Abstract:
This article was derived from my doctoral thesis, ‘Post-apartheid racism among Afrikaans
speaking urban adolescents: A narrative-pastoral reflection’. The impetus for this study was
the seemingly increasing occurrences of racism amongst post-apartheid Afrikaans-speaking
urban adolescents in South Africa by taking a narrative practical theological perspective on
the matter to help build meaningful cross-cultural dialogue. This study explored the level of
dialogue of the participants using a postfoundational paradigm. Two questions guided the
investigation: (1) How deeply embedded are objectifying of cross-cultural relationships?
(2) How can we instigate honest dialogue aiding us in being more aware of our biases to
embrace diversity and going forward as a unity in diversity? This study was conducted
in 2016 amongst white Afrikaans-speaking urban adolescents living in Pretoria-East,
South Africa. I had four group conversations (A, B, C and D) with my co-researchers (research
participants), with six to eight adolescents per group. I made use of certain empirical research
methods, such as narrative interviewing and group discussions. From an epistemological
perspective, a postfoundational, social constructionist perspective, including an autoethnographical
approach, was followed. The research indicated that Afrikaner adolescents
could live life unquestioned from a position of power and objectivity that was culturally
inherited. It was found that by objectifying relationships (I-It), diverse engagement becomes
almost impossible. Consequently, this article advocates for a dialogical (I-Thou) approach
towards building relationships in a context where people feel vulnerable and shameful, have
fears, but also gain trust to contribute to meaningful dialogue with ‘others’.
Description:
This article was
derived from S.v.D. doctoral thesis under the supervision of Prof. J. C. Müller (Department of Practical Theology, Faculty
of Theology, University of Pretoria). (http://hdl.handle.net/2263/71038)