What I Hate about the American Education System

I always envied my peers in the U.S., who went to schools in urban/diverse or predominately black areas in Chicagoland, who had the opportunity to take African American History and African American Literature as a courses in high school. While I was stuck in white suburbia, taking World History, American History, American Lit and British Lit; these courses included less than one class period to attempt to summarize contributions African Americans to the  history of America and the world. Kids in Chicago got to learn about black people who contributed to the history of America all year long. After more than 300 years of enslavement on the American continent, but less than an hour of time in class. Hundreds of black inventors contributed to the American economy and its global status, yet I have never learned about one in class. Every year we had the same discussion on World War 1 and World War 2. We learned about Rockefeller and John Locke but never hear the names Benjamin Montgomery or Inez Beverly Prosser.

My cousin who attends a private school in the Chicagoland area sent me a text saying 'So my world history teacher decided it would be fun to play a game she made called "Scramble for Africa" where we were Europeans trying to colonize and take as much of Africa's natural resources as we could without going to war because that would be inconvenient'

I asked her why the teacher made a mockery of actual events that harmed millions of people over hundreds of years, and continues today?

She said, 'I'm not sure, but I told her it was extremely racially insensitive to make a game of something that was horrifying and actually happened. I stressed that I learned nothing from it." The teacher defended it by saying, her lesson was "for us to see it from Europeans POV & realize it wasn't personal or based off of racism, but simply business." My cousin and I agreed the explanation was absolute crap, and she would still like an explanation from her as to why she couldn't have taught that without having them play a game like that. In comparison, if she were teaching the holocaust (which is "world history") I'm sure she wouldn't have students pretend to be Germans, plotting how to steal and murder as many Jews as we could without starting war!

Lessons like this teacher tried to teach, in this manner, are being taught to students across America DAILY. I’m sure most students participate in this because they are under the authority of their teachers.
This is why oppression of black people globally continues to happen. We are taught in school that the oppression of people of color is business and that it's not personal. I have learned from experience outside of the school environment that this is complete BULL! It's a blessing and curse that black people are from the richest land on earth; it would be nice if we could call this land our own again, and be the ones to reap the benefits of what our land has to offer.

Without the knowledge about African American history from my family I would think that America was built at the hands of a white man. When in actuality, all he did was write the rules that led to the oppression of my people, who in fact built America with their bare hands.

Attending a Cambridge high school has challenged me in ways that the two high schools I attended in Chicago never could. At times, I feel like I am at least two steps behind my classmates. At school back home it was easy to get away with not studying and still get good grades (not saying that's what I did, but I know some folks who did). Here, everything we learn is for a big exam we take at the end of the school year. We don’t get a final grade if we don’t take these exams. Your mission here is to pass! My friends are always talking about passing where back home that was never a concern for me. I always knew I would pass and I don’t think my peers worried either.

The American education system has failed me and my race in many ways. The only way I was able to overcome the systematic failures, was by the education I received at home, and from my family, and ultimately moving out of the country for school. I know that we need to try to improve the American education system. We are known as the greatest superpower nation in the world, but our education system is failing us.

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What advice would you give yourself (6-8 months ago) about study abroad life in your host country?

Dear Niani,
You are about to go on an adventure of a lifetime. As you prepare to go, stay calm. Everything is going to work out just fine. Everything is going to be new. You're going to have to test your boundaries all of the time. You should write as often as possible to keep track of your journey. When you're afraid, feel the fear and do it anyway. Trust me, you will regret anything you do not do; So try it all! Be open minded and don't judge people! It is a privilege to travel the world. You will know more about the world, be more aware, and have a broader range of experiences than many of your peers, and even friends/family at home. Your view of the world will change. You will be able to have the best conversations with people and learn so much. Inhale it all. Value the relationships gained. Always be grateful to have such an amazing opportunity, and stay as humble.
Trust your journey and believe in yourself. You can do anything! 

Throwback 

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Sharing Is Caring

Back home, sharing is not a common trait. At school, people would fight if someone took food out of their hands or off of their plate. Here, everyone at school shares. If you are ordering food, it better be for everyone or you will be classified as a selfish human being, and people probably won’t want to hang around you. My friends and I switch off days where we buy each other food. If we order pizza, the person who paid gets the last slice. It’s like an unwritten rule. You share, you just do it. You don’t hold a tab either, of the things you’ve bought for others. My friends (who are from different countries in Africa) told me that if you go home with food for only yourself and there are other people at home, that you cannot eat it. You have to wait for them to leave, or share with everyone.

