RACIST RANTS & MORE. . .

First it was Sparrow, then Theunissen, and now Jansen, besides being white, have one more thing in common - racist comments against blacks. The response from organisations and community activists was furious and swift, reminiscent of medieval times, but in a figurative sense akin to burning villains at the stake, or hanging them in the public square. Knee jerk lynch mentality may offer some vengeful relief, but it will not lead to a change in racist attitudes. It will take more than visceral reaction to change the mindset of a racist. The creation of South Africa's constitutional democracy offered white South Africans an antidote to racist attitudes. Instead of embracing the "elixir vitae" they paid lip service to the "Mandela miracle" and never accepted the fallout: the end of their privileged existence. The antidote could not penetrate the deeply embedded ramparts of white racist attitudes against blacks. It has continued unabated, but in discreet mode. No more - white racist comments against blacks are now increasingly evident on social media and elsewhere. There are a myriad of reasons that fall under the umbrella of demographic marginalization or representation triggering overt white racism. We cannot ignore them inasmuch as we cannot ignore the causes for black racism. We have yet to learn the need to walk and talk together to close the racial divide. There must be no delay as nation building hangs in the balance.