Global Voices » Ethnicity & Race

China: Half of the journalists imprisoned are Tibetan or Uyghur

Oiwan Lam — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 05:36:58 +0000

The Committee to Protect Journalist (CPJ) reports that more than half of the 27 journalists imprisoned in China are ethnic Tibetan or Uyghur.

Russia: Three Conversations With Parents of Young Neo-Nazis

Veronica Khokhlova — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:37:41 +0000

At OpenDemocracy.net, Olesya Gerasimenko talks to the parents of three young neo-Nazi men who were convicted of race murders: “One has adopted the views of their only child and says that violence is necessary. One blames the politicians that have incited adolescents to street fighting. One cries, convinced of the innocence of his son. They are all different, but they have all asked themselves one and the same question: ‘am I to blame for what happened?’”

South Africa: Virgin Active Caught in Racism Row

Ismail Dhorat — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:38:11 +0000

South African newspapers ran a story recently about a South African woman who was racially abused in public at the Virgin Active gym in Morningside, Johannesburg. The story has caused a public outcry on social media which resulted in Virgin Active re-opening the investigation into the incident.

Memeburn reported:

The Virgin Active franchise of gyms has reopened an investigation into a racist incident which allegedly occurred during a class at one of its clubs, following pressure on social media.
The incident in question reportedly occurred late last year. During a spinning class one member allegedly took offence to another’s enthusiasm calling her a “bloody k*****, a cockroach and a selfish bitch”.

The woman had reportedly been shouting “Yebo” (meaning “yes” in a number of South Africa’s indigenous languages) as the instructor put them through the various exercises.The two parties were then supposed to meet up, with the man being ordered to apologise to the woman. He then reportedly said that he would not be able to make the arranged meeting.

According to the woman, however, the man saw her at the club on the day in question but refused to speak to her.
Speaking to national newspaper The Star, the woman said that Virgin Active’s disciplinary committee had repeatedly questioned her account as her alleged attacker was a lawyer and that if she was found to be lying her gym contract would be terminated.
Virgin Active’s Karen Gordon, meanwhile, told The Star that “the member that allegedly misbehaved also received formal correspondence…which included a final warning”.

That, it seems, is where Virgin Active would have left the matter had it not received national media attention.

@ComicalTshepo at a Virgin Active Gym in South Africa Virgin Active waiting for the moment to shout 'YEBO' (a Zulu word meaing Yes). Photo courtesy of @ComicalTshepo.

Media reports resulted in an outcry on social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook, Virgin Active backtracked and decided to re-open the issue. This also resulted in other people coming forward about similar incidents.

Even Virgin Head, Richard Branson decided to respond:

We do not condone any form of discrimination at Virgin - especially racism. We are taking this incident extremely seriously and intend to look at all the facts to reach the right outcome for all parties concerned. Ross Faragher-Thomas, Virgin Active South Africa’s Managing Director, is investigating the whole incident personally and is meeting the two members next week to make sure we look at the facts and are fair to everyone who is involved. A meeting was also conducted with both members on Saturday, and the member apologised to the other.

However, we do not condone members or anybody else abusing each other in any way and intend to reinvestigate this incident fully.

I have been to South Africa on many occasions and been inspired by the many wonderful people I have met there. As Jonathan Jansen said: “My South Africa is…often unseen, yet powered by the remarkable lives of ordinary people. It is the citizens who keep the country together through millions of acts of daily kindness.”

We intend to get to the bottom of this incident and I want to repeat that we will not tolerate any form of prejudice.

Facebook users commented on Virgin Active Facebook page following Richard Branson statement. Anne Barker responded:

I don't think your response is strong enough Mr Branson. Your MD here should have spoken up straight away, suspended the manager of the Sunninghill and blocked the membership of the person who spoke so shockingly to a woman. The millions of acts of kindness become nullified by one racist bigot.

Khanyisa Vuyokazi Mbassa felt that:

Apartheid still lives in this country, all the that the democracy did was to give Black south africans freedom to retaliate without fear of being incarcerated.

The South African blogosphere was not behind. Kaloo5 note that:

So Virgin Active were rather inactive in their response and handling of the matter, possibly hoping that it would simply go away. Kudos to Liz Hleza for insisting her story be told, and not taking the abuse lying down.

Tarryn observed that the incident was not about race:

The fact remains. This was about inappropriate behaviour, not about race. It’s sad how easy it is to start a racial war in this country. More tolerance, people. It’s the only way we’ll survive.

