Africa offers schizoid welcome to blacks
minomaoa, zaire (AP) — it is a
very long journey from Soweto to
the capitals of independent Africa.
A journey measured in more than
mere miles.
A visitor crossing the racial di
viding line from South Africa into
the heart of black Africa finds the
contrasts striking.
Although neighbors, the blacks
of white-governed Africa and
those in independent black Africa
live worlds apart, separated by
two decades of post-colonial in
dependence.
For the traveler from Johan
nesburg the restraints on multi
racial contact suddenly are gone,
the segregated townships such as
Soweto no more.
There is no crime in whites and
blacks dancing in the nightclubs of
Accra in Ghana, sharing the chic
French restaurants of Dakar in
Senegal or relaxing together on
the Beaches of Lagos in Nigeria.
Here in Kinshasa, once
Leopoldville, capital of the Belgian
Congo, the taxis and buses are
integrated as are the swimming
pools and movie theatres of Abid
jan in the Ivory Coast.
The tables are reversed in this
part of Africa as whites become
dependent upon blacks for work
permits, travel visas and other of
ficial dispensations.
Two decades of political inde
pendence have brought the peo
ple of black Africa a self
confidence and assertiveness
often lacking among the blacks of
South Africa, Rhodesia and
South-West Africa (Namibia).
After long exposure to black ac
ceptance of white whim in 'South
Africa, the traveler from Johan
nesburg is confronted by black
immigration officials and finds
himself caught up in the racial
cosmopolitanism of black Africa's
cities that is notably lacking in
South Africa.
In Senegal, it occurs to the
traveler that the marriage of Pres
ident Leopold Senghor, whose
conservative politics are admired
by officials in South Africa, would
be banned because his wife Col
ette is white and French.
A comparison of Soweto, the
segregated township of a million
blacks about 10 miles southwest
of Johannesburg, with the urban
centers of independent black Af
rica underlines other differences.
Soweto is clean, but dreary and
monotonous; neatly planned, but
seemingly lifeless, a white-run city
of solid but soulless assembly-line
brick homes.
The unplanned cities of black
Africa are sprawling slums ant
hills of humanity crowded into
ramshackle shanties surrounding
downtown skyscrapers.
But if black Africa’s cities are
chaotic and filthy they also are vib
rant, colorful and lively, where
people display a joy of living amid
a degree of poverty unseen in
Soweto.
Residents of Soweto and other
black townships in South Africa
can find some entertainment in
Child care survey slated
A major survey designed to measure the need for subsidized child
care for student parents will be conducted during registration for spring
quarter, March 28 and 29, at the University.
The survey is being conducted by the Oregon Student Lobby to
determine the number of parents who would be affected by child
care legislation now being considered in the Legislature. The bill, HB
2459, would provide child care services as a form of financial aid.
The questionnaires for the survey will be available at tables at three
locations: outside the tennis courts, outside the ballroom and in the
EMU fishbowl.
According to Rachelle Katz, community coordinator for ASUO, “We
need statistics so that our legislators will know that a large number of
people will be benefited by the bill. The questionnaire only takes a
couple of minutes to fill out, and I hope students will take the time to help
this bill.”
Additionally, Katz said students may also help the passage of the
bill by writing their state representatives in support of HB 2459.
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government-sponsored beer halls
or illegal speakeasies called sha
beens.
But night life in Soweto is no
match for the raucus conviviality
found after hours in the drinking
parlors of “La Cite” district of
Kinshasa or the bars in other cities
in black Africa.
In sharp contrast, whites may
not enter black townships in South
Africa without a permit, and a
sense of fear prevades the few
who do.
But there seems to be a distinct
lack of knowledge on each side of
the great racial divide about life on
the other side.
A black maid in South Africa re
gistered amazement when told
that whites and blacks live side by
side in black Africa without inci
dent.
A black man in Kinshasa was
surprised to learn that Gatsha
Buthelezi, leader of South Africa’s
four million Zulus, has repeatedly
denounced white supremacy and
called for majority rule but remains
out of jail.
While contrasts abound there
are some similiarities.
A white man walking to his
parked car in Johannesburg re
cently was held up by a black man
who put a knife to his back, saying:
“Open the boot trunk .. .master.”
The use of “master” as a term of
deference to whites is also com
mon among less educated blacks
in independent Africa.
The difference is that in black
Africa it is a fading colonial hang
over while in South Africa it re
mains a reality.
FOR USED
Beginning Monday . . . and thru this week . . . convert
your USED BOOKS into cash — fast.
The U of O Bookstore will be using a new way,
never used on this campus before,
to get you in and out in a hurry.
... No I D Required,
... No vouchers to fill out.
... No long lines in which to wait.
Books will be pnrchased on the same basis as always....
... One half of purchase price on
Leg? texts for which we have orders for
future terms.
... “Used” dealers catalog prices
on others not needed.
Hiis new system will be ii effect only during finals week,
March 14 ttarn March IS... .
Oi March 21 aid after we will he back usiig oht usual method.
Books cai be brought ii anytime for sale to us.
This week only — An armful of books will get you a
handful of cash. Crisp new one dollar bills
for more spring vacation fun.
We need feedback ou our system used this week - let us know how we scored.
U of O Bookstore SSiSSSS,
Open: Mon-Fri 8:15 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sat 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.