A new initiative has been launched to expose the myth that racism is South Africa’s biggest problem, and to counter ‘race hustlers’, politicians and private actors who exploit and profit from exaggerated claims about racism.
The Racism Is Not The Problem initiative will expose how these race hustlers use fake allegations of racism as a distraction from the major problems confronting the country, or to make a quick buck, according to a statement on the new project.
The statement says research data, recently published in a report, dispels the notion that racism is a major problem in South Africa.
The data shows that:
- only 3.3% of South Africans regard racism as one of the biggest problems facing the country and,
- only 16% say they have experienced racism in the last five years.
Head of Campaigns at the Institute of Race Relations (IRR), Gabriel Crouse, commented: ‘A majority of South Africans agree that racism allegations are an excuse used by politicians to cover up their failures. Everywhere-racism is pushed as a kind of opioid for the masses to dull people from confronting the real problems, but most people have already kicked the habit.’
Crouse added: ‘Still, fake allegations of racism are a profitable business, especially in the upper echelons. All manner of race hustler businesses and consultancies are springing up that inflate and exaggerate the extent of racism in schools, communities, and businesses in order to win contracts and tenders to address the allegedly ubiquitous crisis.’
To find out more about the new initiative, click this link.