Pierre De Vos looked at the incident from a legal and constitutional perspective:

However, regardless of whether one follows the stricter definition of discrimination provided in the definitions section of PEPUDA or whether one follows the provisions of section 7, the Virgin Active gym might well be found guilty of unfair discrimination.

Meanwhile we await word from Virgin Active to see whether the publicity might have shamed it into taking this reported incident as seriously as it deserves. If it does not, Hleza might well want to take both the abuser and Virgin Active to the Equality Court.

On Twitter @PabiMoloi said:

@PabiMoloi: I'm proud that the Mama spoke up about the racist attack at Virgin Active. There is still deep racism in South Africa. Don't be fooled.

@Eusebius felt that:

@Eusebius: The acid test of whether you TRULY ‘get race' is whether you got angry as you read that article about the racism incident at Virgin Active

@KimSchulze urged virgin active members to protest:

@KimSchulze: I would like to urge every virgin active class-taker tonight, to yell out “YEBO!” in protest against the forty other Spinners who failed to

Some users such as @ComicalTshepo took up the challenge and decided to yell “Yebo” in protest:

At a spin class at Virgin Active waiting for my big moment to shout ‘YEBO'. Wish me luck

@anele wanted to know the culprit's name:

@anele: Dear Virgin Active, as a kaffir I would like to know this guys name just so us kaffirs know to not make the mistake of dealing with him

Malaysia: Organization Advocates for Human Rights Through Video

Juliana Rincón Parra — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:26:24 +0000

An interview in EngageMedia showcases KOMAS, an organization in Malaysia that since 1993 has been using video production as a tool to educate and advocate for human rights.

Anna Har is the director of Pusat KOMAS (Pusat Komunikasi Masyarakat) Community Communication Centre, and she explains the role video has in their outreach programs where they produce resource materials, facilitate processes, organize communities and give media training on the topics of non-discrimination, citizenship and voter education, as well as grassroots advocacy:

KOMAS is not a video production house nor do we specialise in producing films; rather, we see it as part of the strategic and creative use of media tools for the advocacy of human rights.

Freedom Film Fest by KOMAS

Between Love and Race is a short film focusing on racial discrimination, produced by KOMAS on 2006. In it, Angela and Rashid face backlash from friends and family because they've decided to date each other. Angela's parents object because they wanted her to date a Chinese boy,

Rashid's mother wishes he dated a nice Malaysian girl, as do Rashid's friends. Angela's friend Yati at least speaks Mandarin since she went to a Chinese school, so even among Yati's friends, Angela is singled out for not speaking her family's language.

Angela comes to discover that through labels, stereotypes, discrimination and expectations on race and love, what maters is how she and Rashid feel about each other.

In addition, KOMAS has also been running the human rights documentary festival FreedomFilmFest in Malaysia since 2003. The festival includes a documentary film competition where a first time film maker can pitch a proposal that they'll be able make into a documentary if they win, video workshops and film screenings; and it has become a platform for showcasing human rights documentaries that may not have enough commercial backing or space in mainstream media to get otherwise exposed. The 2012 FFF will be on the subject of Democracy, with the slogan of “Democracy – Who is the boss?”

The 2011 festival trailer gives us a perspective on the types of issues and topics the film festival promotes:

One of the 2011 winners of the documentary competition include Afiq Deen, who directed Huruf J, a short documentary on the hardships and discrimination faced by divorcees in Malaysia. A society that sets them apart for their condition, debt, poverty and a legal system which is unable to enforce fathers' financial obligations with their children are some of the hurdles these women have to face when trying to move on with their lives. The film includes some subtitles and audio in English.

With the online premiere of the documentary, the FreedomFilmFestival is asking you to view and review the documentary so they can add the opinions on their site.

Bulgaria: Human Rights Organizations Against a Neo-Nazi March

Ruslan Trad — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:27:18 +0000

The civic initiative “People Against Racism” is appealing [en] to the Municipality of Sofia and the Ombudsman of the Republic of Bulgaria with the request to ban an international neo-Nazi racist conference scheduled for Feb. 17 and a neo-Nazi torchlight procession known as the “Lukov March” on Feb. 18. Every year since 2005, Bulgaria's far-right, neo-Nazi, and ultra-nationalist groups have commemorated the death of Gen. Hristo Lukov, who supported Nazi Germany during WWII. Lukov March 2011 drew protests from many civic groups and human rights organizations, including the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee, the Jewish organization B'nai B'rith, and People Against Racism. (More about Lukov March; a 2010 video.)

