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(TALKZIMBABWE) Racism is a touchy issue: Miss Universe-Zimbabwe

Racism is a touchy issue: Miss Universe-Zimbabwe
Posted by By Our reporter at 7 July, at 16 : 13 PM

REIGNING Miss Universe-Zimbabwe says racism is a touchy issue which exists but people would rather not discuss. “I believe racism is a very touchy issue for all of us. It is something that we do not want to talk about but we know it does exist. It is there, and I don?t stand for it,” said Lisa Morgan.

The reigning Miss Universe-Zimbabwe was a panelist at the launch of a monthly discussion forum held at the U.S. Embassy’s Public Affairs Section in Eastgate Mall (downtown Harare) organized by DefZee, a youth-focused online news website set up as a platform for students to discuss topical issues.

Lisa narrated her personal experience as a person of mixed race and called for a change in the societal attitudes to eradicate racism.

“There are so many different names I have been given. So far, I have been called a coloured or a ‘point five’ because I am half that and half the other.

“Because of who I am I find myself confused because I do not know where I fit in society, am I black if I go to the black community, I am not dark, am I white?” explained the beauty queen.

“We need to change people’s mindsets. If we don’t, racism will continue,” she said.

People have many stereotypes against anyone of mixed race, she said.

“With the coloured community, there is racism amongst themselves. They have different levels of class such that if you do not suit that level of class, then you are not part of them.

“If you stay in Borrowdale and not in Arcadia, then you are not part of them. If you date a black girl or a white girl, then you are not part of them…

“They live a lifestyle of their own, in their own community under their own shell, and try to mind their own business.”

Responding to a question from an audience member who argued that in South Africa, white people have gone beyond racial stereotypes, she said from her experience it was not the case.

“White people are not really over it. There are certain words that until today they use to call black people that I will not use right here in Zimbabwe,” she said.

Her sentiments were echoed by Thomas Brickhill, another panelist at the discussion who noted, however, that there are historical differences in the manifestations of racism.

“If you look at the white population in Zimbabwe, in terms of ages, and you take people who went to school inside Zimbabwe and those who attended school in Rhodesia, you see a difference in perceptions of race,” said Thomas, an artist with the musical band, Chikwata 263.

But for Kudakwashe Marime, Junior Respectable Alderman with the Harare City Junior Council, the era of overt racism is no more.

“No one will overtly profess that a race is inferior to another race… there is a paradigm shift that we need to address. We perpetuate racism by upholding stereotypes, prejudices and discrimination.

“We see racism as something that is done by other people but do not see racism as something we perpetuate,” argued Kudakwashe.

Some participants felt that there is no way that racism could be eradicated. A student, who identified himself as a ‘peasant’ from the Christian College of Southern Africa (CCOSA), likened the fight against racism to trying to circumcise a mosquito.


“The absence of racism is something that we need to continue to strive for… we need to strive for perfection. It’s like poverty — people say we cannot get rid of poverty but we need to strive for perfection and eradicate it,” responded Thomas.

Nevanji Madanhire, a student at Westridge High School said slogans like the phrase “young, gifted and black” perpetuate racism.

“These are things that we encounter in everyday life that show that we are dividing ourselves according to skin colour.”

The Defzee Presents! discussions will be held the last Tuesday of every month as part of the U.S. Embassy’s Public Affairs Section Food for Thought speaker series as a platform for young people and students to share their views and express their opinions.

Labels: MISS ELECTIONS, RACISM

posted by MrK @ 9:46 PM