301 301 marks the years of racial segregation oppression and degradation
segregation oppression and degradation
segregation oppression and degradation in South Africa the arrival of
in South Africa the arrival of
in South Africa the arrival of colonizers in Africa which culminated
colonizers in Africa which culminated
colonizers in Africa which culminated with the Berlin conference in 1884 has
with the Berlin conference in 1884 has
with the Berlin conference in 1884 has been a defining moment in influencing
been a defining moment in influencing
been a defining moment in influencing how Africans see themselves and the
how Africans see themselves and the
how Africans see themselves and the world it has been 23 years since the end
world it has been 23 years since the end
world it has been 23 years since the end of apartheid but systemic racism has not
of apartheid but systemic racism has not
of apartheid but systemic racism has not followed suit in a country where the
followed suit in a country where the
followed suit in a country where the face of unemployment and poverty is
face of unemployment and poverty is
face of unemployment and poverty is still black where representation and
still black where representation and
still black where representation and diversity in the corporate world and
diversity in the corporate world and
diversity in the corporate world and economy is still lacking and education
economy is still lacking and education
economy is still lacking and education is still seen as a privilege only
is still seen as a privilege only
is still seen as a privilege only offered to those who can afford it it
offered to those who can afford it it
offered to those who can afford it it would not be unprecedented to make this
would not be unprecedented to make this
would not be unprecedented to make this scale 23 years is a pretty short amount
scale 23 years is a pretty short amount
scale 23 years is a pretty short amount of time in the capsule of time and
of time in the capsule of time and
of time in the capsule of time and looking around in this room I could
looking around in this room I could
looking around in this room I could easily assume that if you have not lived
easily assume that if you have not lived
easily assume that if you have not lived through a party it is most likely that
through a party it is most likely that
through a party it is most likely that there is someone orangey even next to
there is someone orangey even next to
there is someone orangey even next to you or even in your homes that has the
you or even in your homes that has the
you or even in your homes that has the atrocities trauma and displacement faced
atrocities trauma and displacement faced
atrocities trauma and displacement faced by generations of people of color echo
by generations of people of color echo
by generations of people of color echo into modern society the ripple effects
into modern society the ripple effects
into modern society the ripple effects of having land culture and people taken
of having land culture and people taken
of having land culture and people taken away is evident in the mindset of people
away is evident in the mindset of people
away is evident in the mindset of people of color today the damage for instance
of color today the damage for instance
of color today the damage for instance placed on black men and black fathers
placed on black men and black fathers
placed on black men and black fathers through emasculation and being sub
through emasculation and being sub
through emasculation and being sub inputs apart to Eggman has created an
inputs apart to Eggman has created an
inputs apart to Eggman has created an inferiority complex that has given this
inferiority complex that has given this
inferiority complex that has given this inability to fulfill their roles in
inability to fulfill their roles in
inability to fulfill their roles in society absenteeism alcoholism and the
society absenteeism alcoholism and the
society absenteeism alcoholism and the inability to father are consequences of
inability to father are consequences of
inability to father are consequences of systemic racism that have been passed
systemic racism that have been passed
systemic racism that have been passed down through generations psychoanalyst
down through generations psychoanalyst
down through generations psychoanalyst and black thinker France for not once it
and black thinker France for not once it
and black thinker France for not once it for the black man there is only one
for the black man there is only one
for the black man there is only one destiny and it is white colonialism and
destiny and it is white colonialism and
destiny and it is white colonialism and apartheid the systems not only created
apartheid the systems not only created
apartheid the systems not only created to hinder the oppressed and marginalized
to hinder the oppressed and marginalized
to hinder the oppressed and marginalized physically but most importantly
physically but most importantly
physically but most importantly psychologically that consciousness
psychologically that consciousness
psychologically that consciousness activist Steve Biko once said the most
activist Steve Biko once said the most
activist Steve Biko once said the most potent weapon in the hands of the
potent weapon in the hands of the
potent weapon in the hands of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed
oppressor is the mind of the oppressed
oppressor is the mind of the oppressed and when speaking about trauma and the
and when speaking about trauma and the
and when speaking about trauma and the atrocities that were experienced during
atrocities that were experienced during
atrocities that were experienced during apartheid and colonialism there is a
apartheid and colonialism there is a
apartheid and colonialism there is a sense of shame and denial and when my
sense of shame and denial and when my