Brazil: Indigenous Guarani Kaiowá's Letter Asks for Survival

Raphael Tsavkko Garcia — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 12:43:22 +0000

Blogger Sonia Matuscelli posts a letter [pt] written by the leaders of the Guarani-Kaiowá people of the Ñanderu Laranjeira-Rio Brilhante settlement, in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, saying that they “want to physically and culturally survive as a Brazilian original people”, in face of the genocide they are suffering.

Video: Sociology Cinema Gathers Videoclips for Lecture Topics

Juliana Rincón Parra — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 19:50:59 +0000

Online video is being used by sociology instructors at the University of Maryland to teach basic concepts and accompany lectures. In The Sociological Cinema Valerie Chepp, Paul Dean, and Lester Andrist edit and publish posts where video clips are tagged and referenced so that other sociology instructors can use videos to make their classes more interesting without having to spend the extra time finding the right video for a specific content.

In their Facebook page they explain:

The idea of The Sociological Cinema came to us over the course of several conversations in which we repeatedly found ourselves discussing our use of video clips in the classroom. Our experiences in the classroom taught us that videos were highly effective at illustrating course concepts and theories, supplementing analyses found in course texts, and keeping students more engaged. With our experiences confirmed by scholarship on teaching and learning, the pedagogical case for using video in the classroom was overwhelming.

Videoclips or videos do not necessarily have to be short: this 50 minute Al Jazeera documentary on the Bahraini Uprising is suggested as an introduction to the study social movements and “exploring the evolution and consequences of state tactics aimed at quelling the protests - both violent and non-violent.”

When studying globalization, inequality and communities, this next short videoclip titled The Miniature Earth is suggested:

Given that large numbers can be difficult to put into perspective (and thus important information about the world runs the risk of becoming meaningless or unremarkable), this video illustrates for students how the global community fares on such indicators as hunger, religious affiliation, literacy, wealth, education, government expenditures, among many others. The clip is not only useful for helping students understand global inequality and differences, but it also reminds students of the enormity of their own social privilege relative to the majority of the world.

Movies are also sources for videoclips, like this minute long example from Up In the Air, starring George Clooney, which serves to illustrate stereotyping. The Sociological Cinema also provides additional suggestions for reading material to accompany the lessons.

This clip shows comedian Anita Renfroe condensing the phrases a typical mother says to her children in the course of a day to the duration of the William Tell Overture. In the classroom, sociology students can first list role expectations of mothers, and then discuss the roles mothers have and also focus on gender role expectations of fathers.

Beyond being a repository for videos, the site is also a source for teaching advice and shared experiences when teaching sociology. In An Online Video Assignment (that is Fun to Grade!) instructors suggest turning the tables on the students, and asking them to look for videos which they will categorize and tag as a way for them to apply their knowledge:

In the process, students do the same analytical exercise that we do in the classroom with clips found elsewhere on this site. The learning outcomes are for students to 1) become familiar with using and applying sociological concepts; 2) use their sociological imagination to engage familiar content; 3) teach each other through the course blog; and 4) become more critical media consumers. The upside for me is that I have interesting and engaging assignments with which I can evaluate them (of course, the videos must be short to make this a time effective exercise to grade).

Image used to illustrate post is Amo el Cine by Flickr user Román Soto (CC BY 2.0).

Uganda: What Lies Beneath the Cloak of Exclusivity?

Ndesanjo Macha — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:35:14 +0000

When some expats in Uganda decided to form a Facebook group called ‘Mzungus in Uganda', they probably did not know that they were about to stir up controversy and a heated online debate. Mzungu is a term commonly used in southern, central and eastern Africa to mean a white person.

This is the group's description:

This is a group for all the Mzungus living in Kampala…to share your likes, dislikes, advice or interesting (or boring) stuff….

On January 16, 2012 Facebook user Lindsey Kukunda shared a discussion thread from the group under with a question, “What lies beneath the cloaks of exclusivity?”:

So this is a post from the facebook page ‘Mzungus in Uganda'. The moderator starts off the post. Read and enjoy.

The group moderator, Adam Williams, started the discussion with a question about membership:

Downtown Kampala, Uganda. Photo courtesy of Andrew Regan released under Creative Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

I'm getting at least 50 requests every day for Ugandans to join Muzungus in Uganda group. What should I do?

