Beyond Identity » Colored

The Coloureds of Southern Africa

Internet Source — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 06:00:47 +0000

The various Coloured communities in southern Africa developed out by events of the Dutch colonization of South Africa. In 1652 a small company of employees of the Dutch East India Company were settled on the southern tip of Africa in order to establish a refreshment station for the Company’s ships en route to the Far East. As groups of settlers moved away from the Cape settlement to develop farms, they needed workers. The Dutch government forbade enslaving indigenous people of southern Africa. They did allow the importation of slaves or indentured servants from the Malay peoples of Indonesia and Malaysia, in the Dutch East Indies. The first Malay slaves arrived in 1657, the first of what became the Cape Malay.

There were some mixed offspring of Malay and Dutch, who were called Coloured. The settlers or soldiers also had mixed offspring with the indigenous people, the Khoikhoi, the San and later the Xhosa. An additional contribution to the gene pool were the slaves imported from West Africa. The various other Coloured peoples also intermarried with the Khoikhoi, the indigenous people of the cape, until they have largely been absorbed into the Coloureds. The term Coloured came to be applied to all mixed people. One group of Coloureds escaped to the bush and lived as an African tribe, but became fearsome warriors on horses. These were the Griqua, who are still an Afrikaans-speaking tribe today. (One group of less than 200 Griqua also speak a Khoikhoi language called Xiri.) After the introduction of Indians into South Africa, they contributed to the mix of Coloureds.

The form of Dutch spoken in the Cape gradually changed significantly from that spoken in Holland. The Cape dialect came to be called Afrikaans (“the African language”). In the church, the law courts, educational institutions and official government circles, the official language was Dutch. But the common language of the people was increasingly Afrikaans. The Coloureds share the same language and religion as the “white” Afrikaners, although separated from them by strong social and class distinctions. Today over half of the 7 million Afrikaans-speaking people in South Africa are “Coloured” people.

Identity: The “Coloured” peoples represent a wide range of genetic backgrounds. They commonly have lighter brown or yellow skin with somewhat Negroid features. But skin color and features vary considerably, showing the broad gene pool re presented. The Coloureds are usually involved in business, some in farming, but commonly work in domestic jobs in homes or hotels. The tribal or racial identity of Coloureds has been basically imposed upon them by the social attitude of Europeans, both British and Afrikaner, who have considered them inferior. Their rights were legally limited under apartheid, 1948-1990. The Cape Malay group of Coloureds number only about 200,000. Coloureds as a whole make up 9% of the population of South Africa.

Read full article here…

Race Ebonics – Different names, the same people!

Ross — Thu, 22 May 2008 10:00:09 +0000

All around the world, proud individuals of mixed ancestry, heritage, religion and heritage define and identify themselves that are particular to their country and culture. Some of the words are offensive but they do not in any way reflect the ideas, aims and principles of the Beyond Identity family. We are people because of other people, nor inferior nor superior to one another. We are all equals. One people, different faces, different names, one humanity. We are the expression ‘Cradle of man‘.

