Cape Town – After receiving heavy online backlash from the coloured community in South Africa‚ Logogog, the publishers of the book ‘Rainbow Nation Navigation: A Practical Guide to South African cultures’
will be expected to update the chapter on Coloureds.
Many social media users slammed the section of the book dedicated to Coloured culture as racist after a few excerpts from the book was revealed.
One excerpt from the book says: "Coloured People also have baby showers. If you’re invited to one of these‚ then here are some hints: – Hand-me-downs are acceptable gifts‚ although in the younger generation‚ this is becoming rare."
Another excerpt reads: “There’s a little (unacceptable) thing called ‘vat en sit’‚ which refers to a man moving in with his girlfriend and‚ often‚ letting her pay for his expenses. In some cases the girlfriend falls pregnant. She then returns to her mother and makes peace with her (usually by apologising). The girlfriend moves back in with her and then has the child‚ She then leaves the child with the mother and returns to the boyfriend.”
Initially, one of the authors, Paula Marais responded by saying that she did not write that section and if people don't like the book, then they shouldn't buy it.
She then opened the (Twitter) floor to suggestions on what can be reviewed and changed.
@Paula_Marais I would suggest a review of this part.. pic.twitter.com/aJkD0bFOTj
— Leesie (@easyleesie) February 11, 2017
@brodiegal No. I said I'm happy to change it. That I can do.
— Paula Marais Writer (@Paula_Marais) February 11, 2017
In conjunction with the flak, a petition was created to 'remove racist and defamatory book'. At the time of publishing, about 700 people signed the petition.
According to the Amandla Awethu mobile site that hosts the petition, the campaign was created by Jacqlyne Titus to stop the book from distribution.