Wrong to portray blacks as criminals

By Madibeng Kgwete: posted on 26 February 2007

In his opinion article, “The dangers of racial profiling” (The Star, 26 February 2007), Rich Mkhondo asks the critical question: “Is racial profiling or stereotyping a necessary tool to protect our communities from crime?”

The answer really depends on who you are. Those with a right-wing mentality would most likely agree with racial profiling or stereotyping or both, whilst democrats would oppose the idea.

Black people here in South Africa and around the world are still seen as the main perpetrators of crime, wars, corruption, fraud, etc. This perception is enforced by black people’s lack a popular medium through which they can claim innocence.

After 13 years of freedom and democracy in South Africa, our media is still a vehicle to glorify the white man, portray him as the target of some inhuman black people. The black man is still the subject of horrific headlines.

Media propaganda still reigns in favour of white people. More black faces are seemingly at the forefront of many major media houses, but the white man still has the final say. The boardroom wields much more power than the newsroom.

As a result, the media is still a vehicle to promote white interests. We have panic buttons pressed when a white man is attacked, but many black lives are brutally eliminated without any mention.

Portraying crime as a black-versus-white issue smacks of irresponsibility. Everyone could fall victim to crime anytime, and the perpetrator could belong to any race.

As Mkhondo correctly stated, “Racial stereotyping is a lazy way of labelling people”.

We black people may be holding political power, but we still endure a lot of public humiliation. In the malls and other public places, we still get nasty looks, with members of other races seeing us as some brutal parasites, unable to think constructively and mentally inferior.

Is this the freedom our elders have so tirelessly fought for?