[Applause] TEDx Johannesburg 2016 Mulvaney that
TEDx Johannesburg 2016 Mulvaney that
TEDx Johannesburg 2016 Mulvaney that hushed Baldwin is gives me a sense I
hushed Baldwin is gives me a sense I
hushed Baldwin is gives me a sense I should have said Amanda but I’m afraid
should have said Amanda but I’m afraid
should have said Amanda but I’m afraid of the response that I would have got
Africans have a way with words
Africans have a way with words very interesting and very marvelous
very interesting and very marvelous
very interesting and very marvelous grasp of language and words the renowned
grasp of language and words the renowned
grasp of language and words the renowned Nigerian scholar cheenu achiever in
Nigerian scholar cheenu achiever in
Nigerian scholar cheenu achiever in conversation with James Baldwin said we
conversation with James Baldwin said we
conversation with James Baldwin said we are not only receivers of art we’re also
are not only receivers of art we’re also
are not only receivers of art we’re also makers of art and similarly I would
makers of art and similarly I would
makers of art and similarly I would apply the same logic to technology and
apply the same logic to technology and
apply the same logic to technology and some of the tools of the 21st century
some of the tools of the 21st century
some of the tools of the 21st century that lead us to speak about the
that lead us to speak about the
that lead us to speak about the abundance we often want to speak up so
abundance we often want to speak up so
abundance we often want to speak up so to paraphrase him we are not only
to paraphrase him we are not only
to paraphrase him we are not only receivers of technology but we are also
receivers of technology but we are also
receivers of technology but we are also makers of technology and in a very sort
makers of technology and in a very sort
makers of technology and in a very sort of godlike fashion we would want to
of godlike fashion we would want to
of godlike fashion we would want to fashion technology not only in our image
fashion technology not only in our image
fashion technology not only in our image but in a way that responds to our own
but in a way that responds to our own
but in a way that responds to our own needs so before I go into what I mean by
needs so before I go into what I mean by
needs so before I go into what I mean by that allow me to say a bit more about
that allow me to say a bit more about
that allow me to say a bit more about myself my name is Hong Ki iya bong I’m a
myself my name is Hong Ki iya bong I’m a
myself my name is Hong Ki iya bong I’m a Palani let our unfortunately the two
Palani let our unfortunately the two
Palani let our unfortunately the two names which are unknown to most people
names which are unknown to most people
names which are unknown to most people didn’t make it into the green bar coded
didn’t make it into the green bar coded
didn’t make it into the green bar coded ID that proves that I’m here and that I
ID that proves that I’m here and that I
ID that proves that I’m here and that I exist and that I’m not an alien however
exist and that I’m not an alien however
exist and that I’m not an alien however I think my beginning starts much further
I think my beginning starts much further
I think my beginning starts much further than that my parents had a lot to do
than that my parents had a lot to do
than that my parents had a lot to do with it my father is a sort of a teacher
with it my father is a sort of a teacher
with it my father is a sort of a teacher trade union lefty communist type who
trade union lefty communist type who
trade union lefty communist type who married my mother a year after I was
married my mother a year after I was
married my mother a year after I was born and my mother an enterprising
born and my mother an enterprising
born and my mother an enterprising assertive industrious cosa woman you
assertive industrious cosa woman you
assertive industrious cosa woman you know the kind of woman man yeah no one
know the kind of woman man yeah no one
know the kind of woman man yeah no one will Racine and if you don’t know what
will Racine and if you don’t know what
will Racine and if you don’t know what that means you know that’s the methodist
that means you know that’s the methodist
that means you know that’s the methodist thursday woman’s union the real woman’s
thursday woman’s union the real woman’s
thursday woman’s union the real woman’s league if I should add but I guess my
league if I should add but I guess my
league if I should add but I guess my beginning start much much further my
beginning start much much further my
beginning start much much further my Genesis
Genesis
Genesis starts I would say in the 15th century
starts I would say in the 15th century
starts I would say in the 15th century in what is now called the Eastern Cape
in what is now called the Eastern Cape
in what is now called the Eastern Cape among my own people
among my own people
among my own people you won’t bite on him no my child let’s