Another thing my friends don’t get, is my (very American) sarcastic humor. We (Americans) say the rudest things to each other and call it an 'odd sense of affection.’ The sad part is, that I can’t seem to get rid of my Americanness. I even find it refreshing, at times, to be around other Americans because they get my humor. I try to contain it around my non-American friends here. When I say something that I think is funny, I’m either the only one laughing or I unintentionally hurt someone’s feelings. I often wonder why we, as Americans, are so violent and abrasive with ourselves and each other, in the name of amusement. 

From the outside looking in, America looks like a very selfish country to me. We don’t share like we should, we are often rude and inconsiderate. We have a self centered mentality that every other country see’s but that we choose to ignore. We view ourselves as individuals, with all the entitlements that come with individuality. Most non-Americans, and particularly Africans, see themselves as part of a greater whole. This allows them to be more gentle and considerate with each other. 

I like this concept of sharing. It is an aspect of Ubuntu, 'I am because we are'. It makes self-centeredness seem really silly and counterproductive. I also feel like using true words of affection makes the message “I care about you,” much clearer. 

It takes a lot less energy to make people smile, than it does to make them cry...and when you share joy, you get all that 

energy back! 

Look, Americans Sharing

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Words

A true adventurer adapts to the language of their newly found people. 

As I write school assignments, I am constantly reminding myself to spell organize with an 's' and behavior with a 'u'. As I write this post, I spell those words with the British-English spelling and I get the red underline, reminding me that my audience is based mainly in the USA. A friend of mine has the song 'Worst Behavior' by Drake saved in his phone as 'Worst Behaviour'. I find it quite amusing. My friends tease me at school about the way I write things and how I pronounce certain words. I have pretty much adjusted to the way they speak. I wanted to share some of the words and phrases I hear daily.

Words that have British Influence and/or are South African Made:

Eish - Wow or That Sucks
Yo- Used when someone is surprised or shocked
Yebo - Yes
Sharp - Okay or I'm Good
Keen- Up for (as in"are you keen to going to the store?")
Queue - Line (as in "I am waiting in the queue at the store")
Must - Used in place of 'have to' which seems normal but it is used a lot more than in the U.S.
Borrow me your pencil - Can I borrow your pencil? (I used to think of this statement as rude but I find myself using it now.)
Lit - Crazy
Brew - Bro, Brother
How's it? - How's it going?
Airtime - So in SA most people don't have contracts on their phones, and if they do they usually end up exceeding the monthly amount. Airtime is purchased in minutes that can be converted into data. You can purchase airtime nearly anywhere. You get a receipt with a code that you plug into your phone, and voila, you can make calls, send Whatsapp message, and buy data. The concept of airtime was very hard for me grasp when I got here. Airtime is expensive, so you will frequently hear the question 'do you have airtime?'.
Bum- Used in place of 'butt'
No ways - 'No way' in plural form
Finished - Example sentence: 'He was finished.' Translation: he was drunk
Ma boy - Are you serious?

Awe - Pronounced 'aweh' and meaning 'Get outta here' and can be used as a greeting
Clever - Instead of describing a student as smart. Here, the word 'smart' describes  he way a person dresses 

Neh?- Right (as in 'You did the homework, neh?')
Robot - Traffic Light
Is it? - Isn't It
Lekker - Nice in Afrikaans
Sir/ma'am - At my school, we address most of our teachers by their first names, and if we don't use their first name, we say 'sir' or 'ma'am'. I don't know most of my teachers names because I have been using sir and ma'am so much.
Queries - Questions 

Usale kahle (Goodbye in Zulu)

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Colorism

There’s more than one Lupita in the world. There are millions. Lupita Nyong’o has become a world phenomenon. She is an Academy Award winning actress from Kenya. Lupita has a flawless brown complexion, a short haircut, and a smile that makes the world a little brighter. With that being said, I see 'Lupitas' EVERYDAY. No they are not Academy Award winning actresses, but I’m sure they deserve an award for the work they do daily just to provide meals for their families. Lupita’s face is splattered across magazines and I see her photos at least 10 times a day on my social media feeds. She is the talk of the town. It’s as if she is the only beautiful, dark skinned, short-haired women in the world. Right now the only message I am getting from the Western World is ‘Look, we like a brown skinned girl. See, here’s Lupita;’ one of at least a million, beautiful, dark brown skinned shorthaired women in the world. I’m getting frustrated typing this and seeing Lupita’s name underlined in red, when I know that when I type 'Albert Einstein' his name will automatically autocorrect to being capitalized and there will be no red underlining, as if Albert and Einstein are 'normal' names. 