This forum is supposed to be a place for expats, living in Uganda (hence the name of the page) to share their views along with hints and tips etc etc. If I had accepted every request from a non-muzungu in Uganda this page would have 15,000 members of which 1,000 would actually be muzungus in Uganda. Any thoughts?

Chelsea Jaccard said Ugandans cannot join the group:

it might sound terrible, but I say no…

Jamie Strickland agreed:

we need to keep it just expats for its purpose to be served

Sophie Bremner said:

Difficult - maybe you could request wannabe members to write a short message to you explaining why they are interested? There could be some transnational Ugandans / expats with Ugandan heritage & therefore Ugandan names who have the same interests as others in joining this group. Also, there could be some professional Ugandans who are interested in the odd job opportunity that comes up. I recommended my ex-research assistant join this page, for example, in case any requests came through for researchers looking for staff… Tough one…

Adam Williams wrote again:

The most common thing I get is “Please can you help me find a muzungu girlfriend / boyfriend?”

Marie Wiesenmaid suggested a lottery system to allow 3 non-expats per week:

U'r right, that is a tough one… sometimes the expats here are looking for things or information that only Ugandas can give.. or can give BETTER.
Don't know.. maybe some kind of lottery? Say 3 non-expats (I hate the word mzungu!) per week? Or 5 in a month? Something like that?

Richard Kennair said the group is simply for expats:

My thought is that it is a Muzungu page. How is anyone supposed to ‘vet' people if there are so many requests? I know it sounds like profiling - but its a site for expats.

Christian Douti left a comment in French:

Ohhh la … c'est quoi la question deja ? le truc je crois c'est quoi un expat selon votre entendement… c'est etre blanc de peau ou quoi… personnellement j'ai eu un mal fou a me faire accepter sur cette page…Alors je suis noir de peau mais expatrier ici…car je suis pas ougandais mais je bosse ici pour des compagnies, ong et institutions. Si expate c'est etre blanc alors cette page friserait le racisme…sinon bon vent ….

So.. what is the question again ? The issue is what is an expat according to you..is it about being white ? Personally, I am having a hard time being accepted on this page
I am black but I am also an expat since I am not from Uganda but I am here to work for companies, NGOs and institutions. If expat is about being white then this page is borderline racist…if that is not the case, then never mind.

Chelsea Jaccard Allan wrote:

I think you've significantly overreacted here. The name of the page is muzungus in Uganda, the goal is for foreigners here to share tips, information, etc. It doesn't say Uganda information group, in which case of course it would be welcome to all. If 5,000 Ugandans joined this page and started sharing messages back and forth, the INTENT of the page would be lost completely. This is not a page to just share what's on your mind, as the one you suggest, and I hope it doesn't become one. I come here to find out where gas is, about a new restaurant that's come in, to buy something when someone's moving etc. Sorry if this has offended you, I'm sure that was no one's intent.

But who is a ‘mzungu”?, Sophie Bremner wondered:

Aha… but look at how Ugandans differentiate… my (African) husband was called ‘Muzungu' in our area of KLA because people thought he was African-American, and I (pasty Anglo-Saxon type) was called ‘muhindi'…!

Jennifer Eringaard disagreed with the idea of excluding Ugandans:

In my opinion it is rather small-minded to limit this group to ‘muzungus only'. Of course those with the white bf/gf motivations should be left out but already in many occasions have Ugandans provided good tips on this page. The name of this group ‘Muzungus in Uganda' to me indicates a target group, not a colonial-type ‘ownership' ruling out all others. One would hope we'd grown past all that….In my opinion, the page is great as it is right now, i.e. mixed.

Kari Mathisen asked:

My husband is an Ugandan citizen, would your suggestion mean I can be here but he can't?? Difficult to segregate I think.

She added:

Or maybe I don't qualify to be here either as I do not class myself as an expat nor a muzungu, having lived in Uganda for the last 30 years!

Eric Walford thought that membership should be open but certain types of content should not be allowed:

we should not restrict who should join but list the type of post that will be accepted,i.e. no personal ads etc. After all when you want a plumber or mechanic etc are you not looking for anyone including Ugandans etc to fulfil you wish. We are all one community living together irrelevant of tribe or colour with a common goal!!