sense of shame and denial and when my father was a student during apartheid he
father was a student during apartheid he
father was a student during apartheid he was arrested and to this day we don’t
was arrested and to this day we don’t
was arrested and to this day we don’t speak about his time in prison and this
speak about his time in prison and this
speak about his time in prison and this tendency to conceal the severity of what
tendency to conceal the severity of what
tendency to conceal the severity of what our parents went through grandparents
our parents went through grandparents
our parents went through grandparents went through during colonialism creates
went through during colonialism creates
went through during colonialism creates a rift and hindrance between us the born
a rift and hindrance between us the born
a rift and hindrance between us the born frees of this generation and the older
frees of this generation and the older
frees of this generation and the older generation and then influences the
generation and then influences the
generation and then influences the discussions we have about mental health
discussions we have about mental health
discussions we have about mental health being strong having a thick skin and
being strong having a thick skin and
being strong having a thick skin and soldiering on a values instilled in most
soldiering on a values instilled in most
soldiering on a values instilled in most upbringing zuv people children of color
upbringing zuv people children of color
upbringing zuv people children of color and during the struggle against
and during the struggle against
and during the struggle against apartheid
apartheid
apartheid our parents sacrificed many things such
our parents sacrificed many things such
our parents sacrificed many things such as their education their lives and to an
as their education their lives and to an
as their education their lives and to an extent their sanity that is why when
extent their sanity that is why when
extent their sanity that is why when topics of anxiety post-traumatic stress
topics of anxiety post-traumatic stress
topics of anxiety post-traumatic stress disorder and depression arise it is met
disorder and depression arise it is met
disorder and depression arise it is met with the stigma of being weak and
with the stigma of being weak and
with the stigma of being weak and ungrateful facing microaggressions on a
ungrateful facing microaggressions on a
ungrateful facing microaggressions on a daily basis and having to navigate
daily basis and having to navigate
daily basis and having to navigate spheres and spaces that were formerly
spheres and spaces that were formerly
spheres and spaces that were formerly white only creates unique different type
white only creates unique different type
white only creates unique different type of trauma one that our parents do not
of trauma one that our parents do not
of trauma one that our parents do not seem to understand and for children who
seem to understand and for children who
seem to understand and for children who are thrown into in these environments
are thrown into in these environments
are thrown into in these environments that were formerly white there is this
that were formerly white there is this
that were formerly white there is this pressure to overachieve and
pressure to overachieve and
pressure to overachieve and overcompensate I thought when I was
overcompensate I thought when I was
overcompensate I thought when I was younger that if I made as
younger that if I made as
younger that if I made as many white friends as possible I could
many white friends as possible I could
many white friends as possible I could be seen as valid as equal as worthy but
be seen as valid as equal as worthy but
be seen as valid as equal as worthy but the clear divide that race and class
the clear divide that race and class
the clear divide that race and class make is evident from a young age ready
make is evident from a young age ready
make is evident from a young age ready and I you realize you different when
and I you realize you different when
and I you realize you different when little Ambus is my mommy told me that
little Ambus is my mommy told me that
little Ambus is my mommy told me that you’re so brown it’s because you tan so
you’re so brown it’s because you tan so
you’re so brown it’s because you tan so much in the summer and mrs. Bowie asks
much in the summer and mrs. Bowie asks
much in the summer and mrs. Bowie asks if you don’t have an English name
if you don’t have an English name
if you don’t have an English name because Columba cut coma cut amber and
because Columba cut coma cut amber and
because Columba cut coma cut amber and cucumber Cacambo is way too difficult to
cucumber Cacambo is way too difficult to
cucumber Cacambo is way too difficult to say and just revert to calling you by
say and just revert to calling you by
say and just revert to calling you by your surname the violence that we
your surname the violence that we
your surname the violence that we encounter is different to the one that
encounter is different to the one that
encounter is different to the one that has occurred in the past which was
has occurred in the past which was
has occurred in the past which was legislative and enforced by the
legislative and enforced by the
legislative and enforced by the government but it is one that is subtle
government but it is one that is subtle
government but it is one that is subtle and persistent and even dangerous
and persistent and even dangerous
and persistent and even dangerous because it is so difficult to rectify
because it is so difficult to rectify
because it is so difficult to rectify and for my young age
and for my young age
and for my young age already these feelings of extreme
already these feelings of extreme
already these feelings of extreme self-awareness and shame creep up and
