I am ‘coloured’ The pictures I am using are of friends and family who are or were classified as coloured. How the gems work: once you have shared your opinion, put your gem in th emiddle of the table. You are not allowed to share another opinion until everyone has placed their gem in the center By Betina Coetzee

Session Norms Be respectful when others are speaking Respect everyone’s opinion Please turn off cell phones or put on vibrate By Betina Coetzee

Objectives To start a conversation about the different interpretations of the term ‘coloured’ What it means to South Africans How African Americans react to the term Hopefully answer the question: Why is culture important? By Betina Coetzee

Coloured What does this term evoke in you? What do you expect to gain from this session? Turn to the person beside you to discuss your questions Give 1 minute, Now share what you discussed with your table Red gems share one thought from your table. By Betina Coetzee

Who are coloureds in South Africa? Pictures of friends and family By Betina Coetzee

How would they be classified in South Africa? Jet Li (Chinese) Yoko Ono (Japanese) Green gems share your opinions Thanks to my sister, Celeste Coetzee By Betina Coetzee

Chinese (were classified as coloureds) S Africa Chinese 'become black' The High Court in South Africa has ruled that Chinese South Africans are to be reclassified as black people. It made the order so that ethnic Chinese can benefit from government policies aimed at ending white domination in the private sector. The Chinese Association of South Africa took the government to court, saying its members had been discriminated against. An estimated 200,000 ethnic Chinese live in South Africa. By BBC News 18 June 2008 By Betina Coetzee

Wikipedia Japanese immigration to South Africa began when Japan emerged as the country's largest trading partner when it was under apartheid. The designation of Honorary whites was applied to Japanese people living in South Africa in the 1960s to assist a trade pact formed between South Africa and Japan in the early 1960s.[2] Did this shock you? By Betina Coetzee

Who are ‘coloureds’? Apartheid: 3 races: white, coloured, black Coloureds: They are mixed white and black, Malays, Indians, Asians They were skilled laborers brought to South Africa, By Betina Coetzee

Coloured students cont. I just liked this picture By Betina Coetzee

Christmas Band cont. Unique to Cape Town coloureds By Betina Coetzee

Cape Minstrels The festival begins on New Year's Day and continues into February. Festivities include street parades with singing and dancing, costume competitions and marches through the streets. This marks the welcoming of a new and prosperous year and the people of Cape Town celebrates this in carnival. By Betina Coetzee

What is the general feeling? Most coloureds accept the classification. There are some who no longer want to be called coloured By Betina Coetzee

Why I am proud to be coloured Unique group Harmonious blending together of cultures Resilient Ability to laugh in the face of adversity Ability to laugh at each other By Betina Coetzee

Talking points Not as homogenous a group as other groups 2 out of 50 friends and family objected to me doing this presentation They felt the ‘coloured’ is a derogatory term Negative stereotypes associated with the term I disagree. It is a classification, not a slang word. All groups have stereotypes, but it does not determine who we are By Betina Coetzee

Talking points cont. During apartheid ‘black’ was the bad word Now being black is the in thing Dissatisfied because of not taking ownership of who you are and your culture By Betina Coetzee

The importance of culture American schools are very diverse Speak the same language as your students Understand their culture and background before making judgments Culture and life experiences influence how students make meaning of what they learn By Betina Coetzee

Questions By Betina Coetzee email: liefde@hotmail.com