Community of Contradictions

Below is the photo I chose for my portion of the VCU-UKZN Photo Voice project. I titled it "Community of Contradictions". I'd like to share it because it is a succinct summary of how I view Kenneth Gardens as an outsider:

 Taken from a hilltop in upper Kenneth Gardens, this view shows the community juxtaposed with the city of Durban. Seeing Kenneth Gardens in a larger, more holistic context captures some of the contradictions I have seen and felt as an outsider in Kenneth Gardens. On one hand, the blanket drying on the wash line reminds me of the distinct vibrancy of the Kenneth Gardens community. Seeing neighbors chat in the communal laundry space as they go about their chores, playing with the children amongs old tire swings, and learning so much from our thoughtful, creative, and endlessly entertaining Brettonwood learners: all of these things tell me there is hope, resilience, and a sense of community togetherness among Kenneth Gardens residents. On the other hand, the dark shade that covers Kenneth Gardens in the foreground reminds me that we as outsiders have yet to see the community at night. I think of the issues of safetiness, alcohol, drugs, and decrepit, ill-maintained flats that some learners discuss in their photo narratives. I hope this picture encourages the Kenneth Garden residents, particularly its younger generation, to embrace the positive lessons they have learned growing up in this space while thinking beyond the boundaries of their community to suceed and achieve in the larger context of their lives.

I truly hope the Brettonwood learners gain as much from this project as possible. I know that we Global Bridges Scholars tried to mentor our leaners to the best of our abilities. To be honest, they made our jobs easy. They are all so very intelligent, articulate, and talented. Despite the challenges they face growing up in Kenneth Gardens, I have every confidence that each of them have the power to become leaders of their community and leaders in their own right, should they choose to do so. They have singlehandedly convinced me to consider working with adolescents in my OT career, something I had never given thought to before. I'm really going to miss them!

My awesome team of learners, Ntokozo and Lwazi 

Shaka ZULU and The Lion King!

This weekend Jasmine and I went on an adventure to explore another side of South Africa. Traveling to Eshowe, we were able to visit many important landmarks, including the home of Noble Peace Prize winner Albert Lutuli, the location of Shaka Zulu's assassination, and Shakaland, where we witnessed powerful traditional Zulu dancing. Jasmine and I were even able to take part in the festivities. We attempted (emphasis on attempted lol) to replicate the forceful moments of the Zulu men and women. It was such a blessing and incredible opportunity to witness the practicing of African traditions in person, especially in their unadulterated forms. In the U.S. we are able to see remnants of African culture in African American culture, especially in church settings, Step Show performances, jazz music, cooking, etc. In Eshowe, the most salient cultural commonality I witnessed was the "call and response" singing of the Zulu performers. An individual would begin a song with a beautifully sung phrase which would then be followed by a collective response from the remaining performers. The constant push and pull from the performers resembles a vocal dance, which is quite moving to hear.

Reading with the wax replica of Albert Lutuli, founder of the African National Congress (ANC). He also worked with Nelson Mandela to end apartheid in South Africa.

Replica of Traditional Zulu Pastoral Homes

We ended the trip with an amazing visit to a wildlife reserve. I felt like I was in the middle of a  Discovery Channel documentary. Seeing all of the animals in their natural habitats was beautiful. We saw a glimpse of a lion, a rhino, elephant, giraffe, wild boars, zebras etc. Needless to say the sights induced  spontaneous reenactments of "Lion King" scenes and performances! Lol 

Overall, the entire experience was a great way to kick off our final week in South Africa! How the time flies. 

Until Next Time,

Morgan 

Religion, Praise and Worship, and Stuff in Between

Today I had the awesome privilege of attending worship service at one of our UKZN research team member's (Thula) church--the Durban Christian Center.  Let me just say, I am used to praise teams and praise and worship services in the historically black churches in the US being high energy, creative and even dramatic however the praise and worship service at DCC was far more electric and uplifting above any others that I have experience bar none.  I want to thank the Pastor, Rev. Llewllyn Rogers who was so gracious and kind and allowed me to have tea with him and his ministerial staff (including his wife Sylvia) in between services.  I went this morning to the early morning service but the first service was so amazing that I decided to stay for the second service.

