Dialogue / Media Reports

When ignorance dresses up as a joke – Windhoek Observer (Opinion) 07-11-2025

When ignorance dresses up as a joke Opinion piece Windhoek Observer blackface k*ff*r costume scandal Screenshot

“When ignorance dresses up as a joke (YOUNG OBSERVER)

[7 November 2025; ed.]

““It was supposed to be harmless fun.”

The above statement were the sentiments of some when two white learners painted their faces black during a Halloween celebration and referred to themselves using a derogatory term that carries the weight of centuries of humiliation. They laughed, others laughed, and photos found their way onto social media. Within hours, and inevitably so, outrage followed. What many called a joke quickly revealed how fragile our peace still is and how easily the past can walk into the present dressed as a costume.

For a country that prides itself on reconciliation and unity, this incident struck a nerve. It forced young Namibians to ask uncomfortable questions about what we know, what we ignore and what we are still willing to excuse. The act was not just offensive; it was symbolic of something deeper.

To understand why this incident hurts so deeply, we must understand history. The racial slur used by the learners goes beyond just a word. It was once a weapon, a label used to strip black people of dignity. It carries memories of exclusion and violence. Painting one’s skin to mimic another race while mocking their identity is not creativity; it is cruelty.

[…]

Every racist incident has a root in what is taught and, more importantly, in what is left untaught. Schools are not only places of academic learning; they are spaces where values are shaped. When schools fail to discuss race, privilege and respect openly, silence fills the gap, and that gap is filled with lessons.

Teachers and parents have the responsibility to raise citizens who understand that diversity is not decoration; it is identity. Children should learn early that mocking another person’s culture or colour is not just rude but harmful. Respect must be taught as firmly as mathematics.

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Respect is not about political correctness. It is about humanity. It means recognising the weight of words and actions. It means understanding that pain does not disappear just because we choose to ignore it.

Blackness is not a costume to be worn and discarded. It is identity, history, pride and endurance. When someone paints their face black and turns it into a joke, they reduce centuries of struggle into entertainment. It is a form of erasure.

This incident can become a teachable moment if handled wisely. Schools can use it as a starting point for open dialogue about race, history and social responsibility. Discussions can be held in classrooms, assemblies and youth forums where students can ask questions and share experiences.

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Let this incident be more than a scandal. Let it be a turning point. Let it push us to read more, listen more and speak with empathy. Let it remind us that progress is not automatic; it is built through awareness and courage.

[…]

The learners may not have known the full meaning of what they did, but we know now. We cannot claim ignorance anymore. The question is no longer whether racism still exists; it is whether we will still allow it to breathe.

The answer should be simple. Not on our watch.”