Where Everybody Counts

Donald Nelson Katz: the black Jew?

The surname Katz, admittedly embarrassed me for much of my childhood, specifically and particularly in the light of Apartheid.

1. Who wants to be white?

   Katz is a white surname!

    

2. Who wants to be black?

   Animosity against the "pigmentally" endowed renders you inferior! As a result, my association and/or quest to associate in this way is merely part of the desire to rather be white!

    

3. The close association with Jews in Contemporary Apartheid was embarrassing, in the light of

The battles between Israel and Palestine,

Jews, (unlike the Chinese) were ALL classified as WHITE!!!

---

Being a Griekwa was equally problematic, because colloquial wisdom at the time rated you bottom of the scale in terms of the lateral  extent of the bridge of your nose!!

More embarrassing, however, was the frequency of teasing that one had to endure from peers that excelled in Gwara (teasing):

1. "Kietsie"

2. "die swart kat"

3. "Miaauw",

4. "Katse e ntsho"

5. etc.

Needless to say, the surname Katz became nicer as I grew up, mostly because of

1. my formidable family, and

2. also because I was growing up.

A huge turning point came with the passing on of my father in 2005! That experience really shook me.

1. Who am I?

2. Where do I come from?

3. Who are my family?

4. Where do they come from?

Obviously, MORE QUESTIONS than ANSWERS!!!

More recently, my close cousin Leclerc George Katz passed on. We had a few things in common.  The surname alone was and continues to be a big starter in this regard. This eventually got me penning this down for the first time: my family tree. 

I must thank my mother,

Lillian Keabetswe Katz (nee Seaane),

about whom we will elaborate as time goes on: Watch this space below:

I must thank mom for the encouragement to record our family History.

Thank you, Leclerc: I will always cherish our family bond, love, friendship and "Khaziskap"

Thank you for having been you.

I now have the courage to publish the fact that I am a Griekwa, a Jew, Motswana, and saying it with confidence, while knowing that I am defined by more than these labels.

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Where Everybody Counts

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