Why we are not a nation
By: Christine Qunta
Publisher: Seriti sa Sechaba Publishers
Published: 2016
Place of publication: Cape Town
Language: eng
Number of pages: 220
ISBN-13: 9780994677013; 9780994677051
Subjects: Democracy; Race relations; Politics and government
Description: "In this incisive look at issues that are both topical and intractable -- the resolution of which is essential for the future of South Africa -- Christine Qunta demonstrates why we struggle to be a nation. In the title essay she examines a series of high-profile case studies that highlight what she calls 'markers of disparateness'. In another, she looks at the politics of hair, drawing parallels between the fate of Sarah Baartman and the wearing of weaves in contemporary society. Finally, she offers a sometimes light-hearted account of her experiences of running a legal practice at the dawn of democracy, and having to overcome barriers of race and gender."--Back cover.
Table of contents: title: Preface; title: Why we are not a nation. The first civilisations ; Mapungubwe: city of gold ; Beyond Mapungubwe ; The drunken ships arrive ; Written into law ; So what has changed? ; So what has not changed ; Markers of disparateness ; Tenuous loyalty to country and constitution ; The empty land thesis ; Lack of remorse ; The European 'saviours' ; Culture and race ; Naming rights ; The jingoism of reconciliation ; The rage of the African middle class ; Dance of deception ; The colony within ; The last word ; How to construct a new nation ; In conclusion; title: Is hair political? Manifesting whiteness ; Sarah Baartman ; Eye of the beholder ; Zoe Saldana wears blackface ; Skin deep: the wounds beneath the surface ; Weaving and alien identity ; Of race and region ; Role models ; 'But it's just hair - it's not that deep' ; The last word; title: Law, national duty and other hazards. In the beginning ; Rainmaking ; Venturing into the public sector ; Onward and upward ; Venturing into the private sector ; The Truth Commission ; The Rand Commission ; The call to national duty ; The art of juggling.