self-awareness and shame creep up and
self-awareness and shame creep up and for example a six-year-old child
for example a six-year-old child
for example a six-year-old child expressing psychological stress is often
expressing psychological stress is often
expressing psychological stress is often difficult to pay for parents and this
difficult to pay for parents and this
difficult to pay for parents and this inability this block of communication
inability this block of communication
inability this block of communication about psychological stress with parents
about psychological stress with parents
about psychological stress with parents of color it trickles down to adolescence
of color it trickles down to adolescence
of color it trickles down to adolescence and adulthood it is easy to get lost
and adulthood it is easy to get lost
and adulthood it is easy to get lost when the guidance we expect to receive
when the guidance we expect to receive
when the guidance we expect to receive is not there where do we go when our
is not there where do we go when our
is not there where do we go when our loved ones parents and guardians cannot
loved ones parents and guardians cannot
loved ones parents and guardians cannot guide us in the correct direction and
guide us in the correct direction and
guide us in the correct direction and even if we do seek help independently we
even if we do seek help independently we
even if we do seek help independently we are met with misdiagnosis white
are met with misdiagnosis white
are met with misdiagnosis white fragility and gaslighting what do we do
fragility and gaslighting what do we do
fragility and gaslighting what do we do if white mental health practitioners
if white mental health practitioners
if white mental health practitioners cannot treat us the mere study and
cannot treat us the mere study and
cannot treat us the mere study and science of psychology itself has a basis
science of psychology itself has a basis
science of psychology itself has a basis and foundation laid by by majority being
and foundation laid by by majority being
and foundation laid by by majority being white men such as Freud Watson and volt
white men such as Freud Watson and volt
white men such as Freud Watson and volt and can we honestly say looking at
and can we honestly say looking at
and can we honestly say looking at statistics today that mental health
statistics today that mental health
statistics today that mental health practitioners represent the demographics
practitioners represent the demographics
practitioners represent the demographics of South Africa
of South Africa
of South Africa this inability to comprehend what born
this inability to comprehend what born
this inability to comprehend what born frees of color face today in South
frees of color face today in South
frees of color face today in South Africa forces many young people of color
Africa forces many young people of color
Africa forces many young people of color to seek new avenues of expression
to seek new avenues of expression
to seek new avenues of expression acceptance regardless of class young
acceptance regardless of class young
acceptance regardless of class young people seek validation in similar ways
people seek validation in similar ways
people seek validation in similar ways and for youths who come from townships
and for youths who come from townships
and for youths who come from townships which are places created by the
which are places created by the
which are places created by the apartheid government not only to
apartheid government not only to
apartheid government not only to disadvantage people of color this is
disadvantage people of color this is
disadvantage people of color this is wonderful Ocala geographically but
wonderful Ocala geographically but
wonderful Ocala geographically but because of the economic standing to make
because of the economic standing to make
because of the economic standing to make sure that people have kind of don’t
sure that people have kind of don’t
sure that people have kind of don’t thrive gangsterism crime and violence
thrive gangsterism crime and violence
thrive gangsterism crime and violence are areas where people aware young
are areas where people aware young
are areas where people aware young people find this support structure but
people find this support structure but
people find this support structure but when the discussions and discussions and
when the discussions and discussions and
when the discussions and discussions and debates about gangsterism and violence
debates about gangsterism and violence
debates about gangsterism and violence and crime creep up we never asked why
and crime creep up we never asked why
and crime creep up we never asked why after 23 years of supposedly living in a
after 23 years of supposedly living in a
after 23 years of supposedly living in a free South Africa young people are still
free South Africa young people are still
free South Africa young people are still joining gangs why is it that young
joining gangs why is it that young
joining gangs why is it that young people are still so angry and still so
people are still so angry and still so
people are still so angry and still so violent and why people are still having
violent and why people are still having
violent and why people are still having to resort to desperate measures in order
to resort to desperate measures in order
to resort to desperate measures in order to put food on their tables and for you
to put food on their tables and for you
to put food on their tables and for you to come from privileged privileged
to come from privileged privileged
to come from privileged privileged middle class backgrounds like I do the
middle class backgrounds like I do the
middle class backgrounds like I do the pressure of assimilation and alienation
pressure of assimilation and alienation
