When we say Indian people are very versin this is it (I'm Indian too, relax).

Their video has far too many inaccuracies plus being out of touch with reality on Indian marginalization in SA - so I feel moved to correct the record. https://twitter.com/lilithlakshmi/status/1325308838959079425

Indians in SA are NOT exclusively descended from forced indentured laborers brought here in the 1800s. There were enslaved Indians in the cape as far back as the late 1600s.

So their anniversary for the former is exclusive and bounds the identity of Indians to one specific group

I'm descended of neither. Many Indians after this influx in South Africa, esp in CTN, are descended from Passenger Indians - those who paid their own fares and traveled as British Subjects. I note this here to draw out the privilege of being able to do so.

Indian people werent white under apartheid but in the granularity Indian people had some more advantages than others.

For every R1 spent on a white child then, 79c was spent on an Indian child. (coloured & black kids got 48c and 19c respectively)

This advantage carries on today

"post-1994, Indian South Africans have seen the “fastest growth in per capita income” (468%) according toeconomist Siphamandla Mkhwana"

"Even though we were all oppressed, we were not equally oppressed,” said economist, Professor Bonke Dumisa." https://www.iol.co.za/dailynews/news/economists-indians-benefited-from-apartheid-2056013

“Even though we were all oppressed, we were not equally oppressed,” said economist, Professor Bonke Dumisa.

About their protest, which they're quick to say 'don't worry it will be peaceful according to our values as indians' - note the subtle hint to whiteness that 'hey, we're OK, we're not like THOSE folk'.

Given stats provided, it's no wonder appeasing whiteness is a priority..

They also portray the Indian community as being one where we rose by our bootstraps 'we've done lots despite how we came here as indentured labour'.

Again this satisfies WS capitalism who doesn't want structural change, and conveys that others haven't done as much as indians.

Of course Indians have been more able to prosper given how apartheid in its sorting into a race hierarchy and the resources that went with that, created a caste system here which replicated what Indians are very familiar with.

"Let's not currywash the past and present where privilege benefits Indians to the extent that our economic and social capital allows us to advance disproportionately."

This article is my be myself, disclosure. https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2017-08-30-lets-talk-about-indian-privilege-in-apartheid-south-africa/amp/

on the women in the video: Light skinned, conventially attractive, speaking politely and gently about their protest. Who is the target audience besides the approving uncles?

The politics of beauty and respectability cannot go unmentioned. They make full use of it here.

Their protest feels more like an influencer campaign, designed to not upset whiteness nor capitalism and most especially not patriarchy.

LOL. Fuck that shit most especially.

I can see why the angels in Africa couldn't go help trump bec they saw Indian people acting out again in SA and was like 'sorry not sorry weirdo lady we busy be there... never lmao'

Oh! Lemme add. UCT allowed Indians into the medical faculty rel early. first 3 Indian graduates became doctors in 1948.

For coloured people they were allowed in from approx the late 50s/60s. On permits to study there.

The first black person allowed in was in 80s, graduated 90/1

Indianness works well with WS as outlined. But we can't blame only WS. Indian culture & ethnicity is imbued with ethnic, ancient chauvinism. India rn exemplifies this fascism, esp the view that Indian ppl are the culmination of god getting people 'right' in a goldilocks fashion.

I'm not perfectly woke. I have a lot to learn in how I navigate in black spaces given indianness. Am not putting self fwd as 'Ive mastered it all'. This should go without saying but all of this above is a constant reflection in my head that comes with humility & lessons for me.