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).
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.
Okay, this has to be worst campaign I have ever seen. surely its a joke?!
Ana do you ever say anything positive? Just a question.