Is your mind still in Exile?

I have realized that even after 15 years in our democracy we are still battling psychologically. This is sad for me because I believe everything starts in the mind – one needs to believe she is something to be something. The government can only unveil the world that was made foreign to us; penetrating into the unknown still remains our duty.

Our black sisters have got a lot of talent & they do make it in the corporate world; but just a few steps before the top. Those who are just too obvious (extremely intelligent that is) get to those titles like: CEO, Director etc. However, their influence is as good as that of another general manager.
Experience, education, talent & leadership skills will get you to top management in the corporate world; but when you get there – your state of mind will determine how influential you will be.

Society has conditioned most of us to believe that for things to happen there should be another person of colour hand-walking us. This does not just end with race; it goes further to gender. We come up with wonderful ideas that for some reason need men to bring to reality or complete our projects. I strongly believe that the above scenarios are not because we are incapable of being influential when we are at the top; but our minds are still oppressed.

Steve Biko once said – “The most potent weapon of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed”

Believe it or not; the corporate leaders do not only know that we want to be at director levels. They also know that although we want to get there we do not entirely believe that we are capable of making it. They are constantly proving this by giving us these driving positions while we don’t even get to touch the steering wheel. Our brothers too unconsciously; do exercise this culture. BEE requirements are compelling them to have females as shareholders in business; and this in most cases is only practical on paper. Call me biased but; I do not think they consciously plan to repress us. We exploit ourselves by bringing only ourselves to those positions & leave our ‘I can’ minds in exile.

We underestimate the power of the mind. They say if you think you can, you can and if you think you can’t, you may be right.
It is evidently not easy out there; but who said it would be! We must know that it is not easy for everyone; it is not because it is you who is trying to make it. Men choose to put their minds at the “I know how” state and the results confirm the power in that.

Yes you can sit in that board meeting as a female – that’s how they can hear your views! Yes you can disagree with what you don’t believe in – that’s how they can differentiate what you know from what you don’t know. Yes you can stand up and tell them you are leaving a board meeting if they start to speak a language you don’t understand or you feel your input is not recognised – that’s how they will respect you. Yes you can make it on your own; because you are capable.

Release your mind from exile – its freedom and yours can not be separated!



Tamara Booi