what's in a name?
today, friday, at UKZN, union organizers were barred using the Steve Biko lecture hall to show video footage from previous days of the strike.
The Steve Biko lecture hall at Nelson Mandela Medical School.
Steve Biko. A leader of the struggle against apartheid, who elaborated upon the ideas of black consciousness in his writings, who was kicked out of this same med school for organizing black students. Who never got a medical degree. Who was assassinated at age 30.
Nelson Mandela.
I'm not the first to ask this today but what is the point of naming the halls of our great universities after heroes, if we ignore the injustices they were fighting for?
Vice-chancellor Makgoba tried to fan flames of racism amid the unions today, remarking on a radio show this morning that the strike was being led by white academics who did not want to be under the authority of an African boss. And in a phone call to an African union leader, not knowing he was on speakerphone, he apparently directed some racial slurs of his own toward Indian organizers.
This has simply added to the resentment against him. My friend Richard says that this strike and the protests have been incredibly multi-racial, and quite a diverse community of struggle has formed because of it. More people turned out today to protest at Howard College Campus than any other day this week.
see photos and commentary from Richard at: South Africa Indymedia.
latest news via text message: "due to the students and common good of the university makgoba proposes to set up a joint task team to deal with all issues, and a moratorium in the media." 5:53 pm
The Steve Biko lecture hall at Nelson Mandela Medical School.
Steve Biko. A leader of the struggle against apartheid, who elaborated upon the ideas of black consciousness in his writings, who was kicked out of this same med school for organizing black students. Who never got a medical degree. Who was assassinated at age 30.
Nelson Mandela.
I'm not the first to ask this today but what is the point of naming the halls of our great universities after heroes, if we ignore the injustices they were fighting for?
Vice-chancellor Makgoba tried to fan flames of racism amid the unions today, remarking on a radio show this morning that the strike was being led by white academics who did not want to be under the authority of an African boss. And in a phone call to an African union leader, not knowing he was on speakerphone, he apparently directed some racial slurs of his own toward Indian organizers.
This has simply added to the resentment against him. My friend Richard says that this strike and the protests have been incredibly multi-racial, and quite a diverse community of struggle has formed because of it. More people turned out today to protest at Howard College Campus than any other day this week.
see photos and commentary from Richard at: South Africa Indymedia.
latest news via text message: "due to the students and common good of the university makgoba proposes to set up a joint task team to deal with all issues, and a moratorium in the media." 5:53 pm
posted by stephatriseup at 8:20 AM
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