the evening ladies and gentlemen it’s such an honor for me to be here and it’s
such an honor for me to be here and it’s
such an honor for me to be here and it’s such a privilege I mean I have to keep
such a privilege I mean I have to keep
such a privilege I mean I have to keep on pinching myself literally to make
on pinching myself literally to make
on pinching myself literally to make sure that I’m really here doing my very
sure that I’m really here doing my very
sure that I’m really here doing my very first TEDx talk but before I start I’ll
first TEDx talk but before I start I’ll
first TEDx talk but before I start I’ll just like to give a little bit of
just like to give a little bit of
just like to give a little bit of background again to who I really am so
background again to who I really am so
background again to who I really am so you know who I am and where I come from
you know who I am and where I come from
you know who I am and where I come from so my name is Joanne I won a cup and I
so my name is Joanne I won a cup and I
so my name is Joanne I won a cup and I come from Cameroon it’s a country in
come from Cameroon it’s a country in
come from Cameroon it’s a country in central Africa and I’ve been in South
central Africa and I’ve been in South
central Africa and I’ve been in South Africa for the past 10 years so I know a
Africa for the past 10 years so I know a
Africa for the past 10 years so I know a thing or two about being an immigrant in
thing or two about being an immigrant in
thing or two about being an immigrant in a foreign country I came here with my
a foreign country I came here with my
a foreign country I came here with my family
family
family and I’m very fortunate to come from an
and I’m very fortunate to come from an
and I’m very fortunate to come from an academic family as the reason why I came
academic family as the reason why I came
academic family as the reason why I came here was due to my parents being invited
here was due to my parents being invited
here was due to my parents being invited to come and work here due to the
to come and work here due to the
to come and work here due to the exceptional skills and so it’s really
exceptional skills and so it’s really
exceptional skills and so it’s really interesting because my sisters as well
interesting because my sisters as well
interesting because my sisters as well know what it’s like to be immigrants in
know what it’s like to be immigrants in
know what it’s like to be immigrants in different countries as my older sister
different countries as my older sister
different countries as my older sister just returned from a conference in Japan
just returned from a conference in Japan
just returned from a conference in Japan and my younger sister was in the United
and my younger sister was in the United
and my younger sister was in the United States of America for a global Young
States of America for a global Young
States of America for a global Young Leaders Conference so my parents and my
Leaders Conference so my parents and my
Leaders Conference so my parents and my sisters seem to have elaborate CVS so I
sisters seem to have elaborate CVS so I
sisters seem to have elaborate CVS so I myself I feel very like I’m feeling big
myself I feel very like I’m feeling big
myself I feel very like I’m feeling big shoes coming in tonight but I believe
shoes coming in tonight but I believe
shoes coming in tonight but I believe what I have to share is something that
what I have to share is something that
what I have to share is something that we all need to know the key to social
we all need to know the key to social
we all need to know the key to social cohesion lies in perception the kids
cohesion lies in perception the kids
cohesion lies in perception the kids social cohesion lies in perception and
social cohesion lies in perception and
social cohesion lies in perception and I’m going to start off my talk with a
I’m going to start off my talk with a
I’m going to start off my talk with a bit of a story because I’ve been told
bit of a story because I’ve been told
bit of a story because I’ve been told I’m a storyteller and I hope you enjoyed
I’m a storyteller and I hope you enjoyed
I’m a storyteller and I hope you enjoyed my stories of different experiences I’ve
my stories of different experiences I’ve
my stories of different experiences I’ve had in South Africa and so I’m gonna
had in South Africa and so I’m gonna
had in South Africa and so I’m gonna take you way back 2007 so imagine we’re
take you way back 2007 so imagine we’re
take you way back 2007 so imagine we’re in 2007 we just came to South Africa
in 2007 we just came to South Africa
in 2007 we just came to South Africa this was in August and it was my very
this was in August and it was my very
this was in August and it was my very first day in high school it was great
first day in high school it was great
first day in high school it was great 8:00 and I came in the middle of the
8:00 and I came in the middle of the
8:00 and I came in the middle of the year so everyone already had their
year so everyone already had their
year so everyone already had their friends you know everything was going
friends you know everything was going
friends you know everything was going good so I was feeling very nervous
good so I was feeling very nervous
good so I was feeling very nervous I was shaky are they going to like me am
I was shaky are they going to like me am
I was shaky are they going to like me am I gonna make friends I can’t even speak
I gonna make friends I can’t even speak
I gonna make friends I can’t even speak the language so while all those thoughts
the language so while all those thoughts
the language so while all those thoughts were going through my mind
were going through my mind
were going through my mind in came this white girl with ginger hair
in came this white girl with ginger hair
in came this white girl with ginger hair smiling at me and she assured me to my
