Entry Six: Durban August 29, Durban

Today I went to a U.E.R. workshop (United to End Racism). It was an interactive workshop where youth got to express their feelings on racism. We paired up and traded time listening to one another and everything we said was confidential. One of the things we were asked to talk about in the pair was to tell a time we encountered racism or saw someone else encounter it. I experienced feelings that were incapable for me to produce in the states. I was totally enlightened.

I will not be attending Black August tonight with Michele, Barry and Dezroy, because I want to watch South African music videos. Black August is a concert. It has been going on for the past few years. It has traditionally happened in Cuba in which several underground and Africa/socially/politically conscious rappers and spoken word artists perform. The lineup includes: The Nuyorican Poet (Mariposa), Talib Kweli, Dead Prez, Jeru, Black Thought from the Roots, and the Coup.

As I've started to be more honest with myself and others this week, I have begun to experience such a freedom that can only be described as enchanting. I used to lie but I have found that people believe me when I do that, and I don't want to do that any more. For example, I never exactly made it on Jeopardy as I told Barry. There was a Truth and Reconciliation Commission here in South Africa and learning about the people involved made me understand that when I lie I don't only lose the trust of others but I also start to doubt myself.

I have met 33 youths over the past 3 days. I am a person who doesn't like approaching people because I have the impression that those that I approach might bite my head off. But through the help of Barry and Michele, I have been able to understand that the way I feel towards others is the way they feel towards me. I have given most of the people I met my contact information. Anyone who has email I will keep in contact with.

I feel like I represent the United States at the NGO Forum (and will later at WCAR) but technically I don't because I am not here as an official government representative. In my opinion, I don't think that the U.S. government understands the importance of WCAR. Because two topics (Zionism and reparations) are being talked about, the U.S. has not decided to participate. I think the U.S. should participate because this is a world conference and if one country is missing then the world is really not being represented. And if the U.S. does not come, it shows the U.S. people that either Racism no longer exists or that it is not an important enough topic to talk about.

Annie's Journal Traveling Day Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6 Day 7 - 8 Day 9 Traveling Day

Dezroy's Journal Traveling Day Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 & 5 Day 6 Day 7 - 8 Day 9 Day 10 Traveling Day