Lupita N'yongo

I remember before I left the states, being asked ‘Niani, why did you cut your beautiful hair?’ ‘Was it in preparation for your trip? Did you want to look like them?’ Who is ‘them’? Oh, is it the African women who have such beautiful faces that they don’t need long hair to enhance their beauty? Yeah, I was trying to look like them. I really cut my hair because I was tired of it. Does that answer suit you? After hearing these comments, I doubted my beauty for a moment. It took me a minute to stop thinking I looked like a boy if I didn’t wear earrings with my short hair, and I thought I was missing something. Now, I look back at my photos with long hair and I prefer my short hair. In American society, short hair is viewed as an act of rebellion, I must be an activist if I have short hair, and it is often looked down upon. I admire the normality of short hair in SA. Ladies here are drop dead gorgeous, and can be nearly hair-less. I remember my friend telling me she put a wig over her short hair because of that awkward length. What is this awkward length that she was speaking about? I have yet to see it. 

A Few Lupita's I See Daily....

Recently it was brought to my attention again, that the media industry is giving dark skinned women a lighter complexion. Last week, InStyle Magazine published an issue with Kerry Washington as their cover girl. Kerry Washington, who we know as 'Olivia Pope' in the popular television series Scandal, looked almost like a white woman on the cover of InStyle. I googled images of Kerry Washington to make sure I wasn’t trippin’, and I saw pictures of her at award shows and compared them to magazine photos she has been in. Her skin complexion is 5 shades lighter on the cover of InStyle, than her natural caramel hue. The media screams ‘light skin is better than dark skin’, then tries to cover themselves by saying ‘look, here’s Lupita. We love Lupita, but ONLY Lupita.’ They aren’t enhancing the impression of black women's beauty, they are destroying it, by limiting our beauty to a singular image.

 

In 2012, the documentary 'Dark Girls' was released. It touched on the topic of being a dark girl in America/globally, and "the damage done to their self-esteem and their constant feeling of being devalued and disregarded.” As I reflect on the documentary, nearly 3 years later, I realize that we (black people) are promoting the light skin verses dark skin drama. This year, the documentary Light Girls was released. It talked about the ‘unfairness’ of being a light girl. Celebrities talked about their struggles in Hollywood; the casting crews would tell them they were 'too light’ for the role. On the other hand, darker girls are being told they are too dark for roles. Hollywood tries to sell the idea that as actors, they should know that the complexion of the character matters, so that the viewers can relate to them; then they cast Zoe Saldana as Nina Simone...and we shouldn't complain, or believe there is a conspiracy in Hollywood to control OUR narrative? 

There were also complaints in the Light Girls documentary about people asking ‘what are you mixed with?’ Those being interviewed took offense to it. I am constantly asked what I am mixed with, and I simply answer ‘black and more black’. As opposed to taking offense to people's limited perspectives, I stand proudly in who I am. Yes, I am sure down the line somewhere in my family history there are other races, BUT I don’t know those people. The family I see is black, real black...unapologetically so.

As a black person, I don’t feel like I get better treatment because my skin is lighter. In America, where "white is right", I have still found myself being treated like a 'nigger'. Trayvon Martin had lighter skin. Did George Zimmerman say “oh, you’re not THAT black.” NO. 

I think that one of the curses of the social conditioning we have received in America, is that black people (my people) now promote the light skin vs dark skin drama. Why is there a #teamlightskinned and #teamdarkskinned hashtag? We can laugh and joke and say it started with Mufasa and Scar in the Lion King, or we can say it started when the slave masters put the light skinned people in the house while the dark skinned people worked in the field. To me, it is an embedded system to keep us (BLACK people) divided. They might want us to be divided, but it is up to us to not let that happen. We are all black, no matter what shade; can we just be proud of who we are? 

In Dark Girls, they referenced the 1940’s black doll experiment where young black children said that they thought the white dolls were prettier/smarter/nicer. As a little girl, my family made every effort to make sure I had dolls that I could identify with. I remember a towel set my grandmother got me that had a black Barbie doll on it. It was my favourite towel because I thought that Barbie looked so pretty. Now, I go into Toys R Us, in South AFRICA, and the ONLY black doll I see is Doc McStuffins. 

