What is the colour of the wind?

Winds of Change - miruviel-san.deviantart.com

The “winds of change” have blown through South Africa since the times of Apartheid. These colourful winds have blown through our land and created a so-called “rainbow nation”.  In an ideal world this would ring true to the ears of every South African and we would also all be colour-blind.  But alas, this is the real world and although Apartheid may be gone, hatred and racism still remains.

Like an allergic reaction, you still cannot escape racism in this day and age. We are still all segregated from one another for most of our lives in some way or another; we attend majority race schools, visit different beaches, party at different clubs, live in separate neighbourhoods or even vote for separate political parties.

Racial slurs and the race card are thrown more often than you see multi-racial friendships in society. We remain ignorant and disinterested in one another’s cultures and values. We go home and hear our parents still speaking with an Apartheid mindset but never correct them. We stick to our own and never truly realise the goals of equality and tolerance that the beloved leaders of yesteryear set for us. This “we” I speak of is all of us; black, white, coloured, Indian and others -our “rainbow nation”. The truth isn’t always pretty, but it is so evident. If you have never experienced racism in South Africa, count yourself blessed.

I hear or see some form of racial hatred or discrimination on a daily basis. I don’t know if maybe I’m unlucky or just susceptible to the topic but it happens. As a person who was not part of Apartheid, it is very difficult and saddening for me to experience or deal with this. In my opinion, you cannot go steadily forward if you keep looking backwards. I understand that those who lived in the Apartheid era will always bear the scars and mindsets engrained in them and this may be carried forward , but we as the youth need to make a stand to step forward and promote harmony. I say no more to judgement based on colour, I say no more hatred and I say no more grudges. I say let’s scratch out race and make it void. Perhaps then we can grow as a nation and prosper? Fundamentally, we are all South Africans and that is what matters, not colour!

Taken from godlikeproductions.com

The question I ask now is, “What is the colour of the wind in South Africa today?” The correct response would be, “Does it really matter?”

Taken from jequiti.com.br