smiling at me and she assured me to my
smiling at me and she assured me to my classroom and when I walked in everyone
classroom and when I walked in everyone
classroom and when I walked in everyone was staring at me like you’re staring at
was staring at me like you’re staring at
was staring at me like you’re staring at me now and I was looking back at them
me now and I was looking back at them
me now and I was looking back at them and all I could see was five black faces
and all I could see was five black faces
and all I could see was five black faces and twenty white faces staring at me and
and twenty white faces staring at me and
and twenty white faces staring at me and the first thing that came to mind was
the first thing that came to mind was
the first thing that came to mind was I’ve never been in the same room with
I’ve never been in the same room with
I’ve never been in the same room with this many white people in my life so it
this many white people in my life so it
this many white people in my life so it was exciting for me and I was just
was exciting for me and I was just
was exciting for me and I was just really thrilled I wanted to get the full
really thrilled I wanted to get the full
really thrilled I wanted to get the full South African experience so I told
South African experience so I told
South African experience so I told myself I need to know the different race
myself I need to know the different race
myself I need to know the different race groups I didn’t know the different
groups I didn’t know the different
groups I didn’t know the different cultures and that was my mindset at the
cultures and that was my mindset at the
cultures and that was my mindset at the time so during break time we went to the
time so during break time we went to the
time so during break time we went to the school field and everyone was he knows
school field and everyone was he knows
school field and everyone was he knows sitting in the different race groups and
sitting in the different race groups and
sitting in the different race groups and I thought to myself I thought our pie
I thought to myself I thought our pie
I thought to myself I thought our pie type was over like ten years ago
type was over like ten years ago
type was over like ten years ago so how come people are still sitting in
so how come people are still sitting in
so how come people are still sitting in the preferred racial group the white
the preferred racial group the white
the preferred racial group the white people sat together
people sat together
people sat together the Africans stuck together Indians had
the Africans stuck together Indians had
the Africans stuck together Indians had together and I was like okay what’s
together and I was like okay what’s
together and I was like okay what’s going on here nevertheless I was still
going on here nevertheless I was still
going on here nevertheless I was still determined to have the fools that
determined to have the fools that
determined to have the fools that African experience and so during first
African experience and so during first
African experience and so during first break I sat with the white folk and
break I sat with the white folk and
break I sat with the white folk and during second break I sat with the black
during second break I sat with the black
during second break I sat with the black folk and as we were sitting having a
folk and as we were sitting having a
folk and as we were sitting having a discussion in came this black girl you
discussion in came this black girl you
discussion in came this black girl you know she was real excited she heard that
know she was real excited she heard that
know she was real excited she heard that there was a new foreign kid in school
there was a new foreign kid in school
there was a new foreign kid in school and she came to me and the first thing
and she came to me and the first thing
and she came to me and the first thing she asked me was are you a refugee I was
she asked me was are you a refugee I was
she asked me was are you a refugee I was like okay am ia refugee and being asked
like okay am ia refugee and being asked
like okay am ia refugee and being asked this question by my own kind left me
this question by my own kind left me
this question by my own kind left me feeling very confused I was like how can
feeling very confused I was like how can
feeling very confused I was like how can she ask me such a question but then I
she ask me such a question but then I
she ask me such a question but then I concluded that it wasn’t because she was
concluded that it wasn’t because she was
concluded that it wasn’t because she was ignorant it’s just cuz she had the
ignorant it’s just cuz she had the
ignorant it’s just cuz she had the perception that all black foreigners who
perception that all black foreigners who
perception that all black foreigners who were refugees and so this was the first
were refugees and so this was the first
were refugees and so this was the first of many perceptions to follow me as an
of many perceptions to follow me as an
of many perceptions to follow me as an immigrant living in South Africa I
immigrant living in South Africa I
immigrant living in South Africa I believe that our perceptions and
believe that our perceptions and
believe that our perceptions and misconceptions that we have about each
misconceptions that we have about each
misconceptions that we have about each other is what actually hinders social
other is what actually hinders social
other is what actually hinders social cohesion now a perception is basically
cohesion now a perception is basically
cohesion now a perception is basically our opinion or how we think
our opinion or how we think
our opinion or how we think this is influenced by your cultural
this is influenced by your cultural
this is influenced by your cultural background your perception can be
background your perception can be
background your perception can be influenced by your religion can be
