Complex. Simple. Straightforward. - Podcast Demo

The speaker discusses the experience of being a black person in a predominantly white school and the pressure to fit in with white friends and teachers. They describe the term "coconut" as being seen as a traitor by fellow black people for associating with white people. The speaker shares their bond with an English teacher who believed in them and inspired their passion for journalism. They acknowledge the challenges and feelings of unworthiness that come with being a black person, but express gratitude for their parents' support and their pride in being an African child. What's up everyone, my name is Tumi, and welcome to Complex Simple Straightforward. In this episode of Complex Simple Straightforward, I want to focus on Coconut Chronicles, for lack of a better word. Welcome to the show. In a position of power and you're black and you have all these white friends and you get along with your white teacher in this predominantly white school, predominantly white school in the sense that it was a Model C school, and now you've stepped into this position of power, you seem as though you're more pandering to the white man. I mean, that's linked to anything that's anti-black in the 90s. I mean, if you were a leader in a setup like that, you are not respected by your fellow black people, you are looked down upon. I feel like "coconut' could be equated to being a traitor in the sense. Of course it's a little bit more mild because it's children who coined this term, but essentially it's in the same sense. And that's how I felt when I stepped into leadership positions throughout primary school and throughout high school. That is probably a consequence of the history of where the country had come from. Where the country still was. No black person trusted white people, and few black people were working together with white people, so what reason did all these black kids in my school and in my classes - who I wasn't really friends with - what reason did they have to trust me, who was getting along with all these white people? I think that's very separatist thinking, when you are singled out because of the people you choose to associate with, and not for any other reason, but just because of the colour of their skin. Other people on the outside see that as a reason to single you out, for the mere fact that you decided, it's okay for me to associate with someone who is white. I don't like that separatist way of thought. Power is always linked to superiority. A position of power now becomes something that adds on to that thing that's driving a wedge between me and my fellow black people, because now I'm supposed to be that person that solves them out. Yes, I'm black, "you're not, you're a coconut, now you're a prefect, you are trouble". I developed a very strong bond with my English teacher. She believed in me, she mentored me, she put everything in me to become like, she was part of the reason I decided I want to become a journalist, you know, my writing, my storytelling, and all of that. Now here you are, you are a coconut, you're a prefect, and you're a teacher's pet. Those are the things that black people in high school don't like. The black kids who consider themselves to be, I don't know, real, consider themselves to be authentic. I just took it because for me, those are the things that I loved. I mean, I loved working with her, I loved English, and I loved being a leader. I was good at being a leader. I loved that I was eloquent. It's tough being a black person, and this is something in addition to everything else that you have to live with as a black person. And it doesn't make it easy. Many people fall into depression, many people fall into issues with their self-esteem, you feel yourself unworthy, you feel yourself inferior, already you're black and now you're just not even being accepted by the people who are supposed to just inherently accept you. It's tough. Props to my parents for making sure that I get a good education. I'm super, super grateful. I'm a proud African child, and I'm living my truth every single day. That's it for today. Thank you so much for joining me for yet another episode of Complex Simple Straightforward. My name is Tumi, and don't forget to tune in next time. Bye for now!