Richard Davies disagreed saying that the group should remain ‘Mzungus in Uganda':

but what i like about here is if you want a plumber or a mechanic, people here recomend you one which you know is reliable and is not going to take advantage, steal ur petrol, over charge you for parts etc! I think it should stay Muzungus in Uganda… like the group name suggests.

Desta Abraham argued that excluding Uganda would be discriminatory:

The group should be open to anyone irrespective of nationality. The point of the group is to help people connect/obtain advice/assistance of a service and yes sometime inform people of activities that are of a social variety. If anybody(expat or not) abuses the purpose of the group then kick them out. But to be exclusionary because someone's name sounds “local” (which by the way I am an American citizen of Eritrean origin with an Eritrean name) is discriminatory and small minded. Anybody from anywhere can tell you where to buy LPG when there is a shortage or that a new sushi restaurant opened up or that something is going on at the National Theatre. A group that excludes on such a basis would be unacceptable in The US or Europe so why behave in such a way in Uganda?

The moderator of the group, Adam Williams, decided to clarify further:

There are millions of pages and groups on facebook and they are for specific target markets. I certainly wouldn't join a group set up for lesbians in Pakistan just because I live in Pakistan and wanted to see what they were saying. I'm not a lesbian. This group was set up for expatriates living in Uganda and, personally, if you're not an expatriate living in Uganda then why join the group? There are other groups, of which I am also members, such as trade links uganda with 35,000 other members all selling things in Uganada. This group isn't for that. I started this group for a purpose and that purpose needs to continue and I'm sorry if you and others may be offended by that but you are very welcome to start your own group and if I feel I am not someone who fits the bill of that group then I certainly wouldn't ask to join it - why would I? The best suggestion, if you're offended by this comment is to leave the group as maybe it's not for you.

He added:

Two men on bodaboda (popular motorbike-taxis) in Uganda. Photo courtesy of Daryona released under Creative Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

And just to add… I don't think that by having a forum we are attempting to segregate ourselves!! It's simply a group for like minded individuals to come together to share ideas and views. As I have said before… there are many groups, such as a group of Arsenal supporters, all from London, now living in New York. They want to discuss football together as only they know how. They certainly don't want a bunch of New York Giants fans joining their group telling them that they are being racist as they are keeping themselves to themselves. NO. This is only one aspect of their lives that they want to remain that way. I'm sure these Arsenal fans live in New York for a reason, work with Americans, have American friends, eat apple pie, go to baseball games and love their lives in America. But they still want to connect with other Arsenal supporters now and again as only they know how to connect. I would never join that group. It's for them and I certainly wouldn't be offended that they set it up.

Jessica Snow supported Adam's arguments:

Adam/All, we are faced daily with the Ugandans/African mentality (not saying this is BAD at all, it is our way of life) but it is nice to know that we have a group facing the same challenges and issues as all of the other expats (or Muzungus). This group is a support system or crutch. I would appreciate if we could keep the group as it is, much like Claire states, so I don't get friend requests or proposals because I am a member. I joined save the Mabira Forest to try and help……I was scolded by locals for my suggestions and had at least 30 friend requests from making my opinions. I would much prefer not to have to endure that again. This group has saved my a$$ several times, but to extend it beyond is only going to cause confusion on what we share or need. I am not biased, I choose to live in Africa, but I will have to remove myself if this goes further.

She added:

And if you are offended by this group, that is so helpful and informative, then delete it from your facebook.

Jillian Larsen Okello observed that life is too complex to try to fit people into neat categories:

I wholeheartedly agree with Eric Walford & Desta Abraham. This inclusion/exclusion is impossible - how could you possibly determine if someone ‘belongs' or they don't? Life is simply much too rich and complex to try to fit anyone into neat categories. Anyone of any nationality should be able to join the group, and I would welcome and encourage Ugandan participants. As Eric suggested, a simple list of posting rules that apply to everyone equally would resolve any concerns there might be.

Adam Williams wrote:

But there are other groups! This is not the only group on facebook. How about a group for Hindus in Paris. Should Christians in Beijing be welcome to join it?

Ray Clague Ray Clague argued that the word ‘mzungus” is too narrow:

Adam - Like i said before just change the name to expats in Uganda!! so any expat “Mzungu” or not can feel welcome.. if like you say its a forum for expats then say so clearly.. MZungu means white does it not? arent asians welcome , are turks Mzungus? african american, black english? change the name .. feels a bit right wing at the moment.. i personally know many expats ( whites ones) that wont join because of the name…ps arent there already a few ugandan as members? im sure ive seen a few post comments from ugandans.. or are they ok cos “we know them” “there one of us” .. later mate.. got to admit debates on this site ( cant even bring my self to say the name) are never dull…………..EXPATS in Uganda….people what do you think?

