A LONG ROAD FROM APARTHEID --- OR IS IT?

Before I came to South Africa, I knew there were two things that characterized it: racism and high crime. I never thought much about how those two factors would affect me, but I am learning quick.

When I plan to walk from point A to point B, I want to be able to do it without interruption, without any hindrance. But no --- my loyal fans are at the side of the sidewalk, smart and ready. Ooh- they holler. Take one look at me, size me up and load up on ammunition. "Hello Chinese." "How are you, China?" and even the infamous Jackie Chan yodel "Hiii-yah!" Some of the comments come with choreographed moves (action figures not included). It's only black males who yell at me. A guy who works at the backpackers tries to explain why this is. "They were oppressed during the Apartheid and now they want to target somebody else." This is no excuse, but understandable. Kinda like kids who have been abused might become abusive to their kids.

The thing I hate about it is that it affects my life. I go to Durban to relax for holidays, but instead, get stressed out because people are hurling rude comments my way as I walk down the street. It's unbelievable. After trying to talk back to them for the 10th time, I figure, why bother with the effort. Locals and foreigners are so surprised when they hear about my experiences. I tell them all the people who holler things are black and male. This gets them even more surprised. "They don't know you're Canadian and that you can understand them," my colleague tells me. "It doesn't matter where I'm from," I explained. "That's just rude!"

When I was visiting Durban, a South African asked me where I wanted to travel to in the world. I told him India. "Well you're in India. But I don't like them Indians because they always stick to their own kind." I got angry and told him "Look around you. Black South Africans stick together and White South Africans stick together. Everyone does it, not just the Indian community." And I know why they stick together. If you are with other people who look like you, they can't holler things at you because of your race. You feel safer. I see that in the Chinese South African community. There is a website for the Chinese South African Assocation detailing their history through the Apartheid system, how sometimes they had to go to Blacks only places and sometimes were allowed to go to White areas.

Racism and crime exist in Canada, but not in such blatant ways. This is ridiculous. Maybe it will take generations to change. Maybe when the New Democracy has matured, 50+ years of freedom will finally put an end to old-skool Apartheid attitudes.