a ‘starter kit’), two bottles of glue (lashes are reusable) and the pair of eyelashes.

I found the application process rather tricky at first, I had difficulty applying them as close to my actual lash and I made a bit of a mess with them glue. Once I mastered the art of the falsies, I properly flousrished. I loved how natural these looked, I definitely did not look like I was about to take off with my lashes.

Another problem I had was with the glue, once dried it became a whitey silicone texture. I also found that it wasn’t as gluey as I had hoped. Doubt it is water resistant so I probably will not be making it part of my daily make up as,

1. I am lazy.
2. I usually only apply BB cream and mascara to my face.
3. Because I am lazy.
4. The Eylure lash fell off while I was presenting in court (definitely not my proudest moment), this could be due to me not applying it on properly or it not being a whole day thing and rather just a going out thing.

Eylure will most definitely be part of my going out make up routine. I love how it does not make my already big eyes bigger but rather has it poppin’.

The starter kit is a definite must try for newbies and pros alike!

Eylure Starter kit

 

What my natural lashes look without them on.

The unfortunate first attempt

and Viola (see what I meant by “whitey gluey”, I covered this with eye shadow and mascara over.

Also, in other news, NEW HAIR.

From this

…to this

Thank you BB!

ps. I will be reviewing the John Frieda volumising hair care range at a later sage.

Focus area : Myself

I recently saw the coolest pictures ever and thought I should share it with you.

Not many of us grew up completely confident about ourselves. I know that I certainly did not.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            I would see people staring at me and a million things would run through my mind, it was awful, “What are they looking at?”, I would wonder and now after years of having to be okay with myself, when that happens (and it happens quite a bit), I simply smile and say, “It’s because you’re beautiful Cassy”.

I was genetically skinny all my life but I still found the need to go on these crazy diets and cleanses, now I am no longer skinny but I am so happy. I do not see the need to torture myself in any way. It is so liberating not having to come home after lunch or dinner or whatever I’ve just had and not punish myself for it.

The best feeling in the world comes when you, accept yourself completely. When you take off the magnifying glasses and be genuinely okay with all your flaws. You’ll probably never please everybody but doing so is not important. Living your best life is!

What you do with your life is a decision you alone need to take and you alone need to be happy with.

Many of these pictures depict ideas that I do not share but the point is that I focus on who I am and what I am doing. We are all different and because of that, different ways of thinking, living and having their being will be different. The key is to avoid being judgemental and to always walk around with an open mind. You learn so much that way!

Just do you bro and leave other people to be and do what they want to.

Thank you ‘Carol Rossetti’ for these beautiful pictures ❤

When I realised that I was enough.

“We accept the love we think we deserve” – The perks of being a wallflower.

As cliché as this may be, I am yet to find anything more true. Never before, was I able to grasp the concept that the guys we date, reflect what we think about ourselves and ultimately, who we become. Although it would have been great if I learnt this vital lesson earlier in life but I am glad that I EVENTUALLY learnt it and that it EVENTUALLY started resonating with me.

Looking back now, I can easily pin point all the thing that I have done wrong throughout all my relationships. I can tell you without thinking too hard as to why I stayed in bad relationships and why after one bad one ended, it would not take me to long to be in another bad one. It was a never ending cycle all because, I did not know my value.

‘Content’ simply means, satisfied. A word we can casually use like this, ’She is content with the red bicycle although she wanted the black one’’                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           It does in no way depict any real sign of happiness. Content is a word we would use to describe our second choice, still an okay choice but definitely not the initial choice.

I was merely content with who I was, not happy, elated or confident and that was reflected in who I allowed myself to be and become and ultimately, in the people I attracted and was attracted to.

Although I am glad that I met the people I did back then, they helped me so much, they helped me discover who I am and who I wanted to be, but looking back now, I asked myself this recently, “Are you still attracted to someone you were attracted to from five years ago?” The answer was ‘no’. Let me explain why.

As humans, we evolve everyday but more importantly, we are to be growing. I am not the same person I was last year, I am not even the same person I was last month. I’ve experienced more since then, I’ve learnt more, my understanding on everything has deepened and my desire to achieve what I have set out for myself has become a desire that demands everything of me. So how is possible that I, who changed in so many ways would still find what I did before appealing?

Practical example, at 10, all I wanted was one of those fancy Baby born dolls (they could eat, pee, poo and even cry!) and I would have sold one of my kidneys for one, now I find it hilarious and what I want now, does not involve any kind of dolls. Why? Simply because, I grew up, what I want now is not what I wanted a week, a month or even a year ago.

That is how it is with dating, as we grow, so does how we feel about ourselves and what we want for ourselves.

What I require right now from any romantic relationship is Godly courting. If I had to go into any kind of relationship at any point, I would want that God is in the centre of it. This honestly has never been a priority for me but when you see what is going on in the world, it is evident that we are a world that needs God more than ever before.

Godly courting is focusing on God and not individual people. Praying and growing in your faith together.

The difference between courting and dating is, dating is based on worldly expectations and courting on the other hand is based on what God wants within relationships. Courting usually leads to Godly marriages and well dating, that just leads to more dating.

The fundamental rules of Godly courting is:

Sexual abstinence.

Pledging love and emotional promises are only made after official engagement.