you won’t bite on him no my child let’s
you won’t bite on him no my child let’s see what kind I know unknown sob darling
see what kind I know unknown sob darling
see what kind I know unknown sob darling I’m a born was indecent Vinnie I’m on
I’m a born was indecent Vinnie I’m on
I’m a born was indecent Vinnie I’m on Jima
Jima
Jima oh my table al on demand a hot rock rock
oh my table al on demand a hot rock rock
oh my table al on demand a hot rock rock those indeed are my people and so when I
those indeed are my people and so when I
those indeed are my people and so when I introduce myself it would be incomplete
introduce myself it would be incomplete
introduce myself it would be incomplete if I don’t summon their names and summon
if I don’t summon their names and summon
if I don’t summon their names and summon their memory a status ed I’m an
their memory a status ed I’m an
their memory a status ed I’m an economist by training and economists
economist by training and economists
economist by training and economists aren’t sort of the most creative
aren’t sort of the most creative
aren’t sort of the most creative storytellers nor nor the most creative
storytellers nor nor the most creative
storytellers nor nor the most creative people I would add however I studied
people I would add however I studied
people I would add however I studied economics because I guess it helped me
economics because I guess it helped me
economics because I guess it helped me to understand how public policy and
to understand how public policy and
to understand how public policy and collective decisions had an influence on
collective decisions had an influence on
collective decisions had an influence on three things which I think have really
three things which I think have really
three things which I think have really framed my own curiosity and my own
framed my own curiosity and my own
framed my own curiosity and my own inquiries over my life the first is how
inquiries over my life the first is how
inquiries over my life the first is how we understand Authority the second is
we understand Authority the second is
we understand Authority the second is how we understand identity and race and
how we understand identity and race and
how we understand identity and race and the last one which i think is very
the last one which i think is very
the last one which i think is very important is how we understand power so
important is how we understand power so
important is how we understand power so for me it’s quite unsettling to really
for me it’s quite unsettling to really
for me it’s quite unsettling to really speak to a crowd of people who paid
speak to a crowd of people who paid
speak to a crowd of people who paid 1,500 rand to come and hear me speak
1,500 rand to come and hear me speak
1,500 rand to come and hear me speak when i understand that the median wage
when i understand that the median wage
when i understand that the median wage for instance of domestic workers in this
for instance of domestic workers in this
for instance of domestic workers in this country is 1577 let me give you a second
country is 1577 let me give you a second
country is 1577 let me give you a second and let that sink in 77 ran more than
and let that sink in 77 ran more than
and let that sink in 77 ran more than you’ve paid to be here for the next two
you’ve paid to be here for the next two
you’ve paid to be here for the next two days is what fifty percent of people pay
days is what fifty percent of people pay
days is what fifty percent of people pay and less for the woman a black woman who
and less for the woman a black woman who
and less for the woman a black woman who cleaned their living spaces and who
cleaned their living spaces and who
cleaned their living spaces and who raised their children and that for me is
raised their children and that for me is
raised their children and that for me is the invisible work of social
the invisible work of social
the invisible work of social reproduction it’s the work that prepares
reproduction it’s the work that prepares
reproduction it’s the work that prepares us for our different labels we get the
us for our different labels we get the
us for our different labels we get the kids ready for school I’m the nice
kids ready for school I’m the nice
kids ready for school I’m the nice shirts and starched collar to get us
shirts and starched collar to get us
shirts and starched collar to get us ready for boardroom and all of the other
ready for boardroom and all of the other
ready for boardroom and all of the other Labor’s and yet that Labor’s seen as
Labor’s and yet that Labor’s seen as
Labor’s and yet that Labor’s seen as invisible my own grandmother was a
invisible my own grandmother was a
invisible my own grandmother was a domestic worker and orange grove here in
domestic worker and orange grove here in
domestic worker and orange grove here in Johannesburg for about three decades
Johannesburg for about three decades
Johannesburg for about three decades until she retired in the early 2000s
until she retired in the early 2000s