pressure of assimilation and alienation can create anger and resentment being
can create anger and resentment being
can create anger and resentment being this feeling of half of being a fish out
this feeling of half of being a fish out
this feeling of half of being a fish out of water being the only one who looks
of water being the only one who looks
of water being the only one who looks like you speaks like you and comes from
like you speaks like you and comes from
like you speaks like you and comes from a family like you do symptoms of anxiety
a family like you do symptoms of anxiety
a family like you do symptoms of anxiety and depression can creep up I am a black
and depression can creep up I am a black
and depression can creep up I am a black girl and I am angry and I am broken and
girl and I am angry and I am broken and
girl and I am angry and I am broken and sometimes when I wish I could scream all
sometimes when I wish I could scream all
sometimes when I wish I could scream all I can do is bite my lip and when I see
I can do is bite my lip and when I see
I can do is bite my lip and when I see children of color men of color women of
children of color men of color women of
children of color men of color women of color
color
color dying being killed I cry because I can’t
dying being killed I cry because I can’t
dying being killed I cry because I can’t help but wonder if that could ever be my
help but wonder if that could ever be my
help but wonder if that could ever be my son my daughter neighbor classmate a
son my daughter neighbor classmate a
son my daughter neighbor classmate a South African economy has lost two
South African economy has lost two
South African economy has lost two hundred and thirty two billion rand
hundred and thirty two billion rand
hundred and thirty two billion rand because of loss of productivity due to
because of loss of productivity due to
because of loss of productivity due to depression in the workplace why is it
depression in the workplace why is it
depression in the workplace why is it that the South African government is not
that the South African government is not
that the South African government is not prioritizing mental health and most
prioritizing mental health and most
prioritizing mental health and most importantly reform in mental health
importantly reform in mental health
importantly reform in mental health compared to other constitutions in the
compared to other constitutions in the
compared to other constitutions in the world South Africa is one of the most
world South Africa is one of the most
world South Africa is one of the most progressive and forward-thinking
progressive and forward-thinking
progressive and forward-thinking constitutions but still the people of
constitutions but still the people of
constitutions but still the people of South Africa people of color South
South Africa people of color South
South Africa people of color South Africa young people of color of Africa
Africa young people of color of Africa
Africa young people of color of Africa are still suffering in silence I stand
are still suffering in silence I stand
are still suffering in silence I stand here on the stage today to speak about
here on the stage today to speak about
here on the stage today to speak about the importance of a happy and
the importance of a happy and
the importance of a happy and psychologically healthy society it all
psychologically healthy society it all
psychologically healthy society it all starts with dialogue being comfortable
starts with dialogue being comfortable
starts with dialogue being comfortable with being uncomfortable speaking about
with being uncomfortable speaking about
with being uncomfortable speaking about our feelings our emotions and
our feelings our emotions and
our feelings our emotions and understanding the consequences of coming
understanding the consequences of coming
understanding the consequences of coming from a complicated history it all starts
from a complicated history it all starts
from a complicated history it all starts with speaking out speaking out of spaces
with speaking out speaking out of spaces
with speaking out speaking out of spaces that were not used to not owning in our
that were not used to not owning in our
that were not used to not owning in our comfortable spaces we can express
comfortable spaces we can express
comfortable spaces we can express ourselves to the fullest and in order to
ourselves to the fullest and in order to
ourselves to the fullest and in order to create a thriving and beautiful future
create a thriving and beautiful future
create a thriving and beautiful future and a South Africa that you all would
and a South Africa that you all would
and a South Africa that you all would love to live in we need to make sure and
love to live in we need to make sure and
love to live in we need to make sure and put importance and prioritize mental
put importance and prioritize mental
put importance and prioritize mental health especially for people of color
health especially for people of color
health especially for people of color and break down those barriers there’s
and break down those barriers there’s
and break down those barriers there’s stigma there’s taboos surrounded and
stigma there’s taboos surrounded and
stigma there’s taboos surrounded and surrounded and created around mental
surrounded and created around mental
surrounded and created around mental health and I starts with each and every
health and I starts with each and every
health and I starts with each and every one of you speaking to each other trying
one of you speaking to each other trying
one of you speaking to each other trying to understand each other
to understand each other
to understand each other that’s how we move forward thank you
that’s how we move forward thank you
that’s how we move forward thank you [Applause]
”
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