Overly flirting and dressing immodestly is unacceptable.

Family members and religious leaders play a part in the relationship through counselling.

Participating in mostly group activities.

A relationship without the pressures of emotional and sexual pressure.

This is what I desire now and I pray that God strengthens my heart to avoid settling for any less. It is so easy to cave in with the pressures of the world and forget our values so praying is so vital.

The race card has been banned.

In your first year in law school, it is mandatory to do one non-law related module.

The subjects you could choose from ranged from, Psychology, Sociology, Politics, Business management and right to Anthropology.

My choice: Anthropology.                                                                                                                                                       My decision was simple. In my very first year at university, my modules were Psychology and Sociology amongst others and in high-school, I took Business management.  My desire to do something outside my realm of comfort was enormous. The module with the fancy name appealed to me, it was also the only the only module I could take that would guarantee that I would have Monday’s off.

In the first week in that class, I learnt more than I have in a very long time. It was shocking that I would be so intrigued by fossils and bones because I hardly ever step foot outside. I like to think that as a kid, while my age group would have been digging in the sand, I would have been inside drinking tea and reading the daily newspaper. So the fact that I not only took up this class and found myself enjoying it surprises me to this day.

Recently, we have been focusing more on race in this class. This particular topic area is a large chunk of this module. Before we started, our lecturer explained that different races exist purely for practical reasons. It really all depends on where you originally descend from. If you descend from warmer parts of the world, you are generally darker, this is due to more melanin and this is our body’s natural sunscreen and the primary reason for the various shades of people. People from colder regions of the world have straighter hair, the reason behind this is straight hair does not absorb heat the way curlier hair does.

With that said, it is easy to understand that, race is no kind of hierarchy and it is simply genetic differences that enable people to survive better in different ecologies.

If race does not exist and these differences are solely for practical reasons, why has racism been in existence for centuries?

During this class, a “black” African student stood up. He needed to voice his opinion, “White people are the better race and every black man fantasies about being with a white woman”. Much to my dismay, this did not cause the stir I thought it would. Many students nodded in agreement and many sat in silence. The lecturer, a young “white” woman took to the podium too, her response, “there are so many great things about being black, do you know how great it would be not to have to apply sunscreen on every day (this was meant as a joke)”

This had me thinking, have we been indoctrinated to the extent where we accept this race hierarchy. Have we accepted that there is a superior race? This scared me, we the youth, who in no way were directly or as affected by apartheid thinking in such a narrow way.

I then thought back to a lunch date I had with a friend a “black” woman, she announced that she has no intention of ever dating a “black” man. She told me her reasons behind this thinking and I understood where she was coming from. Her decision was based on a generalization but ultimately, this was HER decision to make, this was HER life and she ALONE would have to live with this decision.

I had another encounter similar to this one, a young African foreigner and I started chatting. He shared his life story with me, his fears and his experience in South-Africa. He told me that he has no aim of marrying a South-African woman, his reason behind this was simple. The South-African women he has already met, have very little respect. I further asked him about this and he gave me scenarios where disrespect has occurred. I had no intention of arguing with him, partially because, once your mind is made up, it is difficult to change it and predominantly because, I partially agreed. Our conversation went on for hours and eventually I had to leave. He thanked me for a “lovely conversation” and for the respect I subconsciously had radiating through me. I knew I did not change how he saw South-African women but I did however change how he saw me and that was enough. I am not accountable for anyone. How do I justify the actions of people who would look away so they would not have to give up their seats to the elderly on a public bus?

Looking back, I do not think my friend or Kenny, the foreigner had to justify themselves. This was their views and they are entitled to have them.

I know so many people who simply would never date outside their personal “racial group”. That is okay too! Let’s face it, dating within your own racial group is much easier as opposed to interracial couples. This is purely fact. You are not dating me alone but my family too and not everyone will be open minded about it. There will be culture clashes and stares.  Not everyone is strong enough to deal with that and that is acceptable too!

I know more people with specific racial preferences as opposed to people without. That once again is one’s personal decision to make and we as a society should be okay with that.  It does not directly affect you and you do not have to live with the benefits or consequences of a decision that you did not make.

In my Anthropology class, an American with a whole lot of PhD’s came to conduct a survey. The questions that were asked were, “what shade is pretty skin?”, “I wish my skin colour was?”, “My ideal spouse’s skin colour is?”

                                                                                                               

Many of us simply did not answer any of these questions and once he left, we had a discussion about what had just happened. Generally, everyone thought this was complete rubbish but someone stood up and said that he in no way felt that this questionnaire was racist. He went on to explain how he never felt comfortable in his darker skin tone and he prefers lighter skin tones as opposed to his. (I commend him on his bravery, in a class where you have very contrasting views, being open about yours is BIG)

For the first time in all of my existence, I felt compassionate towards what he said and how he felt. This was his views, I have my own and our differences make and shape us.

Through all of this, I realised, what I feel and think may not be how everyone else thinks and feels and that is perfectly fine. What is not fine is when we make someone else feel bad or guilty for their INDIVIDUAL ideologies and thoughts. What is not okay is believing different shades of people are better than the rest. Different does not equal better.

True ignorance lies in those who refuses to see beyond their personal views. The minute we see our own views as the only views is when touch is lost.  Open up your mind, there is so much to learn!