“A house divided against itself cannot stand” Abraham Lincoln
While driving past Khayelitsha this Sunday I came across an image which has awakened so many suppressed emotions and thoughts in me, but above all these, it inspired a question which I have been in constant debate about with myself. The question I frequently ask myself is “As black people are we doing enough for our own community“?
I recently read an article regarding the recent matric pass rate in South Africa and it discusses how Menzi High School in Umlazi received a 100% pass rate for the fifth year running with one of its pupils receiving seven distinctions. This clearly indicates the potential we have to prosper as a black community despite our background and social constraints. When we do succeed, however, or make it past the township, do we remember to help those who are still struggling to make it out because of resource scarcity or social and economic constraints?
The daunting image of four children wearing Shoprite plastic bags as swimwear in Khayelitsha is one which is continuously haunting me. It is much easier for people to point fingers and ultimately blame the past misfortunes for the inequalities in our locations, (without disputing that), how about we take the hard route and actually invest in one another? Build each other up? Mentor the young to shape their future? Encourage one another? Start charities or join existing foundations in securing the future for the young? As a black community do we even know about volunteering? Do we know about giving back?
- SAB #BeTheMentor
- Community Food Empowerment Initiative
- MaAfrika Tikkun
- SHAWCO
- Doing something for the underprivileged
- Buying lunch for that one child who cannot afford to buy one for themselves
- Mentoring that neighbor’s child who’s lost
- Volunteering to help in Soup Kitchens
- Using social media as a platform to help/encourage one another
- Donating old text books
Before expecting help from outside communities how about we first attempt to build up our own community ourselves? As black people we make the majority of people in South, imagine what we could achieve if we all stood together, if we all contributed just a little towards helping those who do not have the means to help themselves. How about we start looking at the positive and bringing solutions instead of problems to an already damaged society?
With everything that is going on, let us always remember that as a black community we also possess the resources and capacity to uplift one another. It is said, after all, “charity begins at home” and “a house divided against itself cannot stand”.
Masibambhisane Mz’Onstundu!! #Ubuntu #BlackConsciousness #BlackMovement
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Enlightening. Great post
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Glad you enjoyed it Lisa. Thank you for reading.
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Absolutely true. Great post!
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Thank you for support!! Much appreciated.
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