Black Man Are you stupid?

By Sakhile Sibiya

What has become of the black race? Has someone cast such a strong spell upon us that we celebrate exchanging our souls, identity, birthright, and inheritance for a meagre bowl of ready-made stew offered to us by other races and call it progress and development?

In Black Man! Are You Stupid?, Sakhile Sibiya takes black people to task over our historic legacies of self-hate, economic and cultural stupidity, mental slavery and mediocrity among many others. He sounds a clarion call to the black race, calling us to shake off our legacy of naivety and think generationally, so we can rebuild our communities, economies and cultures and restore excellence and dignity to our race.
Not for the faint-hearted, Black Man! Are You Stupid? is a gloves-off, no hold barred conversation designed to ignite a robust debate among black people regarding the future of our race.
In this book Sakhile challenges the black man to:
• Rethink his attitude towards himself and his race.
• Break the enslaving yoke of white dominance and supremacy,
• Divorce himself from being associated with mediocrity, passivity and filth.
• Rebuild his communities by learning the ancient wisdom of circulating money within his own race.
• Create a new and inspiring legacy for future generations of black people.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Digital On Demand
• Release date: Sep 3, 2021
• ISBN: 9780620962346

Book preview

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Copyright © 2021 by Sakhile Avril Harold Sibiya

Principal Editor: Edwin Ngoni Tawengwa

Editor: Emelia Mosima

Proofread by: Dr Lizzy Peega

Cover Photography: Peter Molefe

Cover Design by: Siyabonga Hlongwane of Bonga Designs

Typesetting and Layout by: Ezekiel Matope

The scanning, uploading and distribution of this book without express permission is theft of the author’s intellectual property. If you would like permission to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), please contact:

Sakhile Sibiya c/o Dimpho Consulting

E-mail: [e-mail]

First Edition: June 2021

ISBN – 978-0-620-89455-5

Printed in the Republic of South Africa

BLACK MAN!

ARE YOU STUPID?

Sakhile Sibiya

DEDICATION

This is my first book, and I am excited to dedicate it to these, special people:

My wife, Makwena, who has been my pillar of strength and a source of inspiration throughout the 33 years that we have been married. I am what I am because of you.

My three special children, Mandla, Nqobile, and Princess Nondumiso. You are my pride and joy.

My late parents, Flora Elizabeth Sibiya, who I used to call Tannie Maspoener, and my strong father, Mamela Richard Sibiya, who we all called, Die Hard, you lived a good 89 years in vibrancy. Thank you both for everything you did for me to become the person I am today.

FOREWORD

by

Prince Mashele.

There are times when I get the impression that black South Africans wanted freedom to become white; - freedom from themselves. I am certain this is not what motivated our leaders to engage in a liberation struggle. However, those with eyes can see the trends in black communities today that portray an inner yearning for whiteness.

Young girls dye their hair blonde; boys hang pants on their bums, with their underwear exposed, as if they are American. The so-called educated black parents who live in the formerly white suburbs of our country deem it a mark of cultural progress to speak to their children in English. The most admired and respected among us is he who wears an Italian suit, or the woman that carries a Louis Vuitton handbag from Paris.

Even our taste buds have been transformed. We now love Western cuisine. We have become experts when it comes to French wine and Scotch whisky – more than the French and the Scots themselves. In short, we are happy not to be ourselves.

I have come to the preliminary conclusion that we as black people behave the way we do because we are bereft of three supremely important things: (1) we have no heritage and culture of ideas; (2) we have no concept of success; and (3) we have no appreciation for legacy. The first is about intellectual rootedness, the second speaks to the symbols of expression, and the third is about the immortality of mortals. The Chinese have their Confucius, Caucasians have their Socrates, and the Muslims have their Al-Farabi. Some of these thinkers lived before Christ was born. The children and grandchildren of the Chinese, Europeans and Arabs, are taught to be proud of their descent from such great men of letters. They are reminded, down the ages, that they belong to elevated nations with a rich history of the work of the mind. This is what culture means to them.

Those who have visited China, or have seen it on television, will confirm that they have seen buildings that express the uniqueness of the Chinese sense of aesthetics. The same applies to Europeans. Their cities are full of works of art that tell stories of European progress. Their technological inventions do the same. In other words, there is a phenomenon that deserves to be called a European concept of success. Those who are older, and therefore wiser than I am, probably know what an African concept of success means in practical terms. My honest confession is that I do not know it.

