Jamie O'Neill on Interracial Relations at the University of the Western Cape

By: Jamie O'Neill

October 14, 2009

In my own mind, words such as "diversity," "juxtaposition," "contradiction," and "conflict" have become synonymous with that of my new home: Cape Town, South Africa. Having been here for over three months already, I have had the chance to learn about this young democracy in both academic and real world settings. Before coming to South Africa, I had a basic understanding of it’s infamous history of apartheid. I knew that the white minority had held the economic and governmental power over the majority population of blacks, coloreds (mixed race), and Indians. I also had a basic understanding of the racial breakdown and makeup of South Africa, and specifically that of my university. A student at the University of the Western Cape (UWC), I am one of very few whites. UWC was established in 1959 though governmental legislation that classified it as a school for “coloreds”. From the days of its first students in 1960, UWC was a place of struggle and progress to overcome forced discrimination and inequality, formally rejecting apartheid and its ideology. In 1983, UWC gained autonomy and was technically put on the same level as South Africa's white universities. However, like many things in South Africa, ideals of equality that were established on paper are not yet fully realized in society.

Today, UWC is still a predominantly colored and black university. Very few students are white, and even fewer are foreign or study abroad students. Therefore, assimilating into the culture and social life has been an uphill battle. Fellow students first assume that as a white, I am South African and probably do not want to socialize with them. Once I open my mouth, though, they realize that I am American and become intrigued. Questions about President Obama and American Pie films are typical topics for whispers during class. Students also marvel at my Texas Instrument calculator, while I am amazed at their patience and generosity.

However, the most intriguing racial interaction is not between study abroad and South African students, but instead amongst the South African students themselves. Although separation is no longer forced, the few white students stick to themselves, coloreds generally socialize with other colored students, and black kids stay within the black circles. It is harsh and somewhat disappointing to realize, but also logical and sadly familiar. A lingering result of apartheid legislation, different racial groups still live in different areas in and around Cape Town. Therefore, students who are friends at UWC were probably friends at their local high school and grammar school. Furthermore, students of different races often speak different languages. Although classes are conducted in English, South Africa is home to 13 official languages, mostly established along tribal and regional lines. Therefore, around Cape Town, blacks typically speak Xhosa at home and amongst friends, while coloreds, Indians, and whites speak Afrikaans and English. Thus, as much as South Africa is proud to call itself a rainbow nation, each individual color is still too far apart to create one comprehensive arch. In the student union, colored students play raucous games of dominoes while black students listen to music and play soccer outside.

As logical reasons explain the natural separation of races at UWC, it makes me consider interracial relations at Georgetown. To the same extent that students self-segregate here, we also do so in Washington, DC. What are our excuses, though? We did not come from legally segregated states or houses conversing in race-specific languages. So, what is it? I wish I had an answer to this, and to my accounting homework. But, unfortunately, I don't. At least I can do my part to negate notions that only black Americans support Obama and all American students party like those in American Pie, while continually learning and experiencing UWC and South Africa as a beautifully confusing and colorful place.

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