Posted on August 27, 2008 - by Stephen Murray
Black Economic Empowerment and Individualism?
In thinking a little further about the whole Yebo Yethu thing a thought struck me – I know it doesn’t happen often, and when it does happen its not always that profound but just try stick with me on this one…
I’ve been doing a huge amount of thinking and research into the whole subject of community and even doing the odd talk on the subject recently. This has all been in the context of ecclesiology – my study of the church – which, for obvious reasons, is quite high on my priority list at the moment. An issue that I continually bump into is the rampant individualism of the modernist west and how it has saturated our lives, thought patterns and the structures in which we work, live and have our being. But thinking about the Yebo Yethu issue got me thinking about Black Economic Empowerement (BEE) in general in South Africa. I wonder, just wonder, if the reason that so many white people can’t stomach BEE is partly because they’re wrapped up in an individualist worldview.
So a white, individualist might look at something like Yebo Yethu and conclude that it is discriminatory in nature because it doesn’t allow HIM/HER, the individual, to invest in Vodacom shares. The collectivist (whatever colour he/she is) on the other hand looks at Yebo Yethu and sees that THEY, the collective group of non-whites who make up the majority of the country and who have often in the past had limited opportunity and know how in the area of investment, are being given a chance to invest and learn more about investment. A collectivist could then look at the whole situation and conclude that South Africa as a nation (white/black/coloured/indian etc) will benefit from this programme. Now obviously there would be a number of caveats I’d have to include – so for example if these programmes were attempting to build up the nation at the extreme exclusion of a minority group then I think it would also have a problem, but as I see it whites in this country still have plenty of investment opportunites – so I don’t think the exclusion can be described as extreme. And I do think that ultimately it is for the good of the collective.
So my my thought is: I wonder, just wonder, if western individualism is stopping us from building this country into the country it should be. Maybe I’m just a naiive optimist who hasn’t in any way, to date, incurred loss due to BEE or affirmative action – or maybe I’m right. What do you think?
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Stephen Murray
Christian, husband to my beautiful Robin, missional dreamer, pastor, church planter, Arsenal, Sharks and Springbok supporter, surfer (in the real sea), patriotic South African, Capetonian. Find out more about the church planting work I'm involved in at my support blog.
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August 28, 2008
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mssc54 said:
I’m glad I stopped in here.
As I began reading my first thought was of American blacks and I could easily recall stats of young black males that just break your heart. I mean if you consider the pain, grief and destruction on the black family at the hands of young black males it is just incomprehenseable.
South African blacks I know little about. Which, I guess, goes to prove the individualist theory you are espousing here.
My reason or excuse how ever you choose to look at it is that my plate is pretty full with my own family dynamics. Been married over thirty-four years to the same woman. Have successfully raised three daughters. The eldest just celebrated their fifth anniversary this week and they have a three and a half year old son. My middle daughter was married nearly two years when her husband was killed in Afghanistan in Feb 07. Their son is now twenty months old. My youngest daughter is in college and still lives at home. Twenty-eight months ago we took in a two and four year old brother and sister which was supposed to be temporary. However, God moved on our hearts and last month the courts revolked the parental rights of the parents and we should have our “new kids” adopted within sixty days. So now that my wife and I are in our early to mid fifties we have a son in four year old kindergarten and our six year old daughter is in first grade.
Oh, I forgot to mention, both of my daughter’s families live in the same neighborhood as wee do and we have family dinners or cook outs at least twice a month with ten to fourteen of us here.
So as you see our plate is pretty full.
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August 28, 2008
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Dylan ‘Umshini Wam’ Marais said:
I think it is western individualism that will save this country. The black collective ideal is one of the most destructive economic forces in Africa. We need to distinguish between social collectivism (i.e. a sense of community) and economic collectivism (i.e. communism). Western indivdualism as applied to social issues is a disaster, but individualism in the economic sphere is the driving force behind capitalism and free economic enterprise. It is thing that makes people want to get rich. The marxist style redistribution of wealth kills off the capitalist spirit.
Let me just add that I agree with your thoughts about the Yebo Yethu initiative and think it is a great thing. It is not racist at all to want to give a hand to poor people, especially if it teaches them at the same time how to handle money. However your conclusions that follow are a complete non-sequiter.
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August 28, 2008
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Stephen said:
hmmmm…”Western indivdualism as applied to social issues is a disaster, but individualism in the economic sphere is the driving force behind capitalism and free economic enterprise. It is thing that makes people want to get rich.” – and that my friend is the problem!
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August 29, 2008
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mssc54 said:
Stephen; I must respectfully disagree with your statement that wanting to get rich is the problem. There is nothing at all wrong with wanting to get rich. The problem is what is done or not done with that wealth.
Christ taught about money more than He did about hell.
It really gets down to the condition of the heart. Where will those riches go? In the “barn” or to the “children”.
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August 29, 2008
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Stephen said:
That’s fine – I don’t think there’s anything wrong with being rich – but when becoming rich, in and of itself, becomes your goal, then I think we have problem. Jesus did teach on money more than hell and the vast majority of times he spoke about how money should not master us – I don’t recall him telling us to go out there and get rich – I do recall him telling us to give away everything we’ve got. Full blown capitalism , whilst not inherently evil itself, breeds economic idolatry. That’s the problem. And yes ultimately its a problem of the heart but surely we can find a better system (and BTW I don’t think communism is any better).