₦airaland Forum

chinaman666: It's a shame that the legacies of colonialism (not only in Africa, but also in Asia and Latin America) exist today not only in the form of economic inequalities, but worse, in the mind of the victims of colonialism. An inferiority complex is still prevalent in much of the non-Western world, but more and more people are waking up to it, as they're participating more in the economy and becoming more educated.

I'm not saying that places like Sandton should be linquidated to help the poor South Africans. Instead, they should be preserved as the business hubs that they are. However, South Africa must do a better job of redistributing its wealth so that the children of the poor can have a chance at a quality education and a chance for professional employment.

It really is a crying shame. And it's not as if Africa does not produce skilled people. It does, but they would much rather leave to help developed nations further entrench their position atop the food chain.

Africa is not being robbed of its natural resources today. This is nothing that trade and regulation cannot fix (political will permitting). Africa robs itself because it allows corruption and the brain drain to take root. And then in defining its shortcomings, Africa assumes that its problems today are due to the colour of their skin. Well, perhaps that's how the problems started, but that's not how they have been maintained and aggravated. Self-reflection is avoided and problems are externalised. Someone else's success is also trivialised to the extent that it forces the loathed self-reflection.

It's been interesting to see Angola receive expats from Portugal - and Angola today is the third largest economy in Africa by GDP. And it continues to grow as an oil producer. I doubt that Angolans care about the race of the expats.

Attracting talent is the key. And the colour of the talent is irrelevant. Stûpid is the country that wants to turn talent away on the basis that it wants to be "wholly black". Developed countries do not turn African talent away, on the grounds that they want to be "wholly white".

I agree that South Africa does need to do more work. However, after 19 years, there are positive developments, albeit much slower in pace than desired. Missteps along the way, yes. However, I'd say slow steps in the right direction are better than quick steps in the wrong one.

chinaman666: Why are people so fixated on race? Race does not exist scientifically or biologically. It is a social construct. We are all the human race. People can move and work anywhere in the world as long as they have a valid visa.

I agree with you 100%. In fact, this has been one of my favourite areas of study for years.

That race is a social construct is buttressed by the example of how "black" is defined in the US vs how it is defined in SA.


The US had the "one-drop" rule. SA had the exact opposite - the rule of thumb or classification by observation.

Both these opposing racial classification systems worked for the societies that created them - and they had no scientific basis. The existence of "race" as we define it cannot be scientifically proven.

It was not uncommon during apartheid South Africa for siblings to be classified under different races, based on how they looked. One coloured and the other, black, for example.

People could even switch between races if the classifying officer allowed it. Not only that, they could be exempted from being classified as "black", for example. Educated blacks in apartheid South Africa could apply for exemption, so that they aren't classified as black for the purposes of certain legislation.

In the US, the exact opposite occurred. Someone who may otherwise look white would be deemed black because they have black parentage or lineage somewhere. Looks were irrelevant (in contrast to South Africa).

These classification systems are totally arbitrary.


The problem is that the formerly oppressed and colonised Africans have bought into this classification system and they have been mentally wounded by it. This was, after all the aim of colonisation. So people speak of "black africa" today. But successful Europe has all sorts of "black" people contributing there. It's been like that for centuries. From the time Timbuktu was the main academic authority in the then world to now. No one can tell me that the UK is entirely white, or the US, or France or, or, or...

Why should Africa be?

These are simply people. And South Africa is on to something.

Colonisation has won, so far. The views expressed in this thread and many others are clear evidence of that.

chris365: No I no dey go there. abi na achievement

Last I heard, there more rich whites than blacks and guess who the minority is

That's not the topic anyway. I was talking in reference to the pictures I've been seeing including this which seem to have more whites than blacks in nicer areas.

There are only 7 whites in those pics. Upward of at least 12 black people in those pics.

By the way, South African blacks now have more buying power than whites. 19 years, it's been.

10 plus 9.

Abbey2sam: That south africa or south California?
Cuz all I see is white people everywhere

Or is it true that the blacks are restricted from entering some places in there own country?


God have mercy,


Nice pictures though

There are only 7 white people in those pics. Count them. There are more black people in those three pics. And that's the square. No Joburger has any reason to sit under the statue all day. You can see Phillipino tourists in the one picture.

Inside those building are lots of black people. Far more than white people, in fact.

Not that South Africans worry too much about that anyway.

The richest back tribe in the whole of Africa is in South Africa.

The Bafokeng nation. Built their land from scratch, they did.

South Africa ploughs its riches back into the community. That's how development happens. The celebration of individual billionaires in destitute countries is the reason why "black africa" will never prosper.

Read and learn.

the warrior72: Is this a caucasian state or what?, where are the blacks?

I see lots of blacks in those pics. Unless, you want to close your eyes to it. I could point them out if you wish. In fact, there are less whites than there are other races in those pics. And this is only the square. Most people are inside or sitting in the restaurants around the square.

By the way, to answer your question: South Africa is a proudly multiracial country. Unique and unfathomable to some.