The idea of leading one’s life for one’s name to be remembered long after one’s death does not seem to be a defining attribute of black life. In other words, the reification of thought in the realm of fabricated things has not yet entered the consciousness of black people as a means by which man immortalises himself. The Greek philosopher, Plato died in 347 BC, and yet a copy of the book he wrote, Republic, is in my home library today. Through this book, Plato continues to share his ideas as to how an ideal Republic ought to be organised. Such was a life driven by the desire for immortality – what popular parlance calls legacy. It appears to me that legacy is yet to become the motor that propels black life.

As I said, these are my preliminary conclusions which do not constitute an authoritative or final verdict on the life and character of the black nation. Those who have spent years investigating the question will hand down authoritative judgments. I have not done this. However, what I know for sure is that a black girl who tints her hair blonde will never be white. The same way that the black parents who speak to their children in English will never become white. No matter how much they hate themselves, they will be black until they die.

It appears to me that legacy is yet to become the motor that propels black life.

If you forgot that you are black, the book you are reading now will remind you. It will not only make you aware of your skin colour; it will reawaken you to your being part of a black nation that is in serious trouble. After reading this book, you might feel compelled to go out and look for your lost black soul, to reclaim and love yourself, to rediscover what you should have long known: that you are fully human and that you have to demonstrate your humanity through the products of your mind and hands.

Contents

FOREWORD

INTRODUCTION

FOR THE LOVE OF READY-MADE STEW

CULTURAL STUPIDITY

ECONOMIC STUPIDITY

IS KAK MAAR IS ORAAIT

DO BLACKS LOVE THEMSELVES?

BLACK MAN SET YOUR MIND FREE!

BUSINESS UNUSUAL

WEALTH REDISTRIBUTION

YES, WE CAN

IN REFLECTION

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

CONNECT WITH US

INTRODUCTION

I questioned the status quo of Black people. I grew up with a curious mind. At most, I asked many whys and why nots at a young age. At times I thought it was my juvenile mind at work, tormented by inexperience and immaturity. But I just couldn’t stop myself from questioning the state of affairs to which I was exposed.

As I observed the iron fist and heavy-handed approach of the apartheid regime, I feared that my questions would land me in prison. I decided to keep the questions all to myself.

I remember how every single year, without fail, my father would be visited by vicious-looking and cruel White policemen who would interrogate him about his political involvements. These visits became more incessant and grew brutal when my father became deeply involved with the labour unions. It was as if he was a criminal and a troublemaker and had to be kept under their radar. These intimidating circumstances cemented my resolution to keep all my troubling questions to myself.

As I grew older, I could no longer avoid all these unanswered questions caged in my mind since my childhood. I chose to confront them headon and deal with them fearlessly and ruthlessly. Now, having lived more than five decades, I purposed to engage my fellow Black people on the anomalies that plague us as a race in general and as Black South Africans in particular – rona bana ba thari entsho – thina iSizwe esimpisholo.

Uncomfortable Conversations with Myself

This book is the outcome of the many conversations I have had with God, self and fellow Black people from all walks of life and nationalities. Here are some of the many uncomfortable questions this book seeks to confront:

Why is it that Black people struggle with self-love, self-acceptance and selfappreciation?

Why do Black people struggle to embrace and celebrate their cultures, languages and heritage?

Why do Black people tend to idolise Whites and almost everything associated with them?

Why do Black people exert themselves towards improving whatever is white while abandoning whatever is black and allowing anything that has to do with being black to deteriorate?

Why have Black people adopted the White man’s perspective as the standard to determine good or bad, acceptable or unacceptable, beautiful or ugly, right or wrong, excellent or average, fashionable or otherwise?

Why do Black people serve all other races while none of those races serve them?

Why is it that Africa is the wealthiest continent on earth in which Africans remain the poorest?

Why do Black people aspire towards whiteness and detest blackness?

Why do Black people view the English language as a measure of intelligence and sophistication, while other Whites, for example, the Germans and Italians, care nothing for it?

Why do Black people in South Africa enjoy the blessing of being the majority but look up to White people to feed, clothe and employ them?

Why do Black people allow White people to remain the dominant race in the mainstream economy?

And most importantly, what can the Black nation do about this sad status quo?

