If you're a South African, and make use of the social media network known as 'Twitter' like its a drug, like I do, you will know about the appalling news that I am about to discuss.
On Friday, May 4th 2012, South African FHM model Jessica Leandra made use of the 'k' word in a public tweet when she discussed the discomfort that she felt when she was verbally harassed by a homeless man when she visited her local Spar. Outrage soon followed this tweet, which lead to media coverage to the greatest extent, leading to Leandra losing her contract to FHM and jeopardising her modelling career. Leandra soon apologised for her outrageous tweet by claiming that it was out of anger.
Following this tweet, was another shocking tweet by a woman by the twitter name of '@tshiditee' which said the following:
"Dear Peter Makoba... I wish All White People were killed when you sang 'Kill the Boer.' We wouldn't be experiencing @JessicaLeandra's racism right now."
Personally, this tweet hit me hard. I was greatly offended my this tweet and made it clear to this 'Tshidi' character - who also happens to be a model - that I was disgusted in her own racism.
'Tshidi' continued to post racist tweets all day long that were based on Jessica Leandra's racist comment. She even, at one point, posted that she did not believe that she was being racist by the content of her tweets.
What made it more outrageous, is the fact that there was no media coverage of 'Tshidi's' racist comment, no repercussions were enforced upon her, not even a smack on her hands, and she did not jeopardise her own modelling career by posting this disgusting comment; yet the, to be blunt, white woman who uses the 'k' word - which is equally as offensive - receives the utmost punishment.
This made me wonder: does '@tshiditee' genuinely believe the term 'racist' in this country means 'white prejudice against black people'?
If so, then there is something serious wrong with this country.
Racism is defined as prejudicial or discriminatory behavior inflicted upon a person or a group of a different race... NOT the prejudicial and discriminatory behavior of white people inflicted onto black people.
Come on folks, we are living in the 21st Century: where there are inter-racial couples and marriages ALL OVER THE WORLD, including South Africa, yet some of our own members of the South African youth are being as racist as during the Apartheid years?
It's time to move on. We are living in a country where we have just celebrated our 18th birthday as a democracy. This kind of behaviour should NOT be accepted or broadcasted on any social media platform EVER.
Stop this racist nonsense. It's time that we, as a nation, unites and starts to move FORWARD, not backward.