influenced by your religion can be
influenced by your religion can be influenced by your race it can be
influenced by your race it can be
influenced by your race it can be influenced by your family values so many
influenced by your family values so many
influenced by your family values so many different things form a perception
different things form a perception
different things form a perception meanwhile a misconception is an
meanwhile a misconception is an
meanwhile a misconception is an incorrect way of thinking about
incorrect way of thinking about
incorrect way of thinking about something so you have an opinion but
something so you have an opinion but
something so you have an opinion but it’s not really a true opinion so that’s
it’s not really a true opinion so that’s
it’s not really a true opinion so that’s a misconception so barring these two
a misconception so barring these two
a misconception so barring these two things in mind I’m sure we’ll agree that
things in mind I’m sure we’ll agree that
things in mind I’m sure we’ll agree that someone from Nigeria will think
someone from Nigeria will think
someone from Nigeria will think differently to someone in South Africa
differently to someone in South Africa
differently to someone in South Africa a rich person will think differently to
a rich person will think differently to
a rich person will think differently to a poor person black person will think
a poor person black person will think
a poor person black person will think differently to an Indian person and a
differently to an Indian person and a
differently to an Indian person and a Christian will think differently to a
Christian will think differently to a
Christian will think differently to a Muslim so these are all perceptions and
Muslim so these are all perceptions and
Muslim so these are all perceptions and I’m sure before I came up here tonight
I’m sure before I came up here tonight
I’m sure before I came up here tonight or maybe as I’m standing here you’re
or maybe as I’m standing here you’re
or maybe as I’m standing here you’re already forming one or two perceptions
already forming one or two perceptions
already forming one or two perceptions about me hopefully good perceptions but
about me hopefully good perceptions but
about me hopefully good perceptions but but did you know that I’m not really
but did you know that I’m not really
but did you know that I’m not really black don’t be fooled by the effort I’m
black don’t be fooled by the effort I’m
black don’t be fooled by the effort I’m not really black I’ve been told so many
not really black I’ve been told so many
not really black I’ve been told so many times that I’m not really black because
times that I’m not really black because
times that I’m not really black because I can’t speak is a Zulu but since when
I can’t speak is a Zulu but since when
I can’t speak is a Zulu but since when was raised defined by language things
was raised defined by language things
was raised defined by language things when was raised defined by language and
when was raised defined by language and
when was raised defined by language and so since I’ve been told this so many
so since I’ve been told this so many
so since I’ve been told this so many times I I also concluded that you know
times I I also concluded that you know
times I I also concluded that you know this was just a perception and when I
this was just a perception and when I
this was just a perception and when I started to explain that my first
started to explain that my first
started to explain that my first language is English I’m met by
language is English I’m met by
language is English I’m met by disapproving looks from the white folk
disapproving looks from the white folk
disapproving looks from the white folk but how come your first language is
but how come your first language is
but how come your first language is English and your African surely your
English and your African surely your
English and your African surely your first language should be something a
first language should be something a
first language should be something a little bit more tribal sounding and so
little bit more tribal sounding and so
little bit more tribal sounding and so by the time I started explaining to them
by the time I started explaining to them
by the time I started explaining to them that I come from Cameroon and in
that I come from Cameroon and in
that I come from Cameroon and in Cameroon we have 260 tribal languages
Cameroon we have 260 tribal languages
Cameroon we have 260 tribal languages but we have two national languages which
but we have two national languages which
but we have two national languages which is English and French
is English and French
is English and French therefore my first language is English
therefore my first language is English
therefore my first language is English then they go oh okay now we understand I
then they go oh okay now we understand I
then they go oh okay now we understand I also remember when I was in high school
also remember when I was in high school
also remember when I was in high school during a history lessons when we’re
during a history lessons when we’re
during a history lessons when we’re talking about other African countries
talking about other African countries
talking about other African countries maybe we’re talking about the Nigerian
maybe we’re talking about the Nigerian
maybe we’re talking about the Nigerian Biafra war we’re talking about the
Biafra war we’re talking about the
Biafra war we’re talking about the Rwandan genocide the teacher will stop
Rwandan genocide the teacher will stop
Rwandan genocide the teacher will stop pause and everyone will look at me
pause and everyone will look at me
pause and everyone will look at me and the teacher will signal I’m sure
and the teacher will signal I’m sure
and the teacher will signal I’m sure Joanne has something more to say about
Joanne has something more to say about
