Description
Book SynopsisThis book explores how political democracy, economic mobility (and lack thereof), cultural and demographic shifts have affected the making of racial identities in South Africa over the past two decades of freedom. To what extent do South Africans hold on to inherited racial identities; are they embracing newer identities; do they move back and forth without making clear-cut choices about one racial identity or the other? The binary division between colour consciousness and colour blindness does not capture the contradictions of multiple belonging and association that a freer society brings about. The contributors in this volume discuss how identity shifts or lack thereof play themselves out in institutions of government, the economy, civil society; and the extent to which public policy has facilitated or impeded the emergence of a more integrated, equitable society.
Trade ReviewThe colour of our future is a timely book. The individual chapters clearly show that questions of race have not withered away with the installation of a progressive constitution intended to create a nonracial society. That there might be good reason for understanding and accepting racial identities that are not only imposed or accepted for the purpose of resistance, but can, properly understood, be part of a positive future, is to be welcomed - Paul Graham, former executive director of IDASA.
Table of ContentsForeword by David Scott; Acknowledgements and preface; What moving beyond race can actually mean: Towards a joint culture Xolela Mangcu; The colour of our past and present: The evolution of human skin pigmentation Nina G. Jablonski; Races, racialised groups and racial identity: Perspectives from South Africa and the United States Larry Blum; The Janus face of the past: Preserving and resisting South African path dependence Steven Friedman; How black is the future of green in South Africa's urban future? Mark Swilling; Inequality in democratic South Africa Vusi Gumede; Interrogating the concept and dynamics of race in public policy Joel Netshitenzhe; Why I am no longer a non-racialist: Identity, and difference Suren Pillay; Interrogating transformation in South African higher education Crain Soudien; The black interpreters and the arch of history Hlonipha Mokoena; Acronyms and abbreviations; Index.