until she retired in the early 2000s with a brown bag of ten thousand rand in
with a brown bag of ten thousand rand in
with a brown bag of ten thousand rand in it and a few hand-me-downs which i think
it and a few hand-me-downs which i think
it and a few hand-me-downs which i think by now we’ve outgrown
by now we’ve outgrown
by now we’ve outgrown but you see that that was her retirement
but you see that that was her retirement
but you see that that was her retirement her thank you for her loyalty and
her thank you for her loyalty and
her thank you for her loyalty and commitment for three decades and so you
commitment for three decades and so you
commitment for three decades and so you then understand why I feel it’s a bit
then understand why I feel it’s a bit
then understand why I feel it’s a bit unsettling as someone born in a small
unsettling as someone born in a small
unsettling as someone born in a small town sandwich between plan sky and the
town sandwich between plan sky and the
town sandwich between plan sky and the sky and I guess it might explain the
sky and I guess it might explain the
sky and I guess it might explain the other names that don’t make it into my
other names that don’t make it into my
other names that don’t make it into my ID but I want to speak about
ID but I want to speak about
ID but I want to speak about exploitation in this age of digital
exploitation in this age of digital
exploitation in this age of digital expansion and boundless information and
expansion and boundless information and
expansion and boundless information and how it is experienced by the people who
how it is experienced by the people who
how it is experienced by the people who in this country have always been and
in this country have always been and
in this country have always been and have shouldered the cost of our
have shouldered the cost of our
have shouldered the cost of our expansions of our skyways byways and
expansions of our skyways byways and
expansions of our skyways byways and other physical markers of progress in
other physical markers of progress in
other physical markers of progress in many ways I think we need to answer how
many ways I think we need to answer how
many ways I think we need to answer how technology and its advances intersect in
technology and its advances intersect in
technology and its advances intersect in a society like ours in a post-colonial
a society like ours in a post-colonial
a society like ours in a post-colonial post-apartheid society with many of its
post-apartheid society with many of its
post-apartheid society with many of its hang-ups and hangovers from the past
hang-ups and hangovers from the past
hang-ups and hangovers from the past what does it mean to speak about
what does it mean to speak about
what does it mean to speak about abundance if we never speak about those
abundance if we never speak about those
abundance if we never speak about those excluded from that abundance what does
excluded from that abundance what does
excluded from that abundance what does it mean to think about you know the
it mean to think about you know the
it mean to think about you know the advances that as the organizers say have
advances that as the organizers say have
advances that as the organizers say have the possibility of rarely for the first
the possibility of rarely for the first
the possibility of rarely for the first time I think in centuries totally
time I think in centuries totally
time I think in centuries totally eradicating poverty and so I think as I
eradicating poverty and so I think as I
eradicating poverty and so I think as I think about this intersection between
think about this intersection between
think about this intersection between authority identity race and power
authority identity race and power
authority identity race and power I spoke to meter taxi drivers in the
I spoke to meter taxi drivers in the
I spoke to meter taxi drivers in the West of Johannesburg a few months ago
West of Johannesburg a few months ago
West of Johannesburg a few months ago during the wake of their violent
during the wake of their violent
during the wake of their violent interactions with uber taxi drivers and
interactions with uber taxi drivers and
interactions with uber taxi drivers and I spoke to them because I thought that
I spoke to them because I thought that
I spoke to them because I thought that their narrative never really made it
their narrative never really made it
their narrative never really made it into sort of our public discourse or
into sort of our public discourse or
into sort of our public discourse or even in the media painted as they were
even in the media painted as they were
even in the media painted as they were savage Luddites violent prone people we
savage Luddites violent prone people we
savage Luddites violent prone people we didn’t really have an interest in coming
didn’t really have an interest in coming
didn’t really have an interest in coming along with us into the 21st century and
along with us into the 21st century and
