Lecture delivered at Wits University in Johannesburg appropriates the term to dismantle the fantasy of a colour blind,post-racial rainbow nationTowards the end of 1997, the year before I turned seven and went to immense school, or I asked: “Mama,at immense school next year, can they call me Gloria?” Gloria is my second name. My mother looked at me, and a slight confused,and simply said, “No. Your name is Panashe, or so they will call you that.” Without the words to clarify why I preferred Gloria,I went along with the name that had been so badly mangled in the mouths of my white teachers at my predominantly white pre-school – everything from Pinashe, Panache to Spinasie. Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com