Black & White

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C H A P T E R T W E N T Y S I X

"The first motion is The Impact of separate development on Education and Social Equality in South Africa. Jan Smuts will be the proposition team and Amandlaethu will be the opposition team."

The first speaker from Jan Smuts Hoerskool took to the podium and started reading his opening speech once the first motion was read aloud. "We stand before you today as voices of society as well as representatives of our school. Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished judges, and audience members. First and foremost, I would like all of us to understand that separate development pertains to laws and policies that have been put in place by our government in an effort to stabilize and organize our country. One of the pillars of any society is education. All educational institutions, including this one were provided with resources, infrastructure, and curriculms aimed at helping every racial group develop a sense of self and community."

I scoffed at the speaker's mention of resources and infrastructure.

"The intention of segregating racial groups was to offer them quality education separately, as a means of preserving cultural diversity and avoiding potential conflicts. It is equally critical to acknowledge that South Africa has had substantial economic improvement and growth as a result of these policies. Separate growth has offered stability, which has facilitated investments, job opportunities, and developments across a range of industries. This economic progress has had a positive impact on our educational facilities and resources available to all the communities in our country. As we engage in this motion let us remember that the laws and policies implemented by our government are crucial for forging a united future. Thank you."

The hall erupted in cheers. After the ovation subsided, I approached the stage and started unfolding the opening speech that I had written several days ago. My eyes wandered from the speech in my hands to my classmates, who were seated at the rear of the auditorium and had encouraging and pleased smiles on their faces. You can do this Ayize. I took one more glance at the speech before shredding it to bits. I could see the looks of amusement and delight on the faces of our opponents, as well as the shocked and worried expressions on the faces of my classmates. I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply before starting.

"Greetings to our distinguished judges, our respected opponents and the members of the audience. Today, we, the students of Amandlaethu High School, stand before you not only as representatives of our institution but as voices of a community that endured the weight of systemic oppression and inequality. Our discussion topic today ought to have been The impact of Apartheid on the education and social equality in south africa. The Afrikaans word apartness is where the name apartheid originates."

I shifted my gaze from the audience to the first speaker of Jan Smuts Hoërskool.

"This separate development that you speak of is aimed at preserving the dominance of the white minority over the black majority in all spheres of the South African society. Using euphemistic language minimizes the impact and makes it sound less harsh, so let's stick to calling it apartheid. The topic that we are engaging in right now is not merely a motion for debate, it is a lived reality for countless individuals whose dreams and aspirations have been stifled apartheid."
I turned my attention back to the crowd. "The government's policies, which our opponents say promote progress, order, and development, are actually shackles that keep the majority of our people in a cycle of inferiority. The desks in our Soweto classrooms may be occupied, but the teachers are overworked, the texts are out of date, and there are more kids than they can handle. Why don't our schools have the same large halls as the one we are in right now if the government supplies equal infrastructure to schools as our opponents claimed? Social and Education equality, rings hallow in the ears of those who bear the brunt of apartheid, which is a distant dream for many. The colour of our skin should never dictate the opportunities we are afforded, and yet, government policies have systematically marginalized us, pushing us to the fringes of society. We cannot turn a blind eye to the injustices that have become an indelible part of our history. In conclusion, as we navigate this debate, let us remember the faces, the dreams, and the aspirations of those who are experiencing oppression. Thank you."