In the documentary, black male celebrities said comments like, "I like a light skinned woman on my side." It was as if a dark skinned woman wouldn’t look just as good. It is sad to see how far this cultural self-hatred can go. If you are born of a black woman, raised by a black woman, in a community surrounded by black women, how can you hate us, and not realize that it is indicative of hating yourselves? 

I don’t know guys. The problem is CLEAR. The solution is clear too. We have to love ourselves, despite all odds stacked against us. We can’t let complexion divide us. Let’s stand together and stop this light skinned vs dark skinned madness. Embrace the beauty that is in ALL that we are as a people. 

Thank you to all of the Lupita's in my post! You are beautiful! 

Source: Wikipedia 

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Names

My name means joyful and I try to live up to my name. I was recently given the South African name Lethabo which means joy. African names are a big deal in my family. My cousins, my little brother, my mom and uncles all have have African names. Naasir (means defender), Amira (princess), Nyatu (tiger fighter,strong), Jamilah (beautiful), and Tykari (adventurous). I think each of our names describe us in some way. If I ever had children, they would also have African names. They are so unique and beautiful. I admire my family for giving us African names even though we don’t know much about the specific origins of our African roots. Each of us have had a naming ceremony. My grandma taught me that "choosing a child’s name is a very important matter. In African societies, a person’s name is an essential element of his/her spiritual anatomy. It is thought that a child’s name can determine his/her success in life. Therefore, in recognition of its important function, a special ceremony should be held for the purpose of naming the child.”

My Mom, Grandma, And Great Grandmother At A Naming Ceremony

Baby Niani/Lethabo

P.S. I want to get a tattoo of my SA'n name with an African Elephant. I'll wait until I'm 18 but it's bound to happen. Shhhhh, don't tell my mom.

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Going Out In Joburg and Music

I love going out with my friends, or with Lucy and her friends, in Joburg. The loud music is what I love most. Braamfontein is a really lively area in town (Joburg CBD). There are really chill hang out spots, like The Bannister Hotel and  Kitcheners. The DJ’s play really dope instrumentals. Lucy and her friends think they all sound the same, but I hear the differences in each one. My favorite place in Braam is Randlords. It is a rooftop club/lounge. It has an amazing view of Johannesburg and the vibe makes you want to stay there all night long. Melrose Arch is also a cool area. It’s an outlet mall and events are often hosted there. Me and Lucy went to Mercedes Benz Fashion Week there, and they hosted a Jazz Festival dedicated to Nelson Mandela on the anniversary of his death. Greenside, Pankhurst, and Parktown are all areas near town with hipster vibes. The newest restaurants and small shops are placed in these areas. They are fast growing and newly developed neighborhoods in Joburg. The Southern Sun is a beautiful hotel with a rooftop restaurant that has an awe-striking view of Sandton. Harem and Kong are popular clubs in Rosebank.  They play awesome Nigerian music and mix it up with the newest American music. 

Before The Turn Up With My Nigerian Beauties...

In Greenside With My Friend Lindi

An Event I Was Invited To

Nigerian music to me is the dance soundtrack of Africa. The vibrancy of the music will make you dance all night long. The boisterous beats can make a person shake their body for hours on end. Nigerian artists such as Wizkid will speak Pidgin or Yoruba (which are languages I don’t understand at all) and I will still dance my butt off. Except when I am around Nigerians, their dancing puts mine to shame. You can listen to Nigerian music at any time of day and it will instantaneously boost your mood. I cannot wait to expose my family back home to this marvelous music. 

Song Recommendations:

Aye by Davido

Oleku by Ice Prince

Tchelete by Davido and Mafikizolo 

Aboki by Ice Prince

Jaiye Jaiye by Wizkid

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Fam Bam

I refer to my family here in SA, as my host family, just to distinguish them from my natural family in my posts. In all actuality, they are one in the same. Anyone who is willing to take me into their home for a year, provide food and shelter, keep me safe, and treat me as their own, is definitely my family. It’s like God/The Universe just wanted me to meet them, and connect. My host family accepted the responsibility of raising me for a year, at an age that some would say is a pretty crucial year in life. I recognize how big of a commitment and sacrifice this is, and yet, they never make me feel like a burden. One of the things I appreciate most, is their determination to give me a full South African experience, to expose me to every facet of the culture and the environment possible. They have such pride and love for their country, and they want me to love it for everything that it is, and everything that it isn't; because the areas where it is lacking, are really just opportunities. I love my host family a lot, and I love this country. I know I will be really torn when I have to leave them. South Africa is my second home, and I am already thinking of when I’ll come back. 

