"The most potent weapon in the hands of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed."
Speech by Steve Bantu Biko in Cape Town, 1971.
It was these very same words that were lingering in my mind all the while when I saw how our future, as the young generation of Cape Townians, especially those residing in what used to be known as the Native Yards, was heading downward. These words replayed themselves over and over again, as their true definition came into being through the lives of those who live in these so called Native Yards where heading nowhere slowly and where it seemed to be that hope is nowhere to be found.
We, as the residents of these Native Yards, had had enough of living in squalor, while our counterparts in the upper sections of our beautiful town of Cape Town, were gracefully living in royalty. Now because of our wishful thinking and dreams of progressing as a people some educated themselves and their children, while those who could not afford the time spent on patience rooted for the easy way out and that being criminal activities. On that note, educated or not, we were seen as being hooligans and time wasters. A people that did not care for their own wellbeing and the wellbeing of others, we were referred to as wannabes, a statement that gave us a stigma of being followers rather than leaders. Our dreams were never regarded, our intentions were always seen as derogatory and our thinking base noted as senseless. That, unfortunately, was our everyday living, which ended up being a part of "who we are" even though it was and still is unnaturally so.
This mentality given to us was used against us, at all times. It infiltrated itself right down to our morals, values and way of life, how we were brought up... Simply put, we were oppressed and the oppressor was using the same weapon we pride ourselves with; that being our minds.
Fast forward to the new millenium and 12 years down the line we now have our own malls, entrepreneurs, success stories, celebrities, rich history, politicians but still there are some instances of oppression doing the rounds. But the Native Yards were not to be known as such any more, but were to be renamed. Our Black Consciousness hero was the first to be recognised, and the longest street in Gugulethu was named after him, Steve Biko Drive.
Then, the Native Yards Brand was born. No, not your day to day brand that everyone talks about or refers to, but a brand of people that saw good in the new things to come. A brand of people that recognised their potential and the potential in others, one that felt the undying need to free themselves from the oppressor. This kind of brand that is a leader of note, an example to those who have no-one to turn to when in need, a person who is proud to leave footsteps that can be followed, footsteps of goodness, honesty, hardwork and transparency. The Native Yards Brand is someone who is able to say NO to unnecessities and mean it, if it is not for everyone then it is not for them. The brand I'm referring to is not young nor old, they don't see age but see potential and growth. A brand that seeks to uplift, assist and do things for the betterment of everyone. A brand that seeks to place their area of birth on the map of GREATNESS.
This brand is a force to be reckoned with and the oppressor is forced watch out for them as their intentions are good but unknown to the oppressor.
The question is are you a Native Yards Brand?
To be continued...
Speech by Steve Bantu Biko in Cape Town, 1971.
It was these very same words that were lingering in my mind all the while when I saw how our future, as the young generation of Cape Townians, especially those residing in what used to be known as the Native Yards, was heading downward. These words replayed themselves over and over again, as their true definition came into being through the lives of those who live in these so called Native Yards where heading nowhere slowly and where it seemed to be that hope is nowhere to be found.
We, as the residents of these Native Yards, had had enough of living in squalor, while our counterparts in the upper sections of our beautiful town of Cape Town, were gracefully living in royalty. Now because of our wishful thinking and dreams of progressing as a people some educated themselves and their children, while those who could not afford the time spent on patience rooted for the easy way out and that being criminal activities. On that note, educated or not, we were seen as being hooligans and time wasters. A people that did not care for their own wellbeing and the wellbeing of others, we were referred to as wannabes, a statement that gave us a stigma of being followers rather than leaders. Our dreams were never regarded, our intentions were always seen as derogatory and our thinking base noted as senseless. That, unfortunately, was our everyday living, which ended up being a part of "who we are" even though it was and still is unnaturally so.
This mentality given to us was used against us, at all times. It infiltrated itself right down to our morals, values and way of life, how we were brought up... Simply put, we were oppressed and the oppressor was using the same weapon we pride ourselves with; that being our minds.
Fast forward to the new millenium and 12 years down the line we now have our own malls, entrepreneurs, success stories, celebrities, rich history, politicians but still there are some instances of oppression doing the rounds. But the Native Yards were not to be known as such any more, but were to be renamed. Our Black Consciousness hero was the first to be recognised, and the longest street in Gugulethu was named after him, Steve Biko Drive.
Then, the Native Yards Brand was born. No, not your day to day brand that everyone talks about or refers to, but a brand of people that saw good in the new things to come. A brand of people that recognised their potential and the potential in others, one that felt the undying need to free themselves from the oppressor. This kind of brand that is a leader of note, an example to those who have no-one to turn to when in need, a person who is proud to leave footsteps that can be followed, footsteps of goodness, honesty, hardwork and transparency. The Native Yards Brand is someone who is able to say NO to unnecessities and mean it, if it is not for everyone then it is not for them. The brand I'm referring to is not young nor old, they don't see age but see potential and growth. A brand that seeks to uplift, assist and do things for the betterment of everyone. A brand that seeks to place their area of birth on the map of GREATNESS.
This brand is a force to be reckoned with and the oppressor is forced watch out for them as their intentions are good but unknown to the oppressor.
The question is are you a Native Yards Brand?
To be continued...
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