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Anti-Racism February

8th February 2022


Hey Everyone, I hope you are well. It's Day 8 of Black History Month and as a result, I have decided to dedicate the next six posts to deconstructing racism in ourselves and the world around us. Whether it's through learning by reading articles or engaging with media.


That being said, learning about Black History is not just about learning about the struggle or about Black Trauma. It's about celebrating achievements by Black people, culture and eras of prosperity. Lastly, it's possible to learn about Black History through other interesting forms other than Black academia, like Black media, cultural hubs and centres. Recently I visited Robben Island (off the coast of Cape Town, South Africa) and I learned so much about the KhoiKhoi, San and Xhosa people's rebellion against South African slavery and the use of the island as a prison before the Apartheid regime. I wish I learnt more about Black History at school as what I have learnt combined with my external reading, has facilitated my healing and my pride in my identity. I hope this post can do the same for you, or help you better appreciate other people's identities. So without further ado...


Black people, Black History and Black creations: A quick curated list:





Black Youtubers:



The Civil Riots Era - Three Political Figures I have spotlighted for diversity

  1. Kathleen Cleaver

  2. Fred Hampton - I recommend watching Judas and The Black Messiah

  3. James Baldwin - I suggest reading Another Country

The Harlem Reinassance :

A period of intellectual and cultural revival within the African



Two political figures in Africa who I wish to highlight:

1. First president of Tanzania, Julius Nyerere




2. Archbishop Desmond Tutu


His dedication to all human rights made him one of the key figures in the fight against apartheid and one of the few religious leaders to champion LGBTQ rights.



These Historical Kingdoms:


Learn more about the history of African kingdoms at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC12lU5ymIvSpgl8KntDQUQA







Musicians to read up about:

  1. Boom Shaka

  2. Gladys Bentley

  3. Tupac - highly recommend his poetry book, The Rose That Grew from Concrete


A Black Artist to Check Out:


During the December holidays, I stumbled across the Ammazulu African palace after taking a trail hike in Kloof. It was an amazing experience. The art museum had sculptures that resonated deeply with me. The cafe was cute and although I did not have enough time for the sculpture garden, the entrance was enchanting. Seriously if you are in Kloof, South Africa, make sure to check it out. - https://www.ammazulupalace.com/gardens-and-sculpture.php


Plays/Literature to read that centre Black female protagonists that you may not have read:

  1. The Funnyhouse of a Negro by Adrienne Kennedy

  2. Their eyes were watching god by Zora Neale Hurston


Some upcoming posts on my side:

  1. Antiracism resources for beginners

  2. Hot take on Sam Levison's writing of Black Characters in Euphoria: How drug addicts have become humanised.

  3. French Riots and African protests: How White Supremacy demonises Black people for fighting against oppression

  4. How to heal internalised racism: Chapter 1- Misogynoir

  5. Mental Health, Classism and Racism: How we can begin to prioritize mental health in the Black Community

  6. Critical Race Theory - Why the Uproar?

There are also more podcast episodes coming up, exciting new projects and even competitions coming soon, so please stay tuned for that! We are also looking to recruit more writers so please email us at ysaofficialplatform@gmail.com for more information.


Till next time

Zukiswa


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1 Comment

Zukiswa Mhlongo
Zukiswa Mhlongo
Feb 12, 2022

Fun Fact: I performed a piece from the play, "Funnyhouse of a Negro" for my final drama exam

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