Me And My Family On NYE

The Best Honduran Mom A Girl Could Ask For

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Holidays

Holiday vacation is a big deal in South Africa. Most people take a month off of work. Tourist attractions close during what could be their busiest time of the year, or the time of the year that they could make the most money. The American in me wants to know why people wouldn’t want to work at a time where they could benefit financially, but the other side of me understands that people should be spending the holiday season with their families. Family is more important than a few extra bucks, but money has been the controlling factor in an American mindset forever. Things like this make me realize how much greater the quality of life is here.

My holiday was filled with the four F’s; friends, family, fun, and food. I went to an area of Soweto that I hadn't been to before, with Lucy and her friend Ngwana. We visited Ngwana’s 100 year old grandma to give her medicine and sweets. She was the friendliest lady I’ve ever met. She moved and spoke as if she wasn’t a day over 80 (and I know some pretty feisty 80 year-olds). After we visited Ngwana’s granny, we visited my liaison Mama Thoko in Jabulani, Soweto. Soweto is the most developed township I have ever been to. It brings in a lot of tourists so it has more funds than a normal township, such as Diepsloot or Alexandra. Soweto is such an interesting place to visit. I went three times over holiday.

I Feel So Welcomed Every Time I See This Sign 

 Lucy, Ngwana and I, went on a road trip to the Northwest Province. It was filled with the most beautiful scenery. South Africa is GORGEOUS! People laugh when I rave about it’s beauty and say “you haven’t even been to Cape Town yet”. (To those who have said that, I am a "Joburger" at heart (lol), not a Capetonian, but I am excited about going there.) After arriving in the Northwest Province, we went to the Sterkfontein Caves and I got to go on a tour throughout the caves. The caves were cold and wet. They had beautiful minerals and rock structures that we weren’t supposed to touch, but someone has to break the rules (that someone being me). I loved visiting the excavation site at the end of the tour. It reminded me of the Jurassic Park movies, and my little brother (who aspires to be a paleontologist). After the caves we went to Maropeng: The Cradle of Humankind; a museum that breaks down scientifically how humankind began on this continent. In the states, I feel like my science and history teachers have always tried to brush over that fact or teach me something totally different. At Maropeng, I felt there was a sense of pride with the information I gained.

I Used A Sun Dial To Tell Time

These Hats Were Cute 

So Much Beauty In One Picture ;)

Maropeng

 On the way back, beggars were handing out santa hats. Our windows were slightly cracked and a beggar pushed 3 hats into the car, even though Lucy said we didn’t need them. He told her that they were free and then insisted that she give him money. She gave him some and he wanted more. Lucy said no because he initially said that they were free. He asked for a hat back and Lucy gave him the hat. Finally, the red light changed and we left the fake free hat guy alone. 

That night we ran into a SA ‘celeb’, Lalla Hirayama a presenter on Vuzu TV, at Woolworth’s in Sandton City. My friends and I often run into African celebtrities there. It’s a mall where people with ‘higher status’ go because it is such a nice mall in an affluent area. I have seen at least 5 and only this time did I take a picture with one, because Ngwana thought I should. Sorry guys, I know it would be a great picture, but I prefer pics of the normal people, not the westernized folk. On Christmas Eve, I got a pedicure and Ngwana went home to prepare for Christmas. South Africans don’t put up Christmas decorations like we do back home. I only saw one house with a string of lights on a tree. The malls and shopping centre’s were the only places fully decorated.

Lalla and Ngwana

 Me and Lucy went to Ngwana’s house in Soweto for Christmas Lunch. We had amazing South African food and homemade ginger beer that was BOMB (I am obsessed with ginger beer). Lamb curry, chicken, tieng (which is like pap but has more of a sour taste), we had several different salads, and dessert. South Africans love custard. Custard with fruit, custard with ice cream, and custard over malva pudding (a syrup pastry). We had custard over mint brownies for dessert. After we ate, we went for a walk to walk off the calories that we had just inhaled with ease. During our walk we ran into one of Ngwana’s lifelong friends, we were invited into their home, where we ate AGAIN. This time we had pap, braaid beef, and greek salad. Sadly, we didn’t walk off our calories. 