I know that religious practices and spiritual rituals can be tricky to discuss in a public setting like a blog especially one linked to a  university-sponsored research project.  In fact religion and spirituality can be a challenge to discuss in general among "mixed company" or within a diverse population where there are people of many faiths or who are professed agnostics or atheists.  Religion is a cultural construct and therefore its expression and interpretation are culturally relevant.  Religion is a powerful cultural construct however and as history has shown, it  can be used for good and for bad.   In fact just yesterday Monique and I were at a new restaurant that just opened in Umbilo.  Monique had gone in to consult with the one of the owners--the wife in a family owned business. The owners are an Indian couple however they are devout Christians as evident by the pictures they have hanging in the restaurant, the open bible on the counter and a conversation that we had, which  left both Monique and I flabbergasted and Monique offended.  Short end of the story is that the husband without prompting or inquiry said that Jews would not go to heaven because they didn't believe in Jesus--period.  "If God sends a bus to take you downtown and you refuse to get on the bus no matter who you pray to standing out there or what you beleive you won't get down town.  Well its the same with not beleiving Jesus--he is the way," Mr. M said. I must say that even as a Christian I was grieved and floored.  And, the poor man's wife  and teenage son were so embarrassed and apologetic of the husband's brazen and dogmatic statement. Monique handled it well I must say but you could tell she was very annoyed.  She shared a painful story about how her eight year old son had been told some thing similar earlier that week at school by a child.  All I could think of is that this is the very reason why Christinaity gets such a bad rep.  I was also reminded of a story about the Muslim who meets Christian missionaries on a dirt road and with bible and "sinners repentance" tracks in hand  they try to convert the Muslim by asking him: "Mr. do you know Jesus?"  The muslim man responds:  "Why yes your Jesus I love but your religion I want no part of."

Karl Marx in his critique of Hegel's philosophy asserted:  "Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of the people."   Marx's statement is highly debatable--endorsed  by some and criticized by  others.  No matter what side of this debate your are on I do think that there is a consensus that religion is a powerful tool and in the wrong hands, hearts or minds it can be highly destructive.  (By the way if you haven't seen The Book of Eli with Denzel Washington you MUST--it illustrates this point masterfully.)

What I have found less contentious  however is the notion of praise and worship.  Praise and worship be it God, Allah, Buddha, or some natural element of the universe e.g.the sun, moon earth --or whatever one chooses to deify--praise and worship are universal.   In my faith's (Christianity) spiritual practice--praise and worship play a huge part in how we demonstrate and express homage and tribute to God.  The service today at Durban Christian Center was bilingual--performed in both Zulu and English.  Even though I couldn't understand the songs in Zulu I could feel the spirit of the songs and was able to pay tribute to God through praise in accordance with my faith tradition.  This service was an AWESOME and uplifting spiritual experience!  The praise dances that the men were doing reminded me of the step shows that black fraternities (and sororities) perform as part of their tradition as well.  I couldn't help but wonder if some of the steps actually originated from religious ceremonial dances and rituals performed by the Zulu and other African tribes.

 One of my favorite scientists--Albert Einstein who once said:  "science without religion is lame and religion without science is blind."  I am so glad that as a social scientist and a person of faith I do not have to chose between the two but can appreciate the important role that both play in understanding and influencing human societies and behavior.

P.S. I hope the link to the video works.

When I look at the images we took as a team in the project I feel pain, I can sense that when the VCU student live the country there will always be a space in my heart that would never be occupied and filled by anyone else except my project teammate. This project has been successful because every plan utilised, is the one that we developed as a team. Warmest thanks for all of your hard work and outstanding contributions as a member of the project. I know how much time and energy this assignment demanded, and I deeply appreciate all of your efforts to make it a great success.   I am filled will gratitude to acknowledge and appreciate the way in which the project team as whole gave me support and help to bring back my confident and built my self-esteem. The way the VCU-UKZN student gave me support from the bottom of my heart I thank you. The way we, VCU-UKZN student interacted with the Brettonwood student demonstrate how willing and enthusiasm we are towards the success of the research project. I am honoured, delighted and pleased with the Brettonwood student the way they think, talk and act is amazing and I  am confident that these student are the agent of change, catalyst of development most importantly  they are the voice of the voiceless within their respective community. Furthermore, the collaboration and support we get from the staff, team and our partners encourage us to do well, to stand for grounds and say we can do it and together we can do more.

Journey towards Knowledge

"Hope is like the sun, which, as we journey toward it, casts the shadow of our burden behind us."
Samuel Smiles 


Today was our final day to analyze the photos the Brettonwood students took to describe their Kenneth Gardens neighborhood. As I anticipated, the photos were AMAZING! But what I was not expecting were their incredible interpretations. I can not express how many times during the data analysis process that I uttered audible gasps of wonderment and pride. For example, when one of the students was asked to describe why he took pictures of the men who organize soccer games for the youth, he replied, "because they are the people working in the shadows that are hardly noticed but do so much good". He also went on to describe the soccer field as his place of refuge, where he could be protected and escape the dangers and risks of his neighborhood. The brilliance of their young minds was nearly overwhelming. Many of them were able to see the beauty in their community that many are blind to. However, several were also able to highlight those barriers they believe stifle the youth from realizing their full potential and maintaining their health. Each picture was accompanied by a powerful narrative and caption that illustrate their take on the image and its relation to their neighborhood. As an outsider, hearing how they interpret their surroundings was fascinating.

