The problem with coloureds? Hmmm

The Jimmy Manyi debate continues to assert its voice in local press, mostly in the Trevor Manuel style (open letters lambasting Manyi's claims). It's interesting that multiple voices are emerging, from students to politicians, each claiming to identify the cause or problem at hand.

Most recently, Mandela Rhodes scholar Kim Smith inserted her thoughts into this debate, with a post in the ThoughtLeader blog section of the Mail and Guardian, titled: "The problem with coloured people" - which immediately had me raising an eyebrow (there is much to be said about word utilisation).

Smith argues that Manuel is acting as a "coloured" individual in writing to Manyi, yet employs a non-racial stance within the letter (rejecting his coloured-ness). This is seen as a paradox.

In my view, there is a problem with coloured people. The problem perhaps with coloured people is summed up in Minister Trevor Manuel’s letter. On the one hand, he says something to the effect of the idea of “coloured” being a construct of apartheid and that he doesn’t subscribe to it, but on the other hand, and I mean let’s be honest, the reason he’s writing is because he’s coloured! That in itself is a kind of hypocrisy almost, one which translates into a contradiction protruding into the very existence of coloured ethnicity. And though most people are thinking “good on you Trevor! You told him lekker”, the reality is that his letter was a bit of an emotional outburst. How can he call the man “a racist in the mould of Verwoerd”? Coloured people don’t know who they are. Those who say “we are African” or “black” are delusional: coloured men don’t go into the bush to be circumcised. The point is, black people in South Africa have their own culture, separate to the culture of coloured people. And you know what? There is nothing wrong with that.

While I applaud Smith's original aim - to see what was behind the letter and what it was arguing for, what she actually does is essentialise Manuel's position. Smith argues that coloured people's lack of an identity is at the root cause of the "problem" (right), but also that people like Manuel exacerbate this when they employ African/black to describe themselves (wrong).

Why wrong?

Well, one should start by asking, what does Manuel mean by black? One can begin to understand his position when we look at Manuel's broader socio-historical context (which should never be ignored if one is to comment on someone's opinion). Manuel's non-racialism/rather black stance emerges out of the black consciousness vein of thought, a stance often taken by coloured exiles and comrades, where coloured and Indian people are included as "black" - all suffering similar oppression under apartheid, all grouped together under non-white. So when Smith says,

Coloured people don’t know who they are. Those who say “we are African” or “black” are delusional: coloured men don’t go into the bush to be circumcised. The point is, black people in South Africa have their own culture, separate to the culture of coloured people. And you know what? There is nothing wrong with that.

she makes giant deductive leaps (evident in the emotive language: "delusional" is a little strong, I think). Manuel is not employing African-ness vis-a-vis claims to black culture, but rather employing its black consciousness definition.

Seeking a solution, Smith says

But deeper than that, and specifically as coloureds, we need to react in a way that exalts us as a people, a culture, an ethnicity, one that we can be proud of. And when this happens, we will be able to secure our place in South Africa and Africa. And once our place is secure, we will abandon our ailing chick identity and soar above the stereotypes like eagles, not because we told them lekker but because we showed them who we really are!

I would argue, this is exactly what Manuel does in both his letter and his actions - while he did "tell Jimmy lekker", he continues to act (and react) in a manner that uplifts the image of the "coloured man". That, is more important, that is key: lived experience that exposes, contradicts and reveals stereotype for what is is.
But fundamentally, the problem is not with "coloured" people, the problem lies with all of us - especially when, like Smith, we try to stand outside an issue and judge it, rather than revealing our own prejudice, misgivings. There are many ways in which every single person, consciously or unconsciously, contributes to stereotype and essentialisation of a race or culture. It's inescapable, race is written into the tapestry of our national consciousness - and recognising this complicity is key.

Essentially: We are all complicit, we are all "the problem".