Afatasi: Mixed ancestry between Samoan and White
Afrasian: Mixed ancestry between an African and Asian
Afro-Asian: Mixed ancestry between an African and Asian
Afro-European: Mixed heritage between Africa and Europe
Africasian: Mixed ancestry between an African and Asian
Ainoco:Mixed ancestry between White and Japanese
Amerasian: Mixed ancestry between American and an Asian
Amalgamation: Archaic term for the intermarriage and interbreeding of different ethnicities or races
Anglo-Asian: Mixed ancestry between an English and Asian
Anglo-Burmese: Mixed ancestry between Burmese and European
Anglo-Indian: Mixed ancestry between an English and Indian
Atlantic-Creole: Mixed ancestry between European and African
Bastard: A person of mixed blood
Baster: People with a mixed racial and ethnic heritage
Biracial: People of white and black origins
Blackanese: Mixed Black and Asian
Blackinese: Mixed ancestry between Black and Chinese
Blacktino: Mixed of Black and Latino
Black Dutch: People with mixed racial. cultural and ethnic heritage
Black Indians: Mixed heritage between African and Native American
Blasian: Mixed ancestry between Black and Asian
Blaxican: Mixed ancestry between Black and Mexican
Brown Skin: A political, racial, ethnic, societal, and cultural classification not limited to people of mixed heritage.
Bruin-ou: People with a mixed racial, cultural and ethnic heritage
Bruinmense: People with mixed racial, cultural and ethnic heritage
Burgher People: Mixed ancestry between Europeans and Sri Lankans
Bushie: People with a mixed racial, cultural and ethnic heritage
Cablinasian: Causcasian/Black/American Indian/Asian Mix
Caboclo: Mixed ancestry between White and Amerindian
Cafuzo: Mixed ancestry between Black and Amerindian
Capie: People with a mixed racial, cultural and ethnic heritage
Castizo: Mixed ancestry between White and Mestizo
Chewish: Mixed ancestry between a Jew and Chinese
Chestnut Ridge People: see Melungeon
Chindian: Mixed ancestry between the Chinese and Indian
Cholo: Mixed ancestry between American Indian and Black African
Chino: Mixed Asian and African American ancestry
Coffee Coloured: People of mixed race with a brownish skin texture
Colored: People of mixed blood or black
Coloured: People with a mixed racial, cultural and ethnic heritage
Con lai: Half-breed
Coolie: Mixed ancestry between Black and Asian Indian
Creole peoples: Locally-born people with foreign ancestry
Creoles of color: Mixed-race blacks residing in the Gulf Coast and Louisiana area of the pre-existing indigenous population of Spanish Guinean originating from the island of Fernando Pó
Daburu: The mix of races, cultures and ethnicities
Dougla: Mixed race typically African and Asian India
Eurafrican: African and European ancestry
Eurasian: Mixed ancestry between a European and Asian
Jingoism: Judging one’s own country as superior to others – an extreme type of nationalism.
Gado Gado: Mixed
Goffals: Mixed ancestry between Ndebele/Shona and White
Griqua: People with a mixed racial, cultural and ethnic heritage
Haafu or Hafu: Half Japanese
Halfbloed: Mixed Blood
Half-blood: A person of mixed blood
Half-breed: A person of mixed blood
Half-caste: People of mixed caste
Half-Chat: People of white and black origins
Halfling: People with a mixed ancestry, racial, cultural and ethnic heritage
Halfrican: Half African/ Half White
Halvsie: Mixed Japanese Hapa: Half Hawaiian or half Asian, half Caucasian
Hapa: A person of mixed Asian or Pacific Islander racial/ethnic heritage
Hasian: Half Asian
Honhyeol: Mixed blood
Hotnot: People with a mixed racial, cultural and ethnic heritage
Hun xue: Mixed blood
Hybrid: Fusion or mix of race, ancestry, race, culture and ethnicity
Indo: Mixed ancestry between a European and an Asian
Kablungajuit: Mixed ancestry between White and Inuit
Kailoma or Vasu: Mixed ancestry between European and Fijian
Kleurling: People with a mixed racial, cultural and ethnic heritage
Lai Má: American mix
Lobo: Mixed ancestry between Black and Amerindian
Louisiana Creole: People of mixed ancestry
Luk kreung: Mixed racial heritage, literally means half-child
Lumbee: Products of mixed unions
Malaynese: Mixed ancestry between Malay and Chinese or Japanese
Marabou: Mixed ancestry between black African/European and an Amerindian, specifically the native Taíno
Melungeon: Mixed European, African, and Native American ancestry
Miscegenation: Mixing of different racial groups
Métis: A person born to parents who belong to different groups
Mischling: Mixed person
Mixedasians: Mixed Person
Mixed: People of mixed origins
Mixed ancestry: People of mixed ancestry
Mixed-Bloods: Individuals of mixed European and Native American ancestry who are not of Hispanic descent
Mixed race: People of white and black origins
Mongrel: Fusion or mix of ethnicity
Morisco: Mixed ancestry between Caucasian and Mulatto
Mudblood: A person of mixblood
Mulatto: Mixed ancestry between white European and black African
Mule: Fusion or mix of horse and donkey
Multiethnic: People of mixed ethnicity
Multiracial: People of white and black origins
Mutant: A mutation or mix between race, culture and ethnicity
Mutt: Fusion or mix of ethnicity
Nguoi Lai: Mixed-race person
Octoroon: Mixed ancestry between a Quadroon and a European
Pardo: Mixed ancestry between for black and white
Passing: A person of mixed-race heritage assimilating to the white majority
Peranakan: Indonesian Chinese
Pointee: Mixed ancestry between an African and Caucasian
Polygeneric: Neologism from Greek, poly-, (many) and genera (races)
Quadroon: Generally three quarters white and one quarter black
Quintroon: Mixed ancestry between an octoroon and a white parent
Race of the Future: All the races are blending to become one race in the future
Rojak or Rujak: Mixed vegetable/fruit salad
Romani people: An ethnic group of Europe tracing their origins to medieval India
Gypsies: An ethnic group of Europe tracing their origins to medieval India
Redbone: Racially mixed ethnic groups in the the Sabine River region of Louisiana and Texas
Réunion Creoles: A name given to those born on the island, of various ethnic origins on Reunion Islands
Rhineland Bastards: Afro-German children of mixed German and African parentage
Sri Lankan Moors: People of mixed heritage in Sri Lanka
We-Sorts: People of “mixed-race” origins who claim descent from the Piscataway Native American population
Zambo: Mixed ancestry between Black and Amerindian