Joanne has something more to say about the Rwandan genocide because she’s from
the Rwandan genocide because she’s from
the Rwandan genocide because she’s from Africa and I think to myself we are in
Africa and I think to myself we are in
Africa and I think to myself we are in Africa so I don’t know if that was a
Africa so I don’t know if that was a
Africa so I don’t know if that was a misconception of misplaced identity I’m
misconception of misplaced identity I’m
misconception of misplaced identity I’m not sure so these are the different
not sure so these are the different
not sure so these are the different kinds of perceptions that you know I
kinds of perceptions that you know I
kinds of perceptions that you know I face as an immigrant in South Africa
face as an immigrant in South Africa
face as an immigrant in South Africa in addition to this once in a while when
in addition to this once in a while when
in addition to this once in a while when there was some news of outbreak of
there was some news of outbreak of
there was some news of outbreak of violence against foreign nationals I
violence against foreign nationals I
violence against foreign nationals I often felt a bit uneasy and safe not
often felt a bit uneasy and safe not
often felt a bit uneasy and safe not wondering if I mean wondering if I’m
wondering if I mean wondering if I’m
wondering if I mean wondering if I’m accepted in the environment I find
accepted in the environment I find
accepted in the environment I find myself in and I believe that what we can
myself in and I believe that what we can
myself in and I believe that what we can actually do to stop these occurrences is
actually do to stop these occurrences is
actually do to stop these occurrences is to replace the spirit of division with
to replace the spirit of division with
to replace the spirit of division with the spirit of Ubuntu and the Ubuntu
the spirit of Ubuntu and the Ubuntu
the spirit of Ubuntu and the Ubuntu basically means I am because you are
basically means I am because you are
basically means I am because you are this is an ancient African concept that
this is an ancient African concept that
this is an ancient African concept that puts humanity at the forefront of our
puts humanity at the forefront of our
puts humanity at the forefront of our being so you describe differences based
being so you describe differences based
being so you describe differences based on nationality differences based on
on nationality differences based on
on nationality differences based on religion culture and every other
religion culture and every other
religion culture and every other difference you can think about so it
difference you can think about so it
difference you can think about so it won’t so breaks the societal barriers
won’t so breaks the societal barriers
won’t so breaks the societal barriers and seeks to unite us instead of trying
and seeks to unite us instead of trying
and seeks to unite us instead of trying to separate us because of perceptions so
to separate us because of perceptions so
to separate us because of perceptions so I believe that social cohesion can only
I believe that social cohesion can only
I believe that social cohesion can only truly exist when we start seeing each
truly exist when we start seeing each
truly exist when we start seeing each other as a reason for being now it seems
other as a reason for being now it seems
other as a reason for being now it seems that Mother Nature has actually much
that Mother Nature has actually much
that Mother Nature has actually much better interactions than we are and if I
better interactions than we are and if I
better interactions than we are and if I remember my biology correctly an
remember my biology correctly an
remember my biology correctly an ecosystem is a community of organisms
ecosystem is a community of organisms
ecosystem is a community of organisms that interact with each other in an
that interact with each other in an
that interact with each other in an environment and in an ecosystem you have
environment and in an ecosystem you have
environment and in an ecosystem you have thousands of different organisms
thousands of different organisms
thousands of different organisms some of them migrate there from
some of them migrate there from
some of them migrate there from someplace else while other organisms
someplace else while other organisms
someplace else while other organisms that they permanently and this
that they permanently and this
that they permanently and this competition have food this competition
competition have food this competition
competition have food this competition for what are these comfortable clothes
for what are these comfortable clothes
for what are these comfortable clothes but in an ecosystem each organism needs
but in an ecosystem each organism needs
but in an ecosystem each organism needs the other one to survive and so let’s
the other one to survive and so let’s
the other one to survive and so let’s look at an example let’s imagine a herd
look at an example let’s imagine a herd
look at an example let’s imagine a herd of cows usually wherever you find cows
of cows usually wherever you find cows
of cows usually wherever you find cows you will find these birds called petal
you will find these birds called petal
you will find these birds called petal egrets
egrets
egrets and what these birds do is they eat the
and what these birds do is they eat the
and what these birds do is they eat the insects from the cows and it’s
insects from the cows and it’s
insects from the cows and it’s beneficial to the cows because they
beneficial to the cows because they
beneficial to the cows because they don’t have to deal with this insects
don’t have to deal with this insects
don’t have to deal with this insects anymore and it’s beneficial so that the
anymore and it’s beneficial so that the
anymore and it’s beneficial so that the birds because they have food and so this
