Blacks are racist too. Most Indians don’t know, but you are the jananda, chara, koola. Some rural indians are very racist. When they spurt out slangs, the only way to describe a black person is darki. I feel so damn disgusted at the person that even if he talks to me normally, his presence is ignored.

I believe that the silence amongst the White community is not because they want to shut up, its because even if they say anything, the Black community points a finger and calls them racist! I’m neutral, I have all types of friends! I watched how everything transitioned and I would teach my kids(if ever) about life and not colour!

Another very racist factor in the workplace is when black people, who know that we non-blacks can’t understand a word of venda, sotho, xhosa etc… start babbling loudly, yes it sounds like babble, in a work place that should be concentratiing on productivity as a team, not your private, yet public conversation. He could be saying, “the chara’s wife is hot” you wouldn’t even know

I would also like to add, although the Jewish community is “taking back their streets” in the Northern Suburbs, their seclusion from other races really gets me asking, is it their religion not to blend or is it racist, I mean, they cross the road when they see me approaching!? Yes, every staunch-looking Jewish has done it to me! I’m alone, they are alone, we are approacing, he crosses the road! Not all Jews are that elusive, one of my best friends is a Jew and we can chat, laugh and diss each other without using racist words, and we talk bout how our religions do certain things in comparison.

Inconsideration towards other races just because BEE, AA or you religion says so… is RACIST!

Bashing another race and making that the basis of your niche group, IS ALSO BLERRIE RACIST! half of that group probably wanna swear at and shut the ignorant one up.

Damn you hypocrites! I wonder how people defend themselves when they are rightfully accused of being racist.

Where is Ubuntu!!!

The second matter is that there are black people for whom racism is reductionist – to blame everything on racism when there are often other reasons or dynamics (stupidity, laziness, greed, etc) at work. By so doing they undermine the very problem we are trying to counter.

These two systems work against each other so that it becomes very difficult to have a conversation about racism that is beneficial and constructive.

That is the real challenge.

All of us have sub-conscious perceptions about (and prejudices against) people who are different from us. In post-apartheid South Africa many people (particularly white people) are afraid to air these views for fear of the dreaded “racist” label.

For real dialogue between races to occur the stigma surrounding this word must be removed. Only once we acknowledge the fact that we are all different, and that we are constantly aware of these differences, can we overcome them.

Many of life’s challenges, personal short comings and inadequacies are credited to racism.

I think a general rule for all bloggers and their claims, for example of ‘racism in Jhb northern suburbs’ should have the courage to qualify, quantity and post honest examples of so called racism.

THis word has proved to be a catch all phrase for every personal grievance and seldom stands a true statement test when analysed.

Instead of using every opportunity to air personal grievances, inadequacies and vague opinions about so called racism, facts should be posted, opinions are dangerous in a racially tense SA.

Too many claims for privilege, preference and position are being made by under qualified, unsuitable candidates under the banner of racism owes me. People are reacting to the unfair claims, digging their heels in and if that is interpreted as racism, the interpreter knows little about racism.

A research intern from our team at DEVELOPMENT WORKS recently attended the Seminar on “Race” at CCR and shared his experiences on http://developmentworks.wordpress.com./

I must say that I agree with most of what you have to say.

1. I have also experienced the same ‘ostritch head buried in the sand’ mentality among most of my white colleagues and friends. I cannot agree with you more that someone needs to start the ball rolling in order to get people out of their shells. I have had white people I have known for years come to me and speak to me frankly about racial issues since they read some of my essays in my book, ‘Some of my best friends are white.’

2. I am still hit with the ‘black people are incapable of racism’ argument when I speak to some of my black friends about racism. The sooner we have these debates openly, the better.

I find that using humour disarms people and gets them to speak more openly. For other people, something else might work. I find that a well-timed ‘so when is the last time you donnered a k*ffir?’ has worked wonders as an ice-breaker with Afrikaners.