>> Ross Rayners <<

For some uniquely and proudly South African neologism visit www.kakduidelik.co.za

Beyond Racial Identity

Ross — Sat, 14 Apr 2007 09:51:29 +0000

No matter where you are in the world, at some point or the other you will be accosted with an idea, a thought, a concept or a word that designate a distinction between people either based on race, color, creed, religion or belief. More often than not this serves as signpost of brewing and growing exclusion. At some point in history this was obviously possible and the world was defined in narrow margins called black and white.

We still live in a society that emphasis differences based on intolerance, a righteous determinism that demeans the importance and significance of uniqueness and diversity. People fear that which they do not understand. This shared human trait has been part and parcel of man since the dawn of mankind. History reveals that this control drama of man has taken many shapes and forms since the day of mythical man.

It is practically illegal to be a race, color, creed, religious or philosophical determinist, thus the new battle ground for this fear lies squarely and primarily in the redefinition of human identity. Long gone and distant are the days of an identity or group identity defined by race, color, creed, religion or philosophy. The synthesis, natural evolution, mutation and synergy are to varied and eclectic to still cling to archaic identity of being white, black and.

In the beginning the difference may have been stark and sharp. In time this became an illusion, not that the difference was no illusion in the first place, for we all are human first and foremost. The illusion in the minds of people started taking a knock with the birth of mixed race people. In various parts of the world they are either called colored, mixed, biracial, multicultural, mulatto, multiracial, hapa and; which only reflect cultural, geographic or historical bias. Fortunately the name, word or concept does not matter; the principle is the same, a fusion of people. Get up, and get ready for in the near feature – we will inhabit in world where racial purity will be an anomaly. The human race of the future will be a fusion, a mixture, hopefully just people, beyond identity stereotypes.

>> Ross Rayners <<

The Coloured Commandments

Ross — Wed, 17 Jan 2007 19:59:28 +0000

In general, the conception of a colored man is based on numerous and inadequate generalizations stemming from human hypocrisy and slave trade; and eventually institutionalized in 1948 with Apartheid, a National Party philosophy, in South Africa. The National Party’s brutality and immorality wrought immense human havoc to the non-European communities which was evident in their displacement and violation of political rights, their basic human rights. In no uncertain terms non-whites where reduced to no more than slaves in their country of birth.

So, what does it mean to live as a colored or if you like in South Africa? It meant to be subjected and cajoled to the bitter taste of Afrikaner racism. It meant to live in a society martyred by hypocrisy in a state of identity psychosis. It meant an exposure to a social bigotry, a social insecurity underpinned by ignorance, fear and vulnerability. Out of this, certain perceptions and stereotypes, called ‘Colored’ naissanced, still lived today. This nuisance evolved and over time became known as the Colored Commandments or Gam Gedagtes:

* I believe that I am the best in the street where I live. Anyone who lives in a bigger house, drives a better car or whose kids attends a more expensive school is liable to receive some unfair treatment, harassment or verbal slurs from me. I believe that I am better than anyone else, and the minute that I see another colored excel, I will suppress, oppress and undermine their achievements. Even my own children.

* I believe that when I am in need, then the neighbor is obliged to give me whatever I need (like sugar, rice or even a few rands), otherwise that neighbor is not fit to be regarded as a friend or acquaintance.

* I believe that I am compelled to obtain new possessions as determined by the rate at which my neighbors or work colleagues acquire new possessions. I am entitled to have the loudest musical system, the biggest satellite dish and the most expensive clothes on the market (all clothes should be designer-labeled). Should I not be able to afford this, I am entitled to sink my heavy ass into debts that I know I will not be able to pay.

* I believe that I have the right to afford my children education on the basis that I can boast about their achievements like it was my own. I retain the right to assess scholastic progress better than the drunken teacher. Education has not worked for me; so it will work for them as long their education do not surpass mine, as I made them. My children will work for me once they have completed their studies. My children are not to think for themselves.

