WE ARE well into our third decade of inclusive democracy and still the dominant progressive narrative involves black suffering and white guilt.It is entirely understandable given our history, but deeply problematic nevertheless. It reflects sustained patterns of privation and privilege, but it is inimical to the kind of growth that could mitigate both scourges, and lead to happiness.What follows is a call for a new past. It is not an attempt to deny that much of what ails our country is attributable to the continuing legacy of European settlement. Colonialism and its mutant spawn, apartheid, were highly exploitative and egregiously racist projects. They had an incalculable effect on African culture, institutions and self-belief.It is the four decades from 1948 that draw most latter-day attention and ire, but most of the damage was done long before that, including the land grabs, the movement control laws, the forced segregation and the non-enfranchisement.Not that programmes such as...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.