I meet a lot of these South African expats and a fair number happen to be the so-called East Indian. I got into a discussion a few weeks ago about Mandela and Gandhi and why Gandhi is a piece of a shit . Instead of long exposition just watch this video.
* “A general belief seems to prevail in the colony that the Indians are little better, if at all, than the savages or natives of Africa. Even the children are taught to believe in that manner, with the result that the Indian is being dragged down to the position of a raw Kaffir.” (Reference: The Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi, Government of India (CWMG), Vol I, p. 150)
* Regarding forcible registration with the state of blacks: “One can understand the necessity for registration of Kaffirs who will not work.” (Reference: CWMG, Vol I, p. 105)
* “Why, of all places in Johannesburg, the Indian Location should be chosen for dumping down all the Kaffirs of the town passes my comprehension…the Town Council must withdraw the Kaffirs from the Location.” (Reference: CWMG, Vol I, pp. 244-245)
* His description of black inmates: “Only a degree removed from the animal.” Also, “Kaffirs are as a rule uncivilized - the convicts even more so. They are troublesome, very dirty and live almost like animals.” - Mar. 7, 1908 (Reference: CWMG, Vol VIII, pp. 135-136)
* The Durban Post Office: One of Gandhi’s major “achievements” in South Africa was to promote racial segregation by refusing to share a post office door with the black natives.
* Sergeant Major Gandhi: Learn how Gandhi became a Sgt. Major in the British Army and eagerly participated in the 1906 British war against the black Zulus.
* Gandhi and South African Blacks: Gandhi wrote extensively about his experiences with the blacks of South Africa. He always termed them “Kaffirs” and his writings reveal a deep-seated disdain for these African natives
Whaaaa Indians don't like blacks??? *shock*
ReplyDeletePS: You should read the stuff Idi Amin said about people from that part of the world.Right after giving them the boot from Africa.
ReplyDeleteRe. CD's 12.44am comment... Yes, Idi said bad things about Indians and he was [rightly] demonized for that. No one holds him to high esteem but Gandhi has always been perceived as a champion for the [equal] rights of the all oppressed and downtrodden. Blackchild's blog is ABOUT Gandhi, not Idi so please do not try to detract from that with the oft-said mitigating line: "He/she (insert protagonist du jour) did/said that BUT so-and-so also did that". So please focus on the issue at hand. As an African, I find Gandhi's comments to be abominable.
ReplyDelete@Pi I was simply try to say that the hate flied both ways. I really don't know why you're getting your panties in a bunch for....so yes, his comments were abominable but what are you doing to fight this image of Africans TODAY? besides picking on other Africans on the net over semantics.
ReplyDelete@BC true dat.
CD... I agree with you that hate does go both ways. Re-reading your original messages, it's very easy to misconstrue what you wrote because it [still] comes across as being rather, for lack of a better word, apologist the moment you countered with "...read the stuff Idi Amin said about..." Re. what am I doing to "fight this image of Africans"? Admittedly, not much; I was not blessed with a Mandela-like aura but I try as much as I can to be a useful and respectful member of the society that I live in (Vancouver, BC). And by being that I have dispelled a lot of negative stereotypes that a lot of people had about Africans. I won't elaborate because this is Blackchild's blog and it simply won't be cool to start talking about me. And we've already digressed enough as it is, nes't pas?!
ReplyDelete@ Pi
ReplyDeleteI'm glad we're on the same page.
Africa Unite.
Oh please talk about you . I really don't mind. I want to know what it is like to live in BC how you make a living , the girls everything. I might start a new feature Black men abroad.
ReplyDeleteI like living in Vancouver, BC (Bring Cash... lots of it!!). The standard of life here is high and the cost of living is even higher! (More on that later.) I work in the construction industry inspecting newly minted apartments before their well-minted owners move in; it's a good gig, I am good at what I do and I am very well-respected and renowned in this field. Girls/women. By and large, most are your typical superficial types who will ask you what you do, what you drive, where you live, blah blah blah in 5 seconds and with no punctuation! (More on that later as well!) My girl is Japanese and she is super kawaii and a whole lot of other good things (and as for how we met, let's just say that booze is a great 'wing man'! Wink wink and all that!) And no, nobody here stares or gives a damn! Actually, that's not true... the only people who gawp are all from the Chinese part of the population (of which there is a sizeable number here) but everytime they do that, my PDA starts to go from 'pg' to 'R' for obvious reasons. And for now, that is that about that.
ReplyDeleteGandhi was racist?! I feel like somebody just told me Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny aren't real... :(
ReplyDeleteshocking right
ReplyDelete