The second Diversity Dialogue of the year, on 16 February, will be at a private house in President Park from 13.00 to 17.00. We will open with Blaque Nubon speaking on “The Gospel and Blackness”. Be sure to arrive on time so you do not miss this! After the talk, stay for an opportunity to connect, listen, speak and build community with a diverse group as we dialogue together. The exact topic of the dialogue will be decided by the people in the room on the day. Please bring a plate of eats to share. Hope to see you there! RSVP to Vera at vera@tt-tt.co.za to get the exact address.
dialogue
Diversity Dialogue
The first Diversity Dialogue of the year, on 26 January in the Teacher’s Staffroom at CCM from 12.30 to 17.00, will open with Roydon Frost speaking on “The Gospel and Whiteness”. Be sure to arrive on time so you do not miss this! After the talk, stay for an opportunity to connect, listen, speak and build community with a diverse group as we dialogue together. The exact topic of the dialogue will be decided by the people in the room on the day. Please bring a plate of eats to share. Hope to see you there! RSVP to Vera at vera@tt-tt.co.za
Private Dialogue inspired by Poetry
Life in South Africa confronts us with issues that are not always easy to process. They make us uncomfortable and challenge us. However, is it exactly in these places of dissonance that growth and healing can happen.
Vera Marbach will facilitate a “dialogue inspired by poetry” through a process of reflection and sense-making as we connect with each other across some of the issues that frequently divide us. She will present some poetry from her recently published “Dwelling in Dissonance” as an entry point to a heart-to-heart discussion.
Private Dialogue inspired by Poetry
Life in South Africa confronts us with issues that are not always easy to process. They make us uncomfortable and challenge us. However, is it exactly in these places of dissonance that growth and healing can happen.
Vera Marbach will facilitate a “dialogue inspired by poetry” through a process of reflection and sense-making as we connect with each other across some of the issues that frequently divide us. She will present some poetry from her recently published “Dwelling in Dissonance” as an entry point to a heart-to-heart discussion.
Private Dialogue inspired by Poetry
Life in South Africa confronts us with issues that are not always easy to process. They make us uncomfortable and challenge us. However, is it exactly in these places of dissonance that growth and healing can happen.
Vera Marbach will facilitate a “dialogue inspired by poetry” through a process of reflection and sense-making as we connect with each other across some of the issues that frequently divide us. She will present some poetry from her recently published “Dwelling in Dissonance” as an entry point to a heart-to-heart discussion.
White supremacy
On 7 July at Christ Church Midrand, the topic chosen for our dialogue was “How to kill white supremacy” with th
e themes of “land restitution” and “dealing with anger” influencing the conversation.
Apartheid was described as “successful in meeting its goals”, because the structures it put in place largely remain and this outside structural racism has penetrated our insides. Our inner racism, even in those who don’t want to be racist, is pervasive. Often both white and black people think that white people are superior and black people inferior. Many black women feel they are at the bottom of the oppressive systemic racism pyramid. At the same time, black women spoke from the pain of being married to black men who feel trapped in their circumstances – they want to be strong for their women but feel they have to swallow racism to keep their jobs and survive financially.
Private Dialogue inspired by Poetry
What does it mean to be an African in South Africa?
This was the topic chosen by the participants during our April Diversity Dialogue.
The voices that emerged with a view on this topic were the voices of History, Emotions and Capitalism. History highlighted the continuing influence of Apartheid on this question. It was described as an echo that continues. This echo was a heaviness and discomfort we needed to step into. We explored possible ways of engaging with the echo, which included showing up, listening, looking, holding the space and serving in response. Capitalism recognised its relationship with the echo – the echo drives us to buy more to dull the echo and distract us from the discomfort.
Land restitution without compensation
At our March Diversity Dialogue, the topic chosen was land restitution without compensation. We were a small group and as a result, Lungi facilitated this dialogue and I had the opportunity to participate. This feedb
ack is the combined product of a facilitator’s point of view, as well as an interpretation through the lens of the voice of identity.
