Through the streets of land so ill at ease: Jonny Steinberg

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http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/opinion.aspx?ID=BD4A581694

I have never been anywhere else on the planet where walking through one’s own suburb could ever be considered an insult to one’s neighbours. It expresses so much more than fear; it is to say that, at the deepest level, we are not of this place.

It was never written in stone that a sizeable chunk of the white population would feel this way in post-apartheid SA.

Crime has brought it out; if there wasn’t so much violence, this profound sense of racial alienation would be masked most of the time, emerging only during exceptional moments of crisis and ill-ease.

But once it is out there, this feeling of not belonging has consequences. Indeed, it becomes self-fulfilling: perhaps not for a while, perhaps only generations from now, but some time.
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You can't let it get the better of you. This fear. Admittedly, I do not live in Jo'burg so I can't tell how people should react or how I would react. But in the smalll town I live in, I go everywhere. Which means the black and coloured areas. There are many, many (in fact, the vast majority) people in this town who have never, ever been in these areas and react with amazement when I tell them I was there on, say, a Saturday night at a gospel concert or a soccer match. Yes, I would be safer in bed at home... But I have a great time and often I am embarrassed as I get treated like an honoured guest and, for example, given a seat in the front row.

When I first moved to the US in the 80's I made a point of going to clubs and bars in all the so called black or hispanic neighbourhoods. I wanted to experience the "other side" of the town. Almost always I would be the only white there. I never had any problems, but once again, the majority white people were amazed.

On more anecdote: When I first visited the US I did a lot of hitchking - against the advice of my first contacts (friends of a friend). I never had any problems. I remember that when I arrived in SF after having spent 3 weeks hitching across from the east coast), I started to watch the local TV. Every horror story that happened anywhere in the US that day was on the evening news. I rmember thinking "This is why people are so paranoid."

I don't see myself as a fool. I know there are dangers. But sh*t can happen anywhere. Locking myself in my house is not the option I choose.
 
Jozi101 said:
Self fulfilling prophecy. You'll believe anything if you hear it often enough. Before you know it, it starts to consume you.
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We the ANC supporters keep hearing that they'll get free houses and yes they keep falling for it. :(
 
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