What do you think?
What if there were no whites in South Africa?
In What if there were no whites in South Africa? Ferial Haffajee examines South Africa’s history and present in the light of a provocative question that yields some thought-provoking discussion and analysis. From round-table discussions with influential South Africans, to research, personal thoughts and powerful anecdotes, Ferial takes the reader through the rocky terrain of race rage in our country and grapples with what it means to be South African in 2015.
- GenresAfrica
180 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 1, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
January 30, 2016
'It always seems impossible until it is done'. A useful look at South Africa today although I would have liked it to probe a bit deeper - why are expectations not being met?
Most useful for its pointing out that a tremendous amount of change and progress has already been made. We should not ignore this. Fair point, I think
Most useful for its pointing out that a tremendous amount of change and progress has already been made. We should not ignore this. Fair point, I think
October 29, 2017
Not a fan.
I like non-fic that works along the lines of ‘here is my thesis, here is why it’s correct’. This book is more ‘I don’t understand this issue, this book is my process of reaching the point of understanding’. It leads to a long waffle.
The issue in this case is the ideological gap between the Mandela era ideology of non-racialism, with it’s the dream of the rainbow nation, and the anti-racism of younger South Africans, who hold that white supremacy is still a dominant force in South Africa, that decolonization, should be the goal, rather than shallower concepts like transformation, and diversity, and that mono-racial spaces, are necessary tools to promote black advancement.
Ferial is a confessed anti-racialist, and at the beginning of this books she is dismayed that the new generation is so ‘fixated’ on race, and take such a cynical view of the racial power dynamics in SA. She argues that already, both in terms of headcount and influence, whites are a diminished presence in South Africa. And across business, government, the media, music, tv, literature, the middle class, we are living in a black county. She worries that young South Africans are looking backward.
Using her considerable connections from a career in print journalism, Ferial assembles discussion round tables with young influences from campuses, civil society, the heights of the civil sector and corporate. Through discussions about the dominance of white capital and the white centric focus of beauty, she attempts to take off her rose tinted glances which have kept her - possibly - naive about SA society.
I like non-fic that works along the lines of ‘here is my thesis, here is why it’s correct’. This book is more ‘I don’t understand this issue, this book is my process of reaching the point of understanding’. It leads to a long waffle.
The issue in this case is the ideological gap between the Mandela era ideology of non-racialism, with it’s the dream of the rainbow nation, and the anti-racism of younger South Africans, who hold that white supremacy is still a dominant force in South Africa, that decolonization, should be the goal, rather than shallower concepts like transformation, and diversity, and that mono-racial spaces, are necessary tools to promote black advancement.
Ferial is a confessed anti-racialist, and at the beginning of this books she is dismayed that the new generation is so ‘fixated’ on race, and take such a cynical view of the racial power dynamics in SA. She argues that already, both in terms of headcount and influence, whites are a diminished presence in South Africa. And across business, government, the media, music, tv, literature, the middle class, we are living in a black county. She worries that young South Africans are looking backward.
Using her considerable connections from a career in print journalism, Ferial assembles discussion round tables with young influences from campuses, civil society, the heights of the civil sector and corporate. Through discussions about the dominance of white capital and the white centric focus of beauty, she attempts to take off her rose tinted glances which have kept her - possibly - naive about SA society.
July 28, 2020
Firstly, this is a recommended read from the point of view that it serves as a well-written reminder of the problems which continue to plague SA and presents an at-times overlooked perspective of social issues. It adopts a somewhat Socratic approach and Ferieal Haffajee (the Author) attempts to address the poignant issues which the majority of South Africans still continue to face from the perspective of a black woman.
If you are on the bench on deciding whether to read this or skip, note that this is not a solutions oriented book. I tend to prefer non-fiction which identifies a problem and then presents a potential fix or solution, no matter how far fetched. I do acknowledge that were there simple fixes we might have come to a resolution years ago.
What I do wish the author addressed in her book was a comparison to other African countries, or other colonial states with potentially similar metrics, and a deeper dive into her thoughts of the ruling party and their contributions to the state as it stands. These were glossed over very quickly but further scrutiny would have been relevant to the subject matter in seeking ideas.
Other than that, I enjoyed the book for what it was with only a slight wish that it dove deeper into certain issues.
If you are on the bench on deciding whether to read this or skip, note that this is not a solutions oriented book. I tend to prefer non-fiction which identifies a problem and then presents a potential fix or solution, no matter how far fetched. I do acknowledge that were there simple fixes we might have come to a resolution years ago.
What I do wish the author addressed in her book was a comparison to other African countries, or other colonial states with potentially similar metrics, and a deeper dive into her thoughts of the ruling party and their contributions to the state as it stands. These were glossed over very quickly but further scrutiny would have been relevant to the subject matter in seeking ideas.
Other than that, I enjoyed the book for what it was with only a slight wish that it dove deeper into certain issues.
February 27, 2020
"This book is her unpacking, through interviews and discussion, the feelings of residue colonialism, of “whiteness” over “white people”, and the necessity of accepting that moving forward is not achievable without first looking backwards and without regarding whiteness as an aspiration." - Full review at Have You Read This.
March 8, 2022
Quite heavy-going. More like a thesis than a broader, general read.
I had HIGH hopes for the country in the 1990's but this book illustrates it has a LONG way to go if it wants to help its own people. So much corruption still goes on while its own people suffer in abject poverty! And the barriers seem insurmountable. As white, I left as I felt I had nothing to contribute to an improved country. NO regrets.
I had HIGH hopes for the country in the 1990's but this book illustrates it has a LONG way to go if it wants to help its own people. So much corruption still goes on while its own people suffer in abject poverty! And the barriers seem insurmountable. As white, I left as I felt I had nothing to contribute to an improved country. NO regrets.
May 20, 2025
Throughout this book the author returns to the title question and tries to explain why she is asking it. She never gives an answer to the question itself that is 100% satisfactory though.
The real story here centers black South Africans and asks if they feel progress is being made quickly enough post-apartheid. The author finds herself out of step with a younger generation hungry for change and pulling away from the non-racialism principles she holds dear. The book is really about her trying to make peace with the fact that so many of her fellow countrymen and women feel that despite their nation being an black majority led by black politicians, they are still in the grip of whiteness and white supremacy.
Through a series of round table discussions, some illuminating research and a few decent anecdotes the author prods around the edges of this debate, often using very pleasing and engaging vocabulary.
The real story here centers black South Africans and asks if they feel progress is being made quickly enough post-apartheid. The author finds herself out of step with a younger generation hungry for change and pulling away from the non-racialism principles she holds dear. The book is really about her trying to make peace with the fact that so many of her fellow countrymen and women feel that despite their nation being an black majority led by black politicians, they are still in the grip of whiteness and white supremacy.
Through a series of round table discussions, some illuminating research and a few decent anecdotes the author prods around the edges of this debate, often using very pleasing and engaging vocabulary.
December 27, 2018
Interesting, not very convincing
July 18, 2020
Refreshingly frank.
February 10, 2016
The book has given me some insight to the troubled attitude to race in South Africa but the author seems to over generalise whites as the group that has it all. It's a pity that the research done by the author is rather one-sided and therefore fails to fully explore the situation in South Africa.
December 29, 2015
coming to terms with
"born frees" subject to whiteness,
the rainbow's demise
"born frees" subject to whiteness,
the rainbow's demise
March 17, 2021
A whole lot of hogwash
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews