50 Cent, Michael Jackson, and Chris Brown
I finally started my internship,, so this quarter looks as if it will be as busy as any other. I am working at an amazing organization called Beth Uriel, or “House of Light” that serves as a home for 16-24 year old men who want to avail themselves to opportunities normally not present in the townships in which they live. The organization is run by a white American woman, Lindsay, who by her own admission does not do paperwork, but in my one meeting with her I know that there is so much for me to learn from her. The 26 men in the house have taken to calling me “California” and “Brother” and in my 3 short days there I have learned the true meaning of family. Faithfully, when its dark out, they walk me home saying “We can’t let our brother go anywhere alone.”
I haven’t been doing much work at the home yet, just trying to get acquainted with the place. In talking with the men in the house, I have learned the true meaning of hood life and struggle. I tried to explain to them that I know hood, but they corrected me and told me of places where the opportunity structure is not only not fair, but practically non-existent. What I love most about my internship thus far though, is that they are bent on teaching me something to take back home. “Brother, you can’t just come here and teach us. We will teach you.” These young men are hungry for success, and as one of the few African-American males that they have ever meant in real life, I Consider it a blessing to try and help them get there. Plus, they go to church on Sunday, and I definitely need church.
Additionally, all of Stanford in Capetown went to Linawo’s Children’s home and painted fences. I was blessed with the task of watching the kids, and some people were surprised at my ease with children and at getting them to do work. In fact, The program director asked did I have a lot of siblings. IN the afternoon, the school aged children came home and all the little boys were so eager to fight, wrestle, and talk with me. One of the most epic scenes was when it was me and 10 of them around a table and they were talking about me in Xhosa and told me I looked like 50 cent. Snapping back after what I perceived to be an insult, one of the boys turned to me and said “You must rap!” Almost on cue, another boy put a hat on my head backwards and gave me some shades. Not wanting to embarrass myself, I got another kid from the program who can actually rap to rap for them and I orchestrated the group in making a hip hop beat. We were a legit group, bangin on the table in unision with me being loud and extra talking bout “Hey! Ohhhhhh!” After my friend rapped however, they still weren’t satisfied. “You must rap!” So I hit em with that Fresh Prince. Needless to say, they had no idea what hit them!
After, I was given a traditional Xhosa name meaning blessing and had the honor of being jumped by 10 boys aged 8-12 years old. A lot of fun. The best part though is when I ceased to be 50 cent and turned to Chris Brown, Usher, and Michael Jackson.
In the past weeks, there have also been times that weren’t so happy and times were I was acutely aware that I was in fact a black man. The whole house went to a soccer game and one of the guards wouldn’t let me take my seat because I had thrown away my ticket stub. When my black roommate came to talk to her, she didn’t believe him. It took me yelling and 2 of my white American classmates to convince her that I was not stealing a seat ( which was only about 12 bucks anyways!). Or I was in a seafood restraunt and waited 15 minutes for some fries, only to have the fries that were cooked to be given to an older white businessman who came in ten minutes after me.
Despite these incidents though, I love Capetown. I love South Africa. And I love being abroad.
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