Different terms are used here to describe different groups of people. It has been very hard to get use to "coloured" which describes anyone of mixed race. Another challenge is the reference of black to mean mainly the Xhosa people. The Xhosa have a long history in South Africa and are of the Bantu. Their language is very distinct because it has "click" sounds. The beginning of Xhosa is a click.
The Xhosa are not well respected and very few people wander into the townships where they tend to live. They are often blamed for the high crime and other problems in the area.
So - venturing into the township on a Saturday was sure to be an adventure.
Gary (white South African of British and Afrikaans background) drove us there and was a bit nervous about the whole thing. I tended to follow the advice of his wife, Bonnie (Coloured), who said all would be ok.
We stopped at the first club, a small bar where people were crowded around the tv showing a cricket game. We walked in and yes, everyone stared. We found a table and ordered a drink but not soon after sitting down, we were approached by a man who invited us to sit with him and his friends. We joined them and had a good time chatting and getting to know each other.
Leaving after approx. an hour, we drove to another club where again, everyone was gathered around tv screens. This club was larger and so we got even more stares. It never fails though, someone always approaches with a smile and a thank you for taking time to visit. We soon met several more local Xhosa people and ended the evening with new friends.
To me, it is always worth the time to find people and make an effort to establish communication. The more we learn about each other, the easier we get along.
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