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Fundamental injustice: The white majority of the working class in the US is by and large protected from capitalism’s instability, because African Americans bear the brunt of its effects. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP)

How racism is an essential capitalist tool

In the United States, the African American minority is capitalism’s ‘business cycle shock-absorber’

Students from the movement, ‘Open Stellenbosch’, ‘Luister’ and ‘Rhodes must Fall’ during a march at Stellenbosch University on September 1, 2015 in Stellenbosch, South Africa. The students are protesting against the language policy and alleged racism at the university. (Gallo Images / Beeld / Leanne Stander)

Study unpacks the ‘hidden racism’ at Stellenbosch

Students say they feel unseen and unheard at the university because of their skin colour

Targeting inequality: Burnt stores in Alexandra. (Oupa Nkosi)

Tackle racism with a rights-based approach

To address the systemic issues of racial discrimination, broad social and economic transformation is required in SA

Distinguished:  Novelist Bessie Head. (Peter Kevin Solness/Fairfax Media/Getty Images)

Head’s journalism eclipsed

The acclaimed author’s newspaper articles should have been given critical attention too

Turnaround: Education Minister Angie Motshekga expresses her delight at the Eastern Cape’s improved matric results. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)
Audio

PODCAST: De Bijbel

In this Sound Africa podcast, Candice Nolan tries to find the answers she is looking for by looking in an old bible

Australian batsman Usman Khawaja drives a wide delivery for 4 runs during the first cricket test match between Australia and New Zealand in Brisbane November 6

Cricket: Aussie batsman Khawaja reveals racial abuse

The 30-year-old battled the odds to become Australia’s first Pakistan-born national player and is now one of the country’s leading Test batsmen.

You might not want your child to necessarily watch Sarafina when they are three or read Biko to them at that time

You can’t not talk to kids about race

The issue will inevitably arise and children must be prepared for hurtful and damaging encounters

The MultiChoice Group’s active customers for all its regions, including South Africa, dropped from 17.3 million to 15.7 million over the year.

Mixed-race realities collide in cinematic self-portrait

‘Mixed Space’ is a short film that delves, through the participants, into mixed-race people’s views of themselves and identities given to them

A strange encounter with a direction-seeking stranger on the Sea Point Promenade left columnist Rebecca Davis bewildered and bemused.

From candid to can-do? The joke’s on us

Ever on guard about being seen as racist, you can’t count on white folks to roll with the punchline.

Journalists swarm around a Vietnam War-era Mark 82 bomb

Is identity South Africa’s be-all and end-all?

One Ugandan’s journey through South Africa left her dismayed at our obsession with race and identity.

The National Union of Mineworkers is no longer Cosatu’s largest affiliate.

White man, you’re on your own

White South Africans are learning it’s time to confront each other’s problematic race attitudes.

Daniel Friedman and his dog Gangster. The comic thrives on the gaffes and blunders of politicians.

SA loves its jokes deep fried in race

The one thing our favourite comics – Daniel Friedman, Robby Collins and Skhumba Hlophe included – agree on is that controversy is good for business.

Blacks gave whites the gift of freedom

South Africans need to work with each other to resolve our collective guilt and innocence.

Justices fail to give a legal test for implementing equity fairly

The Constitutional Court didn’t provide a test for determining the legality of a proposed measure, which may be due to the limited nature of the case.

Former defence minister Mosioua Lekota.

Class, race and the new native

South Africa today suffers a confusion between the rule of the people, the rule of law and the rule of property.

It is no accident that the majority of South Africans are black and poor; it will still take many years for this to change.

No ‘darkie’ sarcasm in the class struggle

Race still defines our social classes, and remains the elephant in the room, writes Fred Khumalo.

‘History Doesn’t Laugh’ for Willis Thomas

Hank Willis Thomas has revealed his latest exhibition of unconventional stills that force us to look at our history from a different perspective.

All gender but zero representation

All gender but zero representation

After attending a talk on women in politics in South Africa, Deshnee Subramany feels the discussion moved too far away from the people at hand.

Sasheer Zamata has been hired on ‘Saturday Night Live’.

‘SNL’ casts black female comedian after criticism

After coming under criticism for having a lack of diversity in its female cast, "Saturday Night Live" has cast comedian Sasheer Zamata.

Skunk Anansie: As relevant as ever

A decade later, Skin of Skunk Anansie is still something of an anomaly as a black female lead singer of a successful punk band.