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QUINCY VS IS HOW I CHOOSE TO FIGHT 400 YEARS OF “COLOURED” OPPRESSION

· Quincy VS,Apartheid,Coloured

If modern media is to be believed, one would think that South Africa as a nation, comprises of solely black and white people. However; the reality is that there is a third race, found predominantly in Cape Town and classified as “Coloured” by the Apartheid regime of yesteryear.

Now many would argue that Apartheid is still very much alive here in South Africa, but that is a topic best left for another time.

So when the focus is placed primarily on black and white, it stands to reason that a crisis of identity may be taking place. An example of this; I filled out an application form for funding the other day and in the Race section it gave me the option of BLACK and WHITE. I am neither, because those are not just colours to us. They denote religion, beliefs, moral codes and a set of principles that make us who we are.

The purpose of this article is not to widen that gap; that was the goal of the Apartheid (directly translated as “Separateness” or “to be apart”) government, after all. The purpose of this article is to share that as a “Coloured” people we have worth and we have more in common with the other racial groups than many may realise.

My research has painted quite the terrifying picture, but has also offered me keen insights into where I come from and more importantly where I fit in. For example, I found that on average that “Coloured” population contribute R16bn to the economy each year.

Surely that would entitle us to some basic rights, wouldn’t it?

Quincy VS is the 13-part drama series I’ve penned, that was born out of sheer sadness and frustration with the way things currently are. My people are suffering, brothers and sisters dying and no one seems to care. Yes, we get flashes of inspiration of “Coloureds” that rise above and give us hope, but they are too few and far between.

Quincy VS is a tale of struggle, of hope, of dreams, of family values so closely intertwined with all of humanity, that it would be impossible not to relate to some aspect of it.

I’ve already submitted my proposal to get it green-lit by our local television broadcaster, but even that is not a sure thing. Regardless, to get Quincy VS made has become a lifelong dream of mine, it is also my therapy. I’ll ensure that it gets made one way or another or else I’ll never be able to look my sisters in the eye ever again.

(Originally published on WhitFieldPatel 26 September 2016)