Not for the Faint-Hearted

Suffice to say, this book is not a read for the fainthearted Black man. It requires a fair amount of courage to confront this elephant in the room that nobody dares to talk about. It requires boldness to talk about these sacred cows that we shy away from for fear of political incorrectness and negative public perceptions. This conversation requires guts and shameless audacity. Because, more often than not, talking about the things that will lead to the emancipation of Black people is branded racist or hate speech.

While this book aims to be brutal, confrontational and provocative, it does not constitute hate speech in any way, shape or form. Neither does it fit into the category of racist sentiments and rhetoric. I desire to ignite the longoverdue robust debates and discussions amongst Black people at all levels. This book is a wake-up call to Black people in my nation and around the world. I seek to challenge your mindsets and behaviours; and ultimately, change the narrative of our race. I envisage Black people talking about the issues raised herein wherever they converge – at universities, colleges, churches, pubs, taverns, funerals, stokvels or socials. The message of this book must resound on busses, radio, TV, social media and in taxis.

I hope some of you will be so offended that you will be challenged to respond with the same indignant passion with which this book was written. This book does not spare any punches at all; it tells it like it is. I am completely sold out to the message of this book regardless of whatever controversy it may spark or negative connotations it may evoke. That is the steep price I am willing to pay for the liberation of the black mind from the mental oppression that has become synonymous with our race. I will not compromise! Asijiki! So long as this book achieves the impact it was designed for, I will be more than satisfied. So, go ahead! You can agree or disagree with me, in part or completely, as long as we can start this longoverdue dialogue.

I desire to ignite the long-overdue robust debates and discussions amongst Black people at all levels. This book is a wake-up call to Black people in my nation and around the world. I seek to challenge your mindsets and behaviours; and ultimately, change the narrative of our race.

I Crave Your Indulgence

In this book, I take some hard jabs at Black people. Mercilessly, I confront the folly we continually display without relenting. I unapologetically call out our collective stupidity without fear or prejudice. Not because I have all the answers, but because we cannot hold candid and objective conversations without context. Much of what I state in this book are not opinions. They are but facts.

Facts that stare at us without blinking. Go ahead and challenge me. But challenge me with facts. Allow your emotions to lie low for now.

In this discourse, your current mental status quo as a Black person is vigorously rattled and shaken. If I enrage you, let your indignation push you to dig for facts so our conversation becomes meaty, fruitful and effective. We could then pull ourselves out of the mess in which we find ourselves. It does not matter how rough the ride gets; we must stay the course.

I hope some of you will be so offended that you will be challenged to respond with the same indignant passion with which this book was written.

My Black brothers and sisters, let us have this conversation. Let us talk. Let us engage in a dialogue as a people of common ancestry, as we share our diverse perspectives on issues that matter to the Black nation. Let us create grassroots and social media communities that engage in these concerns. Furthermore, let us dig deep to find the answers to the myriad complexities that frustrates our progress. Let us have an indaba regarding our future. You may not agree with my perspectives, but we can agree that we need a dramatic change to the economic and cultural trajectory of our race. Therefore, we must hold objective dialogues on these issues. These conversations must continue till they culminate into actionable strategies that will lead to a radical and revolutionary recovery process for our race.

I call on those who want to create a better South Africa and world for future generations of Black children.

I call upon those who want to see our communities improve into efficiently run and wellmaintained symbols of black pride, dignity and excellence. Communities where:

Our race and its diverse cultures are honoured and celebrated.

Our languages are proudly spoken.

Our people live in peace and harmony.

Our people circulate money amongst themselves.

Our institutions deliver exceptional service to our people – from our schools to our hospitals, businesses, government departments and others.

Our people are producers and innovators, not mere consumers and spectators.

Our people are without generational debt.

I call upon those who want to see our communities improve into efficiently run and well-maintained symbols of black pride, dignity and excellence.

Our Generational Debt

As an act of honour and gratitude for the great sacrifices made for us by the generations of our fathers, we must address the anomalies that exist amongst us as a race and the barriers that frustrate our progress. We must do this for future generations. Our generation must one day account for its history and legacy. We must explain ourselves to posterity and account for our contribution to the cause and agenda of the Black man. The generations of Kwame Nkrumah, Oliver Tambo, Stephen Bantu Biko, Nelson Mandela,

Thomas Sankara, Solomon Mahlangu, Winnie Mandela, Samora Machel, Julius