It Was Amazing

That's Why I Had Seconds...(Lamb Curry)

Custard, Fruit, Ice-cream, Chocolate

Meat And Pap 

Kids (Kings and Queens) of Soweto

Late that evening I Facetimed with my family in Chicago and Texas. Seeing their faces made my Christmas complete and perfect.

My Dad And Brothers

My Cousin Amira 

 The day after Christmas Lucy went to China for a 10 day vacation and I went to Gary's family’s house. We went to Sun City, which is a casino, hotel, and water park. We passed Platinum Mines on the way there. It’s ironic how the miners live less than a mile away from the mines, in shanty towns. They live next to billions, but live a life in poverty. We passed the Hartbeesport Dam during our road trip to SC too. It’s beauty put me in awe for the remainder of the trip. Sun City has man made hiking trails throughout its grounds. We crossed waterfalls and lakes just to get around. There was a pool that had such a beautiful view of mountains I could’ve stayed in it until my entire body looked like a prune. 

I made banana pudding for my family on NYE. I loved ‘turning up’ with them. We went to Carnival City which is a casino/entertainment centre. We went bowling and then I walked around the casino which was not as exciting as I had imagined. We also celebrated my host dad, Gary’s,  birthday in Soweto. We ate a restaurant called Sakhumzi that I have been to once before. We went to Madiba’s house, and to the Hector Pietersen Museum, and then had refreshments because it was a HOT day (90 degrees F 32 degrees C). Before we went to Soweto, we went to church. Gary’s family attends a New Apostolic Church. The culture of the church fascinated me. We would pray three times in a row and said ‘Amen’ in unison after each prayer. It had a vibe similar to a catholic church. After the service everyone greeted the pastor. He was friendly and curious about everyone’s life. We had a full conversation, and I was close to the end of the line. There had to be at least 50 people at church that day and I was like the 45th person in line, but he still took time to engage fully. 

I had an amazing holiday break in SA. Now I am suffering from a summer cold but I’m not complaining because I could be in "Chi-Beria". ;) 

Happy New Year! 

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Let's Break Stereotypes

I am beginning to think that the best way to combat stereotypes, is by laughing at them. Stereotypes will always exist, so I try not to be so offended by them. I have seen so many flaws, and so much harm, in stereotypes, that laughter has become my best medicine.

The term “packed like Mexicans”, which is commonly used in the States, could easily be turned into “packed like Africans”.

African people will put 30 people on a 16 seater taxi, and they will stand on a bucky (small pick up truck) to make sure everyone fits. I don’t know if I should view this as foolish or kind. People have died because of the way they arrange themselves in vehicles, but it also allows everyone to get from point A to point B without making several trips, which saves petrol money. Necessity makes you do things that may not be viewed as safe, smart, or ideal...but sometimes there is no viable alternative. I'm learning not to judge.

One of the American stereotypes that is considered offensive, is that black people LOVE chicken. I am going to venture to say that this is generally quite true! I think it is inherited from our ancestors. Black people here love chicken, and I do too. Again, it makes me laugh to think that people use this as an insult; are Italians offended if we say they love pasta? 

I have yet to see an Asian woman doing nails in South Africa. I only had my nails done by a black person once in the States. I guess it really depends on where you are in the world with this one! 

Pedro is not going to be your gardner here; he will be Thabo,  the black South African that travels from a township everyday just to serve you. Your busboy won’t be Juan, he will be Remember (Black South Africans have a thing about naming their children odd English names that translate into really pretty African names). Maybe the stereotype I should believe is that people just love to stereotype other cultures...it must make them feel better about themselves.

Africa is not a nature reserve; Africa HAS nature reserves. I am not afraid that a lion will come in my backyard at night, or that a giraffe will be eating the leaves off of the palm trees when I leave for school in the morning. Americans have a certain perspective of ‘Africa’ that is not realistic. Africa is a continent and it is HUGE; bigger than any small minded American could possibly imagine. 

My favorite stereotype: Ebola in Africa!