My positionality as an outsider conducting researcher abroad has generated an interesting perspective as well as challenging experiences. In my own photovoice project, I captured this sentiment by taking a picture of ascending steps that were both shaded and lit. Being an outside researcher is a journey, full of barriers and successes, but at the end of the day, through all of the triumphs and failures, the knowledge accrued makes it worth it.

Occupying the Space in Between...Being an Insider and an Outsider

Sawubona!!

Since we have been in Durban, the UKZN and VCU students were charged with asking ourselves the following questions: How do you see yourself in Kenneth Gardens (the community we work in), as an insider or an outsider? Why? We were asked to think about these questions and to answer them using photos. In short, we conducted a photo voice project amongst ourselves. My responses to the previously mentioned questions are below - some with captions and descriptions below the photo and others without. Use your imagination for the photos without captions or narratives :)

 

"Proving Nature’s Laws Wrong…Growth Through Concrete"

 

As a young girl, I was raised in low income/resource communities. Working in Kenneth Gardens has reminded me of my youth and has thus helped me to identify with this community as an insider. I remember the daily struggles my family faced to simply obtain the bare necessities. Sometimes it seemed like no matter how hard my mother worked, she couldn’t work hard enough. It had nothing to do with her abilities but the system into which she was born, the system in which she raised her children. This system of oppression is often particularly salient in the lives of historically marginalized populations – particularly those who are racial minorities and those who are poor. The system functions as concrete, stifling growth and nearly preventing advancement all together. But just as Mother Nature finds ways to grow in the midst of concrete so too can those from disadvantaged backgrounds. The possibility of growth is there, hard to find and even harder to navigate but the fact remains – the opportunity exists. I see the possibilities and evidence of growth despite the odds so clearly in the Brettenwood youth. Capturing my sentiments, Tupac Shakur writes “Did you hear about the rose that grew from a crack in the concrete? Proving nature's laws wrong, it learned to walk without having feet…by keeping it's dreams; it learned to breathe fresh air. Long live the rose that grew from concrete when no one else even cared… we wouldn't ask why… we would all celebrate its tenacity, we would all love its will to reach the sun, well, we are the roses, this is the concrete and these are my damaged petals, don’t ask me why, thank god, and ask me how.”

 

 "Right of Admission Reserved”

Since I have been in Durban, I have consistently seen a sign that states: “Right of Admission Reserved.” This statement simply means the owners reserve the right to choose who they let in. As an American I often feel this way about conducting research in Durban, an outsider in a world in which participants reserve the right to choose who they let in. Most Durbanites are South African born, most are at least bilingual, and many people that we work with engage in/are familiar with traditional practices associated with their ethnicity. I am none of these and consequently I often feel like an outsider who is trying to get into a door that is locked by shared experiences, experiences that I will never have. However, I do not believe all is lost. Although the picture displays the words “Keep Locked” there is a hole for a key. I believe being open to experiences, respecting cultural norms, actively and genuinely seeking knowledge about people and their unique backgrounds, and acknowledging my space as an outsider is the key to unlock opportunities for growth through others that I may not have otherwise been afforded.

Hope you all enjoyed the short journey through some of my emotions as an individual occupying the space in between being an insider and an outside in Kenneth Gardens. Until next time...

Peace and Love,

Jasmine aka Mbalnhle (Beautiful flower in Zulu)

PS - I recently got my Zulu name, Mbalnhle. A quick google search told me that each letter stands for the following (not sure how accurate it is but I like it - haha):

M is for mystery, the part of you that cannot be explained.

Bis for bygone, never forgetting golden memories.

Ais for advantage, for you are blessed with many.

Lis for love, your love of life!

Eis for endear, all those you touch.

Nis for noble, your regal bearing.

His for humble, a saintly quality.

Lis for loyalty, that you show.

Eis for exotic, no lack of spirit here!

Leaving Kenneth Gardens

We spent our last work day in Kenneth Gardens this week.  Although we first arrived there only a short two weeks ago, it quickly became a home base for this program.  We got to know many members of the community, including several incredibly inspiring and amazing individuals.  We listened to the stories of their lives, struggles, hopes and dreams.  We ate lunch there in the shade on sunny afternoons and played with the children at the playground.  We have learned so much about the Kenneth Gardens residents and their unique community.  Our perspectives have changed dramatically since our first day in the community when we were asked to take pictures for the PhotoVoice project that reflect our feelings as an insider/outsider.

We accomplished the tasks we set out to complete, but leaving Kenneth Gardens is bittersweet.  I have a greater appreciation for their challenges and feel enriched by their ability to persevere and stay positive.  I feel united with Kenneth Gardens and closer to occupying the “space in between” than being an outsider.  I will miss working there, speaking with the residents and learning from them.  I wish the best for this dynamic community and that I could be present to witness some of the positive changes I hope are soon to come.