Divide and Rule in Management

Whoopi Goldberg had the lead role in Sarafina, 

the film based on a South African play by Mbongeni Ngema.

African Americans and Africans born and raised in the Motherland share many family moments. They also share the pain, such as slavery in the U.S. and slavery called apartheid, in South Africa.

Time passed and they became part of the workforce through their education and laws that prohibit racism in the workplace. Employers in the two countries found a loop hole: hiring ‘foreign’ blacks. I’m hesitant about that label because Africa is the source, for both stolen sons and daughters and those who remained at home.

After the 1994 national election in South Africa, where blacks voted for the first time, managerial jobs were advertised so that both black and white could apply.

However, corporate South Africa could not stand ‘our blacks’ so they actively hired ‘foreign’ blacks from mainly Lesotho, Zimbabwe and Swaziland. They believed that Africans from neighbouring countries were not militant and did not bring the past to the office. Therefore, they felt safe. Nobody could accuse them of apartheid racism.

African Americans in the U.S. still find themselves in this situation. They are qualified, experienced, know the political and economic nuances of their country, but top jobs sometimes go to ‘foreign’ blacks.

They do not complain, because the issue of blood comes in. How do you object to the hiring of another black, although you know that he got the job because employers do not want to deal with African American managers?

Entertainment is different. Black people in America are more vocal about actors from other countries, playing roles depicting African American history like Martin Luther King Jr. or Harriet Tubman.  Sometimes they’re justified. I once saw a film about church politics.

The main actor was a black actor from Germany, the deacon a black actor from England. They didn’t cut it, so air whooshed out from the movie. All I could think of, was about six U.S.-born actors who could have hit home runs out of the ballpark.

Things in the film industry are not likely to change because of producers. It’s their money, so they make the decisions.

This is another ‘written podcast’ from Nonqaba waka Msimang.