birds because they have food and so this
birds because they have food and so this kind of relationship is called a
kind of relationship is called a
kind of relationship is called a symbiotic relationship and as symbiotic
symbiotic relationship and as symbiotic
symbiotic relationship and as symbiotic relationship or symbiosis is basically
relationship or symbiosis is basically
relationship or symbiosis is basically an interaction between two organisms and
an interaction between two organisms and
an interaction between two organisms and it’s that is beneficial to them both so
it’s that is beneficial to them both so
it’s that is beneficial to them both so this is how a bun – is actually supposed
this is how a bun – is actually supposed
this is how a bun – is actually supposed to work practically and not just an
to work practically and not just an
to work practically and not just an understanding when an immigrant comes
understanding when an immigrant comes
understanding when an immigrant comes into a different country instead of
into a different country instead of
into a different country instead of forming opinions about them that is not
forming opinions about them that is not
forming opinions about them that is not might not be true rather try to form
might not be true rather try to form
might not be true rather try to form interactions with them that has
interactions with them that has
interactions with them that has beneficial to society as a whole
beneficial to society as a whole
beneficial to society as a whole and so I would like to share with you
and so I would like to share with you
and so I would like to share with you four things that have helped me as an
four things that have helped me as an
four things that have helped me as an immigrant in South Africa to form better
immigrant in South Africa to form better
immigrant in South Africa to form better relationships on a day-to-day basis
relationships on a day-to-day basis
relationships on a day-to-day basis number one ask questions ask questions
number one ask questions ask questions
number one ask questions ask questions if you’re unsure about anything ask
if you’re unsure about anything ask
if you’re unsure about anything ask questions rather than jumping to
questions rather than jumping to
questions rather than jumping to conclusions about something that might
conclusions about something that might
conclusions about something that might not be true rather as the person is this
not be true rather as the person is this
not be true rather as the person is this really how it is number two don’t be
really how it is number two don’t be
really how it is number two don’t be offended if someone has a misconception
offended if someone has a misconception
offended if someone has a misconception about you because all they know is all
about you because all they know is all
about you because all they know is all they’ve been exposed to so rather use
they’ve been exposed to so rather use
they’ve been exposed to so rather use the opportunity to try and educate them
the opportunity to try and educate them
the opportunity to try and educate them to correct the faulty thinking I’m a
to correct the faulty thinking I’m a
to correct the faulty thinking I’m a dream don’t pass judgment against people
dream don’t pass judgment against people
dream don’t pass judgment against people who have a different perception from you
who have a different perception from you
who have a different perception from you or people of a different religion a
or people of a different religion a
or people of a different religion a different race different culture because
different race different culture because
different race different culture because again all they know has already been
again all they know has already been
again all they know has already been exposed to and finally you need to know
exposed to and finally you need to know
exposed to and finally you need to know who you are and knowing who we know is
who you are and knowing who we know is
who you are and knowing who we know is defined by so many different things but
defined by so many different things but
defined by so many different things but for me I know who I am
for me I know who I am
for me I know who I am based on my faith I’m a child of God and
based on my faith I’m a child of God and
based on my faith I’m a child of God and secondly my foundation is my family
secondly my foundation is my family
secondly my foundation is my family therefore because I know these two
therefore because I know these two
therefore because I know these two things nothing anyone tells me can ever
things nothing anyone tells me can ever
things nothing anyone tells me can ever make me feel offended because I Know Who
make me feel offended because I Know Who
make me feel offended because I Know Who I am
I am
I am so in conclusion ladies and gentlemen
so in conclusion ladies and gentlemen
so in conclusion ladies and gentlemen social cohesion as possible when we
social cohesion as possible when we
social cohesion as possible when we actually start
actually start
actually start practicing ubuntu and not just thinking
practicing ubuntu and not just thinking
practicing ubuntu and not just thinking about it in our understanding it is
about it in our understanding it is
about it in our understanding it is possible when we start forming the right
possible when we start forming the right
possible when we start forming the right relationship relationships with each
relationship relationships with each
relationship relationships with each other that is beneficial and it is
other that is beneficial and it is
other that is beneficial and it is possible when we stop labeling with each
possible when we stop labeling with each
possible when we stop labeling with each other with perceptions that are not
other with perceptions that are not
other with perceptions that are not necessarily true thank you
”
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