People in the States often ask my mother "aren’t you worried about Niani?”. I’m sure she is more concerned about the well being of herself and my family in America, because it is not even in the country I am living in. Ebola is nearly 4,000 miles (6,437.376 Kilometers) away from where I live in South Africa. Yet there have been cases roughly 700 miles (about 1,126 km) from my family in Chicago. So no, my mom is not concerned about me catching Ebola. To my family and friends in the States, be careful because Ebola has reached much closer to you, than to me. (LBVS)

Africa is the world’s most mineral rich continent. Like for real, its soil has diamonds and gold underneath it. So no, Africa is not just the poor black children with flies around them like we see in commercials in the States. I’ve never seen so many Lamborghinis, Ferraris, and Porsches, in my life. BMWs, Range Rovers, and Mercedes Benz are the NORM in cities in South Africa. These cars are mostly owned by prominent black people here.

Yes, Africa also has some of the poorest people, of any continent on Earth, but as I stated in a previous blog post, our idea of what that looks like is somewhat skewed. Americans find it hard to imagine, but many people are content with their lives in villages. Westernized standards are not what everyone dreams of. 

African people are rich in many other ways. Money is not everything. They are rich in ancestry and tradition. The closest most Americans get to seeing what that means, is in the Lion King; it shows that aspect of Africa, but I never really noticed it until now. They had a traditional ceremony when Simba was born, and Mufasa explains to Simba that the kings before him will always be there to guide him. This is not a belief that is instilled in black children in America. I’m grateful that I have a family that does as much as they can to teach me, my siblings, and cousins about the African traditions that they know about; it has given me an advantage in the world. I believe that African mothers are the most loving mothers on the planet. They might not have many material things to offer their children, but they show them an abundance of love and I am sure their children are fully aware of their mothers' love and care. I come from that type of love, and it is so eye opening for me to see where that comes from ancestrally. 

Less stereotypes...more love!

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The Journey Of The Doritos Bag

 

December 20th marked my 100th day in South Africa,  and it was one of my best days yet. Lucy and I met up with a friend, Busisiwe (aka Busi), from the Teddy Bear Clinic, in Johannesburg’s CBD (aka ‘town’). Busi brought a bag of Doritos to snack on as we went on an adventure, but we never ate them, the bag just traveled with us. Town is beautiful from afar...from the highway you can see the Nelson Mandela Bridge and the Telecom Tower, and it looks lovely. In a small section of town there’s Maboneng, aka Arts on Main (a really artsy part of town with restaurants, art galleries). It is a really chill area that has a lot of security (so it is populated by all races, not just black people). In South Africa areas with more security tend to be more diverse ethnically, and socioeconomically. Once you are inside town, and outside Maboneng, its image becomes blurred. There are beautiful old buildings with flawless architecture, but they are being destroyed because the people that live in them never do any maintenance or work on refurbishing them, so the buildings fall apart. As you walk through town, you go through an array of smells. You smell fish and chips, meat and corn cooking on small grills, all mixed with the smell of hardship and human feces.

The Well Traveled Doritos Bag

Busisiwe Means Blessing (which she is!) 

Town is very congested. It is filled with black people from all countries in Africa; there is the occasional Indian man selling a ‘gold’ watch or ‘designer’ bag, and you might run into a white person but the only one we saw was on drugs. My host mom, Lucy, stuck out like a sore thumb (she’s a very fair skinned Hispanic woman). She was a high focal point in the crowd.

We went into a mall to meet up with Busi and it was PACKED. It took us at least 10 minutes to get up each escalator. We assumed that everyone was Christmas shopping, but I didn’t see a lot of bags. Malls are also used as a quicker passage to get from one street to another because they are very large and cover several blocks. When we left the mall to grab some Chickin Licken we saw a guy in handcuffs surrounded by people. Busi told us that he stole a grocery bag from a lady and that he was getting punished. She said he would likely be beaten to death by the community. Lucy stated that if he had stole something else it would’ve been his fault, but the fact that he stole food means that it is the communities fault. I believe that is true in some cases, but if everyone in the community is struggling for food, it becomes less black and white. Fighting for survival, and struggling to meet the most basic needs, can make a person do desperate things; the thought is quite heartbreaking. 

Joburg CBD google.co.za

What I really appreciate about town is that everyone there is hustling. You can buy anything in town for the ‘low’. Lucy and I got the cutest wooden earrings for 15 Rand (about $1.50). People in Town have perfected the art of hustling: from Take 5’s (flavored ice) to ‘Converse’, they sell it all. I admire their consistent grind. 

