Racism in SA

If you haven’t read this article that was posted on News24 yesterday (23 May 2012), you are seriously missing out. Read it right now: I am a racist.

This is the boldest, most challenging piece of writing I have read all year. In reading this article and agreeing with the author, that if racism is now what South Africans are making it out to be, I would like to declare myself racist.

As a white South African, I can honestly say that I do not discriminate against those of a different colour. I value honesty and respect in anyone I meet and I am irritated by anyone of ANY colour who is rude, dishonest, selfish and disrespectful. I set the same high standards for everyone.

It’s time that those in power grow up and accept some responsibility, instead of living in the past and blaming everything on us racists.

Relating to this article, here are Zapiro‘s cartoons and comments on Brett Murray’s artwork:

Description & Background for 120520st – Painting of Jacob Zuma with his genitals exposed creates an uproar (Source)

The Goodman Gallery in Johannesburg and the City Press newspaper displayed a Brett Murray painting  of President Jacob Zuma with his genitals exposed, which has upset the ANC and has  divided public opinion in the country.    Taken aback by what they saw as a  ”distasteful and vulgar” work of art, representatives of the ANC including Jackson Mthembuand Mac Maharaj asked the Goodman to remove the painting from the exhibition, their website, and all other promotional materials on the grounds that it insulted the dignity of the presidency. President Jacob Zuma himself says he was “shocked, and felt personally ­offended and violated” when he saw a copy of artist Brett Murray’s painting The Spear for the first time.  He says The painting depicts him as “a philanderer, a womaniser and one with no respect”. Zapiro’s cartoon says if Zuma wants respect he should earn it.  Zapiro‘s cartoon has taken the Brett Murray’s painting to another level. – A shower below the belt!

Description & Background for 120522tt – President Zuma outraged at Brett Murray’s Painting – Spear of the Nation  (Source)

A painting by a white Cape Town artist, Brett Murray, depicting South African President Jacob Zuma as Soviet leader Lenin — but with his genitals exposed — has caused a storm of controversy. President Jacob Zuma said he was “shocked, and felt personally ­offended and violated” when he saw a copy of artist Brett Murray’s painting The Spear for the first time.

The ANC’s website posted the following:

The African National Congress is extremely disturbed and outraged by the distasteful and indecent manner in which Brett Murray and the Goodman Gallery in Johannesburg is displaying the person of Comrade President Jacob Zuma.

This disgusting and unfortunate display of the President was brought to our attention by one of the media houses and we have physically confirmed this insulting depiction of the President. We have this morning instructed our lawyers to approach our courts to compel Brett Murray and Goodman Gallery to remove the portrait from display as well as from their website and destroy all printed promotional material. We have also detected that this distasteful and vulgar portrait of the President has been displayed on a weekend newspaper and its website, we again have instructed our lawyers to request the said newspaper to remove the portrait from their website.

It is in our view and we remain steadfast in that the image and the dignity of our President as both President of the ANC, President of the Republic and as a human being has been dented by this so-called piece of art by Brett Murray at Goodman Gallery. We are also of the view that this distasteful depiction of the President has violated his individual right to dignity as contained in the constitution of our country.