16th December is The Day of Reconciliation
Where all of us as a nation
Are meant to pretend that we have unity
While black and brown people continue to die with impunity.
The Afrikaner called it the Day of the Vow
Where we are meant to believe that somehow
470 of them killed 10 000 at the Battle of Blood River
As if the Zulu people were waiting inline.
And one by one stood quietly waiting for their time
To die, so the Afrikaner could claim victory
This is what we are told with the erasing of black history.
Then the year after democracy in 1995
We are told to aspire and seek peace in our life
By holding hands even when we are hated
And laughed at and humiliated.
We opt for just one day to celebrate
As Thanksgiving is in the States
Excluding history and being asked to thrive in hate and violence
Maintaining our silence
Of what was and continues to this day
Perhaps there is a way
We can successfully reconcile
And through the pain offer up a smile
When the damage done is finally acknowledged, and equality and justice is meted out
Without the racists proudly walking about
And humiliating our future generation
Then crying out when the majority of the nation
notice that nothing much has changed and how much is lost
Always at the cost
Of black and brown lives and their health
Conveniently forgetting that the wealth
Is not in the victim’s hands and something isn’t right
When those that have privilege only because they’re white
Go about their lives as if nothing is amiss
Living their lives in absolute bliss
Ignoring the part, they have to play
In the continued oppression to this day
Of the majority of people of our nation
Then extending their hand for only one day of Reconciliation.
Expecting by some miracle that we will be ok
And that come what may
We will believe the narrative that we are hateful and violent
While taking our punishment and remaining silent.
The day of Reconciliation is a lie.
It’s become impossible smile while inside we die
From hunger, trauma and racist acts
And systems designed to against us like pacts.
Reconciliation much like Thanksgiving
Should only be enjoyed by those the system favours as worthy of living.
