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This portion of the film truly struck a nerve in me; and while like the past discussions I did not vocally advocate one position over another; I am someone that takes socio-political action when it comes to issues that are relevant to me. I agree with Williams in that opposite of inspiration and this sense of unification that came from hearing of men and women my age standing up for their rights and those like Steven Biko who lost their lives in the fight I also get a great sense of overwhelming anger when I saw The New Generation. It is becoming more and more appalling to me that the United States and other western democratic economic facets did not take earlier and more drastic measures to show their distaste for the racist and in-humanistic subordination exerted by the South African government. However, a corollary can be drawn between the incessant amount of time it took the United States to become involved in World War II and the shameful violation of human rights occurring within Nazi Germany because of yet again domestic and international financial politics. Even in 1974 when the United Nations from the supposition of the American Carter administration banned representation of the South African Apartheid government within the body, when it came to the economic sanctions of the country which would then cripple the governmental structures domestically and allow for the anti-Apartheid movement to succeed western powers in the Security Council whom were proportionately dependent upon the sale of exported good into South Africa blocked the motions. Is this really as a globalized human race want to enforce? That the basic rights of every human that inhabits this seemingly small planet are not as valuable the flow of paper representations of wealth and people can enslave, incarcerate, segregate, discriminate, and dispose of one another through homicidal Naziist governments without punishment?
Williams also shed light upon the comparative struggles for equality in the United States particularly within urban Chicago and the black consciousness movements. It was equally disturbing yet not surprising to hear his propositions that some of the same degree of inhumane violence and corruption had occurred and still is within our own country which we would ostensibly define as “free” and “ democratic.” Yet, on a smaller more privatized scale I can see where this happens each day within the United States but just either subconsciously or isn’t recognized by the majority. While Chicago as an American metropole has not seen the degree of violence to the extent of the student uprisings in Soweto where 10,000 or more students peacefully marched against the oppressive forcing of the “white man’s” language upon Black Africans in public schools it does continue to see it’s own form of racial segregation through opportunistic development and education (“South Africa: Overcoming Apartheid, Building Democracy”).
Kathy Kelly, an activist and native Chicagoan, indicates her extreme disappointment in the current economic and education systems which harbor and continue to selectively exclude members of economically-depressed African-American families much like those in the invisible segregated south side of the city (“Race and Poverty in the US”). Kelly describes in her interview with the Real News Network the path of poverty, financial instability, lack of quality education, and the lessening of career opportunities associated to the education and economic standings of the African-American families in these areas. However, just north of the loop and the invisible barrier in the predominately White communities of Chicago there are quality schools, jobs, housing, and availability for advancement which are virtually non-existent in the south-side. The ratification of these issues must start with the acknowledgment of the problem and the reassessment and training of instructors and members of the community on being willing to and how to address these prevailing issues in the blind lack of availability (Dee 158-165).
Maybe it is possible that when Dr. Gasman from the University of Pennsylvania spoke to the “ South Africa & Kentucky: Different Lands, Common Grounds” discussion group and proposed the question as to why race and segregation are such easily discussed and open topics in South African post-Apartheid but likewise in a nation whom also has had it’s fair share of racially discriminatory policies and sociological concepts, the United States is so shy to talk about racial issues because of this simple factor that Kelly suggests. While racial struggles hit an all time climactic high in South Africa and the issue has been dealt with and they believe as a nation and as a culturally rich and diverse nation that they are on the right progressive path to full equality we in the United States continue to fight for civil rights for many marginalized groups and without the same degree of violence and climax that the new generation in South Africa initiated we have yet to eradicate the problem. We just don’t recognize nor talk about it.
Dee, Thomas. “A Teacher Like Me: Does Race, Ethnicity, or Gender Matter?.” American Economic Review.95.2: 158-165. Print.
“Race and Poverty in the US.”& amp; amp; amp; amp; amp; nbsp;The Real News Network. Web. 26 Sep 2010.
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYZPDroJZC4>.
“Soweto Student Uprising.” South Africa: Overcoming Apartheid, Building Democracy. National Endowment for the Humanities. Web. 17 Oct. 2010
South Africa meets Kentucky...Through a Blog! 