Rainbow Nation

On Monday, the team toured the Nelson Mandela Municipal University. Before the tour started, we were introduced to some people in the education department and given an orientation. One philosophy that is deep in the college, and in the culture is "Ubuntu." This can be translated as: "I am, because you are." Ubuntu is to have compassion, to lean on others and to build each other up.

The 1960s in South Africa were modeled after the Jim Crow Laws. The Group Areas Act enforced each racial group to live in one area together. This forced blacks to live in the townships, far from their sources of income. Coloreds (mixed race) lived in their own area, Indians were grouped together, as well as Whites. Not only did Apartheid separate people based on race, but it took away opportunities for citizens who were not white.

This had a long lasting affect on the citizens of South Africa, even 22 years after Apartheid ended and everyone was given the right to vote, there is still a lot of work that the Africans in the townships have to do to be on an equal playing field.

Schools charge fees. People living in townships have to enroll their child in the school that they can afford, which will not be the school with the best resources and conditions. After their schooling is complete, the people need to figure out if college is their next step. Unfortunately, even if a student is academically qualified to be in the program of their choice, they still are faced with many obstacles. Tuition, books, or the commute might be too much money for a student to afford. Other issues involve technology. Does the person have access to a computer? The internet? Blacks and coloreds are at a huge disadvantage.

Listening to South Africa's youth speak about this problem is so inspiring. The young adults do not show any signs of frustration or anger. They communicate with a matter of fact tone, and push through it to give themselves options. The tenacity shown is almost unbelievable. Twenty-three year old's want to follow in Mandela's footsteps and fight for a better tomorrow with smiles as bright as the African sun.

The people of Port Elizabeth have been so genuine. I ask our guides and teachers any questions that come to mind, and they are happy to answer everything truthfully. Differences are recognized, but respected. Blacks have their own traditions and rituals, and whites understand, but do not practice the same practices. I think this is a huge difference between America and South Africa. I watched my colleagues listen to the struggles of a 24 year old black female, and they responded by sharing their own  problems. We need to stop talking about how do things, and start listening. We need to internalize and empathize with strangers. We need to recognize what people are made up of, and where they came, to understand each other's choices.

There isn't any hate, or judgement, there is only Ubuntu. "Rainbow Nation" because all of the colors are needed to make a rainbow, but blue is not trying to be red.