along with us into the 21st century and this is what some of them had to say
this is what some of them had to say
this is what some of them had to say let’s take a look
three high gentle injustice and that’s
three high gentle injustice and that’s what’s wrong
when they came here the sugar came to us
when they came here the sugar came to us and then if one of us la la would was
and then if one of us la la would was
and then if one of us la la would was the best ability Max Evans on the same
the best ability Max Evans on the same
the best ability Max Evans on the same system enterprise it’s 50 run every
system enterprise it’s 50 run every
system enterprise it’s 50 run every private – maybe like a kilometer
private – maybe like a kilometer
private – maybe like a kilometer storefront 50 with visual friendly one
storefront 50 with visual friendly one
storefront 50 with visual friendly one what is the difference is over now –
what is the difference is over now –
what is the difference is over now – what is the pay 50
under present is watch but now the
under present is watch but now the governor should come in in a system of
governor should come in in a system of
governor should come in in a system of it
because the charging fearlessness and
because the charging fearlessness and they maybe we can find the difference of
they maybe we can find the difference of
they maybe we can find the difference of underground
our people have can’t let him be stood
our people have can’t let him be stood at the pot because they’re gonna happen
at the pot because they’re gonna happen
at the pot because they’re gonna happen is that important but why you guys
is that important but why you guys
is that important but why you guys getting the premise whether the donut
getting the premise whether the donut
getting the premise whether the donut does that you started work
you know things that really emerged from
you know things that really emerged from the story of the meter taxi drivers the
the story of the meter taxi drivers the
the story of the meter taxi drivers the notable one for me was around labor
notable one for me was around labor
notable one for me was around labor issues alongside those issues was the
issues alongside those issues was the
issues alongside those issues was the challenge of anti-competitive priced
challenge of anti-competitive priced
challenge of anti-competitive priced behavior so they were complaining that
behavior so they were complaining that
behavior so they were complaining that uber and the main was unable to really
uber and the main was unable to really
uber and the main was unable to really set them up in a way that they could
set them up in a way that they could
set them up in a way that they could compete with the uber drivers because
compete with the uber drivers because
compete with the uber drivers because many of them were charging about a
many of them were charging about a
many of them were charging about a hundred grand less and also I think
hundred grand less and also I think
hundred grand less and also I think there was the real challenge around
there was the real challenge around
there was the real challenge around whether or not the partner drivers were
whether or not the partner drivers were
whether or not the partner drivers were actually employees and if you look at
actually employees and if you look at
actually employees and if you look at the shouldering of the risk in that in
the shouldering of the risk in that in
the shouldering of the risk in that in partnership or whatever relationship you
partnership or whatever relationship you
partnership or whatever relationship you would like to call it
would like to call it
would like to call it it was the drivers who in the end had to
it was the drivers who in the end had to
it was the drivers who in the end had to really showed an inordinate amount of
really showed an inordinate amount of
really showed an inordinate amount of risk that to pay for the installment of
risk that to pay for the installment of
risk that to pay for the installment of the car they had to pay for insurance
the car they had to pay for insurance
the car they had to pay for insurance they had to pay for maintenance and yet
they had to pay for maintenance and yet
they had to pay for maintenance and yet at the end of it the parents of Silicon
at the end of it the parents of Silicon
at the end of it the parents of Silicon Valley would just take their 20% and in
Valley would just take their 20% and in
Valley would just take their 20% and in many ways they were reminded that they
many ways they were reminded that they
many ways they were reminded that they are indeed workers and not necessarily
are indeed workers and not necessarily
are indeed workers and not necessarily partners they are just like many other
partners they are just like many other
partners they are just like many other workers handlers of machines drillers of
workers handlers of machines drillers of
workers handlers of machines drillers of rock manchinga Llano a conveyor belt
rock manchinga Llano a conveyor belt
