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Is she a racist?
by Rishi Mon Jun 24, 2013 10:44 pm
I don't like black people, says South African novelist
White Afrikaner novelist's comments about black people spark furious debate in South Africa
White South African novelist Annelie Botes told a South African newspaper she felt 'threatened by black men'. Photograph: NB Uitgewers
An award-winning writer has provoked fierce debate in South Africa after candidly saying that she does not like black people.
Annelie Botes, a leading Afrikaner novelist, said she would invite a white, coloured (mixed race) or an Indian man in for a drink, but would "feel threatened by a black man".
The comments, quoted in South African newspapers, have caused a storm in a country still sensitive about race relations 16 years after the end of apartheid. Botes claims she has received 1,000 supportive emails but there was also widespread condemnation of her views.
The row began when Rapport, an Afrikaans paper, asked her to name people she does not like. Her reply: "Black people." Soon after, she was sacked as a columnist for another newspaper.
Then South Africa's Mail & Guardian contacted the author, whom it says is probably the most popular contemporary female writer in Afrikaans, the language of the descendents of Dutch and other European settler farmers. Botes recently won the Afrikaans category of the K Sello Duiker Memorial Literary award for her novel, Thula-thula, which tackles child abuse and incest.
The 53-year-old stood by her original comments. "I'm scared," she told the paper. "In my daily life there's no one else that I feel threatened by except black people. If a courier comes to my door and he's white, coloured or Indian, I'd have no problem inviting him in for a glass of water. But I would feel threatened by a black man."
She added that two years ago her laptop, containing a manuscript, was stolen while she was asleep and a neighbour was murdered. "You tell me what the face of crime is in South Africa. If you hear the window shatter and confront the perpetrator, who do you expect that crook to be?"
Asked about challenging racial stereotypes, she replied: "I don't have the means to get my head around that of a black man. I can't understand that.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/nov/29/black-people-south-african-novelist
White Afrikaner novelist's comments about black people spark furious debate in South Africa
White South African novelist Annelie Botes told a South African newspaper she felt 'threatened by black men'. Photograph: NB Uitgewers
An award-winning writer has provoked fierce debate in South Africa after candidly saying that she does not like black people.
Annelie Botes, a leading Afrikaner novelist, said she would invite a white, coloured (mixed race) or an Indian man in for a drink, but would "feel threatened by a black man".
The comments, quoted in South African newspapers, have caused a storm in a country still sensitive about race relations 16 years after the end of apartheid. Botes claims she has received 1,000 supportive emails but there was also widespread condemnation of her views.
The row began when Rapport, an Afrikaans paper, asked her to name people she does not like. Her reply: "Black people." Soon after, she was sacked as a columnist for another newspaper.
Then South Africa's Mail & Guardian contacted the author, whom it says is probably the most popular contemporary female writer in Afrikaans, the language of the descendents of Dutch and other European settler farmers. Botes recently won the Afrikaans category of the K Sello Duiker Memorial Literary award for her novel, Thula-thula, which tackles child abuse and incest.
The 53-year-old stood by her original comments. "I'm scared," she told the paper. "In my daily life there's no one else that I feel threatened by except black people. If a courier comes to my door and he's white, coloured or Indian, I'd have no problem inviting him in for a glass of water. But I would feel threatened by a black man."
She added that two years ago her laptop, containing a manuscript, was stolen while she was asleep and a neighbour was murdered. "You tell me what the face of crime is in South Africa. If you hear the window shatter and confront the perpetrator, who do you expect that crook to be?"
Asked about challenging racial stereotypes, she replied: "I don't have the means to get my head around that of a black man. I can't understand that.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/nov/29/black-people-south-african-novelist
Rishi- Posts : 5129
Join date : 2011-09-02
Re: Is she a racist?
by seven Mon Jun 24, 2013 11:01 pm
she is prejudiced. not necessarily a racist. racism is when you believe you are superior to someone because of race.
her experiences in life led her to fear black men. its different from racism.
her experiences in life led her to fear black men. its different from racism.
seven- Posts : 1559
Join date : 2013-04-13
Re: Is she a racist?
by garam_kuta Tue Jun 25, 2013 5:11 pm
not for a joe/jane on the street but for a leading novelist a writer who is only 53- that takes away the redeeming 'people are only a product of their times'
garam_kuta- Posts : 3768
Join date : 2011-05-18
Re: Is she a racist?
by goodcitizn Tue Jun 25, 2013 6:06 pm
How come nobody has brought up Paula Deen whose racist remarks got her fired from Food Network and cost her booku endorsement moolah?
goodcitizn- Posts : 3263
Join date : 2011-05-03
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