Me: Can I take your picture?
(that's a Take 5 it cost R2)

We walked for about 30 minutes with our Chicken Licken and the Doritos bag until we finally reached the MTN (phone company that bought the lot) Taxi Bank, which is a really large place where most taxis gather. The banks usually smell really bad because people live in and around them. There are several different types of taxis: Quantum, Super 16, ikharakhara, and ikhumbi, are most commonly known. The differences I see are some have white with a yellow line across them, which I think are owned by one company, and others are just like normal vans but in many different colors. I have seen pink, yellow, red, and blue taxis. As we waited for the right taxi, the taxi ‘coordinator’ (a guy who has 2 phones and knows when each taxi will arrive and which one is going where) talked to Lucy in Zulu. At first he said “Sawubona, Unjani?” (hello, how are you?) she replied “good, you?” He jokingly continued to speak in Zulu, and then Busi translated for us. He asked where she was from and was very fascinated by her because of her whitish skin. Busi said people will refer to Lucy as Umulungu because of her skin and me as Americanah, once they find out where I’m from. Once we got into the taxi, we noticed it had a really decked out stereo system, but didn’t have a back window. This was actually nice because it was a 90 degree day (32 degrees celsius) and we were in a full taxi (16 people), traveling 45 minutes to a township called Kathlehong in Mailula. The taxi driver played really lively music that I jammed to during the entire ride.

Lucy And Her Take 5

 We passed people holding live chickens, people selling live goats and sheep, and women getting their hair braided on the side of the street. When we got to the township we visited a couple of Busi’s friends. I have only seen outhouses at camp grounds in America, but in the township they were behind, or in front of, almost every home. We walked about a mile and half (2.4 km) on the red dirt roads with no street signs until we got to Busi’s friend's house, where we sat and finally ate our Chicken Licken. The cutest kids ran around chasing each other and speaking Zulu. I could only communicate with one, because the others were just starting to learn English. When I first got there, the kids were eating pap. I haven’t had it in such a long time I kind of wanted to ask for some but I ate my chicken and chips (fries) instead. The Doritos bag looked like it was suffering in the heat. The bag that was once perfectly straight was crinkled and sweating. There was a baby (couldn’t have been more than a year old) drinking water out of a normal cup like a grown man. I feel like at that age if it wasn’t a bottle or sippy cup I would not have been able to function, but he handled it like a champ, and I was highly impressed. 

Coolest Kids In Kathlehong

Busi's friend was braiding her friend's hair right outside of her house, so we sat with them and had an enlightening conversation. Busi and her friend were discussing how they are frustrated because they both went to University and neither of them can find jobs. Busi’s friend said that she went to school to work in public relations but now she needs a PR license, which she doesn’t have money for right now. So she wants to find a job (even if she is overly qualified for it) just to afford to get her license, with hopes that she will find a job in PR. I find this to be really sad and unfortunate, because I see it weighing on their hope. There are no corporate jobs in a township, so they would have to travel at least 45 minutes into town, to work. A lot of jobs wouldn’t be worth the trip because of the low pay and the transportation costs. They both were volunteers at The Teddy Bear Clinic and they think that NGOs (Non governmental organizations or nonprofits) are dying in SA because of the lack of funds/funding from the government. I think that NGOs should be a bigger priority to the government, as they serve the communities directly. We also discussed the lack of dreamers in townships. Busi said that people in townships can’t dream big, by force. I understand what she means, because most townships are far from the cities and some people don’t have the money for petrol or taxi fare. It makes it hard to see yourself living in a way, or achieving anything more than what exists in the township. Her friend said that everyone has a dream, and Busi thinks their dreams are limited because they live in a township. Busi feels their situation limits their potential. Lucy added that it is generally easier to be negative during a dark moment in life. It is harder to try to be positive when all you’ve known is the negative. You become comfortable with that lifestyle. 

When we left, we walked through a big field with a red dirt plain that is most likely used to play soccer. People were constantly trying to get Lucy’s attention. They would yell out things like “I love you” and “you make the world brighter," in Zulu. People even asked if they could walk with us. One guy shouted “yellow bone”, referring to me. Most of the older people were really fascinated by Lucy, but little kids would run from her. They are not around white people while they are little, so they were more afraid. They go to school and go home in 100% black communities. 

I Feel Like The Sky Here Is Bigger 

I loved how chill Kathlehong was…there wasn’t a lot of noise, I felt safe, and it made me feel even more grateful for my journey in the motherland. 

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