The online world erupted on Friday when #IAmStellenbosch started trending on Twitter. It quickly earned the mockery of Twitter users who pointed out that having black friends or listening to rap music, *surprise surprise* didn’t mean jack when it came to racism, exclusion and historical prejudice. BENAZIR CASSIM rounds up.
First, Stellenbosch University had #WhereIsTheLove, which sought to unite its students under positive, good vibes. Apparently, it was created to counter the tiresome “negativity” surrounding the university after the documentary, Luister, a documentary highlighting the racial tensions between students and lecturers at Stellenbosch university, went viral online.
And now there is #IAmStellenbosch, started as a Facebook page and Youtube video, which claims it is a place for students to engage with each other, through discourse rather than dialogue (whatever that means).
http://www.facebook.com/iamstellenbosch
On Wednesday, they posted photos of (mostly white) students holding placards on which they had written “a statement which can either break down a stereotype they feel they’ve been put into or just proclaim something about their identity”.
Sadly, most of these statements just enforced stereotypes and displayed ignorance.
Black Jesus wept. #IAmStellenbosch pic.twitter.com/t1fOuAxG86
— TFisNonWhite (@_Dame_) September 25, 2015
Basically declaring one’s level of intellectual bankruptcy…on social media!! #IAmStellenbosch pic.twitter.com/BySKUAPXSm — Cebisa Mahlukwana (@CebisaM) September 25, 2015
We are here to dismantle the powers of institutional racism, we don’t want your #IAmStellenbosch false consciousness http://t.co/1CKKa1sc5C
— Selogadi Mampane (@RadicalFemSM) September 25, 2015
I am confused by #IAmStellenbosch pic.twitter.com/y5wXmkqsUD — Maps Maponyane (@MapsMaponyane) September 25, 2015
A few black students also got called out for participating. Except some of them thought they were “non-white”.
I’m black and don’t want to upset my white friends, so I’ll deny the existence of racism while smiling for the camera. #IAmStellenbosch — Tendai Matsika (@Tsikmode) September 25, 2015
Defining/describing yourself as “Non-white” is total BS. Get over this kak now. BYE. #IAmStellenbosch — lindsaymarysia (@lindsaymarysia) September 25, 2015
And at least one student wrote something relatable:
This is probably the most honest #IAmStellenbosch pic.twitter.com/6RsmMYvoFA
— Queen_L (@Lhozha) September 25, 2015
What are your thoughts on the #IAmStellenbosch campaign? Let us know in the comments, or tweet us @thedailyvox.