rock manchinga Llano a conveyor belt merchants in life restoration and death
merchants in life restoration and death
merchants in life restoration and death push mechanics peddling vendors drunken
push mechanics peddling vendors drunken
push mechanics peddling vendors drunken pastors who scale him towards
pastors who scale him towards
pastors who scale him towards willfulness he’s also a worker as much
willfulness he’s also a worker as much
willfulness he’s also a worker as much as those who hold the wealth of the
as those who hold the wealth of the
as those who hold the wealth of the world in their hands for a second before
world in their hands for a second before
world in their hands for a second before its allure and the hierarchies of the
its allure and the hierarchies of the
its allure and the hierarchies of the world invade the across and the hungry
world invade the across and the hungry
world invade the across and the hungry crumbles of the empty stomachs we’re
crumbles of the empty stomachs we’re
crumbles of the empty stomachs we’re reminded ladies and gentlemen that we
reminded ladies and gentlemen that we
reminded ladies and gentlemen that we are also the children of workers where
are also the children of workers where
are also the children of workers where the children of workers who looked after
the children of workers who looked after
the children of workers who looked after the children of others but never their
the children of others but never their
the children of others but never their own we are workers ourselves all be
own we are workers ourselves all be
own we are workers ourselves all be it’s well-trained ones sophisticated
it’s well-trained ones sophisticated
it’s well-trained ones sophisticated hobos two paychecks from the breadlines
hobos two paychecks from the breadlines
hobos two paychecks from the breadlines lion is a lion in the wild or in the zoo
lion is a lion in the wild or in the zoo
lion is a lion in the wild or in the zoo it matters not if you clean corridors or
it matters not if you clean corridors or
it matters not if you clean corridors or turn tricks sell stocks or paint
turn tricks sell stocks or paint
turn tricks sell stocks or paint apartment blocks blue or white the color
apartment blocks blue or white the color
apartment blocks blue or white the color is the same when you tie it up brown or
is the same when you tie it up brown or
is the same when you tie it up brown or green the gap the cash is the same when
green the gap the cash is the same when
green the gap the cash is the same when we counted up physical or mental the
we counted up physical or mental the
we counted up physical or mental the control is the same when you pair it up
control is the same when you pair it up
control is the same when you pair it up we are reminded that all of us are
we are reminded that all of us are
we are reminded that all of us are workers and even in this age of
workers and even in this age of
workers and even in this age of technological innovation where once
technological innovation where once
technological innovation where once again reminded that the unequal power
again reminded that the unequal power
again reminded that the unequal power relationships are never replaced nor
relationships are never replaced nor
relationships are never replaced nor displaced by technology in many
displaced by technology in many
displaced by technology in many instances technology the new
instances technology the new
instances technology the new technologies are able to do what
technologies are able to do what
technologies are able to do what previous technologies were unable to do
previous technologies were unable to do
previous technologies were unable to do which is to exploit our people much
which is to exploit our people much
which is to exploit our people much further and much more efficiently but
further and much more efficiently but
further and much more efficiently but more importantly I think there is a
more importantly I think there is a
more importantly I think there is a positive side to technology as well
positive side to technology as well
positive side to technology as well we’ve seen for instance in a continent
we’ve seen for instance in a continent
we’ve seen for instance in a continent like ours that’s always been defined by
like ours that’s always been defined by
like ours that’s always been defined by migration that technology is people to
migration that technology is people to
migration that technology is people to give life to people it’s been able to
give life to people it’s been able to
give life to people it’s been able to allow through mukuru ecocash and Pesa
allow through mukuru ecocash and Pesa
allow through mukuru ecocash and Pesa to allow us to send money across borders
to allow us to send money across borders
to allow us to send money across borders it’s also allowed us to be able to build
it’s also allowed us to be able to build
it’s also allowed us to be able to build early warning systems for crises
early warning systems for crises