Jillian Larsen Okello wanted to know who is an expat:

I don't think it is necessarily so simple or easy to identify what you are referring to as ‘expats'. Does that mean you also exclude backpackers or tourists who ask to join and are just travelling through? How about visiting students or researchers? Journalists on short assignment? The Ugandan spouse of an expat? How about Ugandans who have lived or studied or grown up in the US? How about Kenyans from just across the border?

China:“Thankfulness Education” for Tibetans

Oiwan Lam — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 06:16:45 +0000

Weibo post about the Chinese Communist party's “Thankfulness Education” for Tibetans by a Chinese historian, Zhang Hongjie. (via China Media Project)

Curacao: Diaspora & Development

Janine Mendes-Franco — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:49:43 +0000

More Than A Ruby visits Curacao and writes an interesting post about the dynamics of the African diaspora, calling the country “a global village that's kind of held together by a shared language, the Catholic religion, and Carnival, but otherwise people stay in their own huts.”

Colombia: What is in a name?

Juliana Rincón Parra — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 03:14:26 +0000

The Born on December 31st documentary by Priscila Padilla exposes a human rights violation the Wayuu indigenous group have been under. Many of their national IDs, mass produced to get important votes in election periods, state they were all born on the same date and feature offensive made-up names; which they were unable to notice because Spanish is not their native language.

Russia: Vladimir Putin Ignites a Pre-Election Debate on Nationalism

Alexey Sidorenko — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 21:22:10 +0000

Following Vladimir Putin's article [ru] on ‘nationality question,' Dmitry Rogozin, vice-premier and former leader of semi-nationalist party “Rodina,” had published [ru] an op-ed in which he calls nationalists who participate in post-election protests to join pro-government ranks. Oleg Kashin, Kommersant reporter, analyses [ru] it as a scary perspective for non-Russians who considered Putin a some sort of defence from radical nationalists. Publicpost.ru, multiblog, summarizes [ru] nationalists' opinions despising both Putin and Rogozin for forgetting about ethnic Russians.

Bahamas: Same Old Election Game

Janine Mendes-Franco — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:06:17 +0000

Blogworld “regard[s] the incoherencies that pass for election rhetoric with a sense of disgust” and explains why.

Jamaica: Bleached

Janine Mendes-Franco — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:12:58 +0000

Annie Paul posts an article she wrote about Vybz Kartel and the skin bleaching phenomenon.

South Africa: Student Anti-Racism Poster Causes a Stir

Ismail Dhorat — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:37:51 +0000

The Democratic Alliance Students Organisation (DASO) recently released a controversial poster as part of their anti-racism campaign. The “In OUR future, you wouldn't look twice” poster shows a naked mixed-race couple embracing.

The poster has caused a huge stir on Facebook, Twitter and blogs and even generated viral spoof posters. Here are some of online reactions on this.

Impendingboom says:

If you take the time to read through the Facebook comments, the way South Africans respond differently to the same image is quite interesting.
We can roughly divide the response into four categories:
1. It’s cheesy and belongs in the 90s
2. Its simplistic portrayal of race relations is offensive
3. It’s beautiful, we need more of this
4. It’s repulsive, you’ve lost my vote

Jacques Rousseau at synapses says:

That’s what this poster does. It simply highlights the fact that some people would look twice at an inter-racial couple, and reminds viewers of the poster that in the ideal DASO future, this wouldn’t happen.

Baas De Beer notes:

Such a campaign will never be without criticism. The majority being that it’s immoral, overtly sexual and sends out conflicting messages to the youth. To this I just have to say: Wake up, welcome to the year 2012. There are more risqué ads that promote tampons, chocolates and cameras. It does not in any way promote sexual promiscuity (who said these two aren’t married (The CDP complained about this)). The only message this one conflicts with, is the message of hate and separation that white and black adults who are still stuck in the stone-age preach to their kids.

