OPINIONISTA: Yes, there is unity in diversity, and talking about it makes us strong

Now don’t get me wrong. I do not consider myself to be someone who “does not see colour”. To my mind, that is a wilful indifference to the trauma of many people, and of their stories and histories. I pride myself on being alert to, cognisant of and well-informed of racial and identity struggles around the world.

But in South Africa, this is not so easily done. I recall an episode where, after I had been robbed, I had gone to the police station to report the incident. The second or third section I had to complete on the incident form asked that I identify my race, that is, either white, black, coloured or Indian. I chose to not complete that part of the form.

First, it was a very diverse classroom, including black, coloured and white South Africans, alongside a score of international students from elsewhere in Africa, as well as the global north-west. And our curriculum almost demanded that we often had uncomfortable and complicated discussions – on everything from race and economics to reparations to land redistribution.

The benefits of diversity in classrooms have long been advocated. It’s been argued that it fosters personal growth and empathy, that it teaches students to be open-minded and open to new ideas, that it aids tolerance, and creates an inclusive group identity among students from otherwise diverse backgrounds, while diverse groups have been shown to outperform more homogenous ones. And, of course, that it prepares students for diversity in the workplace.

South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

South Africans love chicken, here’s how much | CitypressThere are few things quite as enjoyable as a good chicken wing or drum stick, that is if you haven’t yet switched to a plant-based diet.
Source: City_Press - 🏆 7. / 72 Read more »

Report reveals South Africans are a fussy bunch when it comes to burgersThe latest Uber Eats Cravings Report provides some interesting insight about out nation's takeaway ordering habits during lockdown.
Source: SundayTimesZA - 🏆 47. / 51 Read more »

International vs local prices: Can South Africans hack the system?More locals will be exploring now that intra-provincial travel is allowed in South Africa, but many South Africans have expressed their concerns about local getaways being expensive. IOLTravel
Source: IOL - 🏆 46. / 51 Read more »

Editorial: Fellow South Africans, we’re launching a weekly newspaper. In the middle of the pandemicThere haven’t been many friendly public service announcements in the past few months that have been kind to our physical and mental well-being. Or our wallets. We at Daily Maverick are hoping that we’ll buck the trend with this one.
Source: dailymaverick - 🏆 3. / 84 Read more »

ANALYSIS: Herman Mashaba could be the main beneficiary of South Africa’s shifting political landscapeThere’s a growing gap opening in our political landscape. The ANC is rapidly losing the SA people’s confidence, and what was left of trust, while the DA seems to have lost some of its grip on the middle ground, leaving an increasing space for new players. The most likely to benefit from this moral and ideological atrophy is Herman Mashaba’s new outfit, even if there are still significant limits to what anyone can realistically achieve in the short to medium term.
Source: dailymaverick - 🏆 3. / 84 Read more »

Here are the 2020 Miss South Africa top 10 | ChannelMiss South Africa announced this year's top 10 finalists, during a live reveal on the organisation's digital platform on Wednesday.
Source: Channel24 - 🏆 48. / 51 Read more »