Six pictures worth 60000 words

I came across this little cartoon strip on Facebook, and "shared" it there, but I think it deserves more than that. It's about black-white relations in the USA, but is in many ways just as applicable to South Africa.



And it reminds me of an American trade union song I learnt many years ago (sung to the tune of The battle hymn of the republic also known as John Brown's body)

It is we who ploughed the prairies, built the cities where they trade
Dug the mines and built the factories, endless miles of railroad laid
Now we stand outcast and starving mid the wonders we have made
But union makes us strong.

Solidarity for ever!
Solidarity for ever!
Solidarity for ever!
The union makes us strong.

Viva Vavi!

Where are the black bloggers?

Nearly a year ago I asked Where are all the black bloggers in South Africa? -- and suggested that perhaps there was a need for some affirmative action, which provoked incredulity among some white bloggers who commented on that post.

Now Inside Candy has asked the same thing, and Black Looks responds by pointing out that:

• Black Africans (BA) make up 79% of the population v whites (W) at 9%.
• BA with higher education - 5% v W 29%
• BA with landline or mobile phone -31% v W 95%
• BA with own computer 1.8% v W 97%
• Unemployment of Black Africans 28% (has risen since 2001) v 4% of whites
• Medium annual income of Black Africans 12,000 Rands v 65,400 Rands for whites.

So yes, there are issues of access, cost and time - if it takes you up to 4 hours to get to work and back then blogging is not going to be a priority even if you could afford to have your own computer or access an internet cafe.

... which I think strengthens the case for affirmative action.

But it seems that some white bloggers just don't get it. White bloggers, from their position of privileged access, squeal about black racism when black journalists arrange an exclusive interview with Jacob Zuma, and they are right to do so. But white bloggers (not necessarily the same ones) also fail to understand the racism built into their response to the question of access and the possible need for affirmative action.