Regarding the statement it made, I personally respect it and think it’s about time that someone said it. Wouldn’t this world be a better place to live in if people stopped finding fault in others’ lives simply because they are too scared to face their own demons? Wouldn’t this planet be more enjoyable if society didn’t exclude, but include? If race, culture, sex and religion were not used as weapons? You are allowed to have your own opinion, but that’s just it: YOUR opinion. If you don’t like interracial relationships, THEN DON’T BE IN ONE. Easy, neh?

Slicktiger takes a tongue in cheek approach:

Anyway, the DASO okes are on a whole OTHER LEVEL for putting this charna on their political poster and addressing a CRUCIAL ISSUE in South African society of NOT ENOUGH OKES WHO LIKE TO KLAP IT IN POLITICS.

Jaqamba takes a critical look at DASO:

In my opinion, the posters are an embarrassment to DASO and its membership. They are neither controversial, nor can they serve as a proper yardstick to judge SA’s racial relations. In any society, however integrated it may claim to be, there will be conservatives and fundamentalists. In a similar fashion, there are South Africans (black and white) who strongly hold on to their pre-democratic or apartheid-era views about race and racial morality. However, since there are no laws preventing racial integration or promoting racial purity, the issue is moot and debating it will serve no meaningful purpose to the South African society. For an allegedly progressive lot, DASO seems to be chewing on dry bubble-gum.

Rosealix at 10and5 says:

While some are staunchly for the idea, others are sure the DA is accusing today’s South Africans of being racist and while some conservatives are appalled at the nudity, others have been asking if there’ll be any gay loving in the next of the series. Some are calling it a stereotype and some are calling it irrelevant to the times and for all those aghast at the standard of creative work, others are wondering what all the fuss is about.

Mafedi Selepe observes:

With the sentiments of DASO probably been of Nobel intentions, we can’t see past the misconception from incorrect reasoning that is the poster. To me as I sat and disgruntled the poster and used the same method that I was taught at the bourgeois school, I safely came to the conclusion that DASO was trying to tell us that we can cohabit only if we are prepared to say the white man is superior than the black, thus perpetuating but carefully tweaking the architect of Hendrick Verwoerd of a neighborly society that knows and embraces its indifferences to allow the half baked rainbow nation that was only but a dream for the Mandelas, the Sisulus and the heroes and heroines et al.

AKanyangaafrica identifies what the controversial poster has achieved:

The Ads would, unfortunately, make you want to love South Africans even more, if you never did. Even social networks were buzzing, with many accusing the party of claiming to be non-racist when it in fact is. Although the views were diverse across racial line – but one could get a sense that many black people were angrier than whites as, to them, DA was far from being the non-racial opposition party it claimed to be.”
“DA may not have achieved one of the objectives it intended to (of portraying itself as a non-racial party) but it managed to get South Africans debating the thorny and controversial race issue, and at the same time exposing our racist tendencies. To Sarah Britten the posters meant we would find them unusual or offensive, thereby implying we are “excessively aware of race” which would then require our re-education “in the principles of non-racialism by the DA” (my emphasis).

Tsholo describes what people see when looking at the poster:

Focusing on someone race can never stamp out racism, I think. At the end of the day, because the poster is ABOUT race, when you look at the poster you see a BLACK girl and a WHITE guy, not just a couple.

However, SihleMthembu believes the campaign was a success:

Personally, I think all of u are getting emo (emotional) about nothing, lol. Whether it was black guy and a white chick or not, it would have still sent the same message. I think this campaign is success in the sense that it has people talking. I think the idea is about crossing racial boundaries….and my guess is the ones finding it very hard to accept this campaign for what it is are individuals who are still not comfortable with inter-racial relationships.

Below are some of the responses on Twitter:

@wildebees: If a UK political party's youth wing got this amount of debate going on Twitter they'd be hailed as pure genius #DASO

@joshjordaan: I've just heard that yesterdays #DASO poster was on SkyNews this morning! International!

@ryguy_smith: How does one go about finding the man posing on the recent #DASO homosexual poster? Also, who has a wedding dress to lend me? :P

@simphiwedana: If you want to tackle race, address the issue of white privilege. Like the people of Duluth are doing #DASO

@thealexparker: Yawn. #DASO poster so very JCR. Does have the benefit of pissing off the right people, mind you.”

@OliverHermanus: As someone in an interracial relationship I don't look twice & folk don't look twice at me. Its relevant, but isn't the future bigger? #DASO

@scrookson: The DASO poster is obviously designed to be controversial. Attention seeking because the DA needs it?”

The poster also managed to generate viral spoof posters such as: