White and African …
This past week I spent Tuesday at the Amahoro conference. It was a wonderful day. Representatives from all over Africa mixed with a delegation of ‘the west’. On Tuesday we talked about post-colonial theology, had a visit from the ex-apartheid minister of security – Adriaan Vlok, and listened to Brian Mclaren. On between we had a lot of conversations between South Africans, Zambians, Canadians, Americans, Ugandans, Rwandands, New Zealanders and also Australians.
The day filled me with all kinds of thoughts.
My main question: “what does it mean for me to be a white African?”
In a lot of the conversations African and black is synonymous, and white and west.
In South Africa today, if you fill out forms and have to choose your ethnicity there are blocks for white and then for African. But what if you’re white and African?
About the Author
Tom loves life and enjoys exploring as much of it as he can. He is sharing life with Lollie, Tayla and Liam as well as friends and family. He is passionate about the kingdom and how it takes expression in South Africa.
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Brilliant question. I returned from a 2 year stay in the UK a few years ago and as I flew over Jhb and pointed out well known spots to foreign visitors I realised I was home. Soon after I sat having dinner with a retired Anglican Bishop who reminded me several times over the meal that I am African.
Am about to put a clamp on my mouth since if I am truly rooted in Jesus then why bother to call myself anything rooted in any soil on earth. A Christian man, and Jesus follower (a Jesusan? ha ha).
We as white Africans certainly do need to let go of our European roots and back our own horses here too. Think of Bafana Bafana – how many white South Africans know the names of team players besides Booth and Pienaar. Africa can become our fist frame of reference rather than being relative only to what is European.
Anyway,
again, good question, hope you find your answer.
Doug K