early warning systems for crises political violence and a range of other
political violence and a range of other
political violence and a range of other emergencies in addition to this we’ve
emergencies in addition to this we’ve
emergencies in addition to this we’ve also been able to transact and
also been able to transact and
also been able to transact and transactions across the globe beyond the
transactions across the globe beyond the
transactions across the globe beyond the borders that were set in 1885 without
borders that were set in 1885 without
borders that were set in 1885 without our permission and without our consent
our permission and without our consent
our permission and without our consent and so I think for me there’s something
and so I think for me there’s something
and so I think for me there’s something out leave in the room today which is if
out leave in the room today which is if
out leave in the room today which is if we are indeed to not only be receivers
we are indeed to not only be receivers
we are indeed to not only be receivers but makers of technology how do we make
but makers of technology how do we make
but makers of technology how do we make it in a way that resolves and responds
it in a way that resolves and responds
it in a way that resolves and responds to some of our social challenges more
to some of our social challenges more
to some of our social challenges more importantly how do we speak about
importantly how do we speak about
importantly how do we speak about monopolization of our economy an economy
monopolization of our economy an economy
monopolization of our economy an economy with four Miller’s feeders all with four
with four Miller’s feeders all with four
with four Miller’s feeders all with four banks bankers all with three telecoms
banks bankers all with three telecoms
banks bankers all with three telecoms companies connect us all and
companies connect us all and
companies connect us all and unfortunately if we are unable to have
unfortunately if we are unable to have
unfortunately if we are unable to have this conversation
this conversation
this conversation then we defend and we reproduce the
then we defend and we reproduce the
then we defend and we reproduce the status quo which is one of concentration
status quo which is one of concentration
status quo which is one of concentration of wealth in the hands of a few
of wealth in the hands of a few
of wealth in the hands of a few while our regulators find themselves
while our regulators find themselves
while our regulators find themselves standing of our indifference and
standing of our indifference and
standing of our indifference and exploitation continues to the dance of a
exploitation continues to the dance of a
exploitation continues to the dance of a QWERTY tune while we can request and at
QWERTY tune while we can request and at
QWERTY tune while we can request and at the response of a please rate Mesa will
the response of a please rate Mesa will
the response of a please rate Mesa will then click on the four stars and carry
then click on the four stars and carry
then click on the four stars and carry on with our lives this ladies and
on with our lives this ladies and
on with our lives this ladies and gentlemen is the responsibility if we
gentlemen is the responsibility if we
gentlemen is the responsibility if we are to indeed be makers and not only
are to indeed be makers and not only
are to indeed be makers and not only receivers of Technology and I remind us
receivers of Technology and I remind us
receivers of Technology and I remind us once again that we are workers I’ll be
once again that we are workers I’ll be
once again that we are workers I’ll be it well trained once sophisticated hobos
it well trained once sophisticated hobos
it well trained once sophisticated hobos two paychecks away from the bread lines
two paychecks away from the bread lines
two paychecks away from the bread lines lion is a lion in the zoo Oh in the wild
lion is a lion in the zoo Oh in the wild
lion is a lion in the zoo Oh in the wild it matters not if you clean corridors or
it matters not if you clean corridors or
it matters not if you clean corridors or turn tricks
turn tricks
turn tricks sell stocks or paint apartment blocks it
sell stocks or paint apartment blocks it
sell stocks or paint apartment blocks it matters not if the collar is blue or
matters not if the collar is blue or
matters not if the collar is blue or white or the cash is brown or green
white or the cash is brown or green
white or the cash is brown or green because physical or mental the control
because physical or mental the control
because physical or mental the control is the same when you pair it up we are
is the same when you pair it up we are
is the same when you pair it up we are indeed workers and we are and the
indeed workers and we are and the
indeed workers and we are and the children of workers who raise the
children of workers who raise the
children of workers who raise the children of others but never their own
”
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