Headline in South Africa’s The Times newspaper: “Black madams suck, say maids.” The story:
“Black domestic workers would rather work for white madams than black “siesies” because they believe whites pay better. This is one of the findings by University of Witwatersrand sociology master’s student Xoliswa Dilata, who investigated the relationship between black employers and domestic workers in Soweto.”
I am not surprised. They’re madams.
* The image is from photographer Edward West‘s series of ordinary black South Africans, “Casting Shadows” (2001).
Maybe you know this one by John Githongo: http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/36/180.html
From what I heard while living there, the same was true in Malawi.
Of course, madams are madams. It’s all about class & power, innit!
It’s not that whites pay better. It’s that black people would rather work for white people. Psychologically so many black people feel that white people are superior and would probably still take pride in being associated with white people even in the context of domestic help. I think this is especially the case in Africa. Black people often feel that white people being in charge feels far more natural than taking direction from a fellow African. My friends mother has her own business and other black women always try to take advantage of her and get away with things they wouldn’t try with a white employer/business associate. There’s just a lack of respect for eachother in our communities that is preventing us from coming together en masse.