Entertainment

Andile Mngxitama is spearheading the self-publishing movement. He writes in the third edition of New Frank Talk: Critical Essays on the Black Condition that frustrations with mainstream publications and the demands of the market gave birth to New Frank Talk.

He has discovered "the beauty of self-publication - you write what you like!" As the title suggests, NFT is inspired by Steve Biko's pen name, "Frank Talk".

"It's the time of the pamphleteer right now. A self-publishing movement is the greatest equaliser. Ideas alone will ensure sustainability, not title or privileged access. Such a movement threatens the monopoly of mainstream publishers. New Frank Talk is showing the way. We hope through this initiative that we can kickstart a whole movement of writing, self-publication and distribution in our society."

In Mngxitama's brilliant 10 000-word piece, Blacks can't be racist in the latest NFT - which will be launched at the fair - he offers insights into the intricacies of our current racial politics.

He takes a nice hard look at white supremacy because, for Mngxitama, it is not possible to understand the place of blackness outside of whiteness. This is because the "black" is a creation and at the same time a reaction to whiteness.

He asks questions about white culpability and privilege, but insists that he wants no apologies, no feet-washing, no dialogue, no conference on racism and no pledges confirming our collective humanity.

He talks about black complicity in racism; looking at the way racism continued after the 1994 miracle as the colonial project simply changed skin colour, but in no way does this exonerate whites. All whites?

If you are white, don't dive into the sea, because there is the next edition of NFT to look forward to.

Also, if you stay alive, you can read The Politics of Service Delivery, an academic edited by Anne McLennan and Barry Munslow (Wits P&D Governance Series). It arrived in time to answer some questions about the recent protests. With essays by Susan Booysen, William M Gumede, Wendly Ngoma and others, this is just what the good minister of of co-operative governance and traditional affairs has ordered.