* I believe that I may call black people ‘kaffirs’, white people ‘whities’; asians ‘coolies’ and other coloreds ‘hotnot’, ‘gam’ or if you like. In addition, I believe that I am better than anybody is and nobody may address me as any of the above because it is politically incorrect to label me as such. Such slander is a direct violation of my basic human rights but not yours.

* I believe that all white and black people are racist. I believe that I am racially tolerant by not allowing my children to play with black children because black people slaughter animals in their yards and believe in the tokolosh. I reserve the right to protect my children against the onslaughts of the white man’s way of living, allowing their offspring economic freedom. I believe, in addition, that my child should never be independent of me otherwise I have not been a good parent.

* I believe that I am not African. I am born on the South African continent. My narrow-mindedness is more than a vice and it does indeed surpass my intellect, don’t you forget that.

* I believe that my social constitution and laws are governed by what people think of me. The perception of what other people will say determines what I believe. A proud draadsitter.

* I believe that the government owes me a house and an education due to the inequities of the past. Why should I work for what I want, as my drinking time will be cut in half and besides, the government owes me.

* I believe that all other religions are an abomination of my religion and belief in God. May they have a happy journey to hell, God bless them. My authority should not be questioned because I have the Church by my side. At least I am saved.

* I believe that once I get elected to office or any committee, as it is due to me, I will turn my back on those idiots that elected me for that position. As long as I earn a good salary, I will not do anything to uplift my community, I don’t owe them anything.

Breaching any of the commandments will afford you extra-special names like ‘coconut’, ‘traitor’ or even ‘gatkruiper’. A first offence, in most cases, will be forgiven. After that, any act shall be scrutinized and deemed suspicious. You are warned. The truth or validity of the colored commandments depends on you.

Although there are plenty of talented people in colored communities, advancement are hampered by in-fighting, bigotry and blind recourse in the colored commandments. Frankly I do not belief or adhere to The Colored Commandments, as it is nothing but perceptions and stereotypes born out of a people that were not allowed to develop their own identity. It was stunted. Now is the time for change.

Let us change the way we look at life and ourselves. Let us have Colored Gedagtes.

>> Ross Rayners <<

All in the Family, rattling racial skeletons

Internet Source — Wed, 17 Jan 2007 08:14:57 +0000

There is a well-worn jest in South Africa that the country’s “colored problem” actually began about nine months after the first Dutch settlers landed at the Cape of Good Hope in 1652. However, in the strictly segregated society that has developed since, it is no laughing matter to suggest that the Afrikaners, who make up the majority of the 4.5 million ruling whites, are anything but racially pure. Thus when a South African academic raised the possibility again last week, he rattled racial skeletons in every Afrikaner parlor and dining room.

The rattles were caused by Professor Johan Leon Hattingh, director of the Institute for Historical Research at the University of the Western Cape and an Afrikaner himself. In an article published in his institute’s journal, he claimed that many of the original Dutch settlers had dalliances with black women and that as a result, few Afrikaners could claim to be of unmixed white descent. Rather than charting white South Africa’s family tree through the male line, Hattingh chose five early 18th century native women and traced their descendants. What he uncovered were some rather surprising branches. Among the descendants of an African woman called Lijsbeth, for instance, were the President of the Transvaal republic in the Boer War, Oom Paul Kruger, and South Africa’s first Prime Minister, Louis Botha. In all, Hattingh counted 80 families of mixed racial roots, a substantial slice of the white Afrikaner establishment.

Reaction to Hattingh’s genealogical bombshell ranged from outraged denials to bemusement. Fumed Louis Stofberg, general secretary of the right-wing Herstigte Nasionale Party: “I’d like to see the bastard who can find a drop of colored blood in my family!” Albert Tertius Myburgh, Afrikaner editor of the national Sunday Times, took a positive view, describing the “swelling of African pride” he felt at the racial revelation.

Other white South Africans kept their tongues firmly in cheek. Satirist Alexander de Kok of the Sunday Express wrote of a nationalist friend who had called the finding “an Afrikaner master plan.” Said Kok: “What better way to pass power peacefully into black hands than to prove scientifically that those who hold it now are as black as the rest.” Kok also wondered why Afrikaner historians had taken so many years to make the discovery, unless “as many Afrikaners say, people of mixed blood are slow thinkers.” When a black Johannesburg gardener asked a white what he thought about the alleged black blood in his background, the Afrikaner promptly replied, “That’s all right, as long as it was the best blood, Zulu blood.” But Cape Colored Poet Adam Small offered the last word on Hattingh’s research: “It’s nothing new. Coloured, white or black, all blood is red.”

>> Time Magazine, 9 March 1981 <<