Race, class and power openly discussed

Newspaper columnist and political analyst, Steven Friedman joined panellists and professors at the University of Johannesburg for the public discussion of political activist, Harold Wolpe’s work.

Titled, Race, class and power, the book looks at Wolpe’s work in the political, intellectual and social context in which it was developed. It draws on interviews with those he worked with, disagreed with and inspired. The book maps his influence on ideas and the culture that emerged in anti-apartheid circles in the ’70s.

Through his writing, the audience would be able to see a side through which South Africa’s society can be viewed. The book assesses and engages with the ongoing impact of the subject’s ideas into the post-apartheid present.

Friedman was joined by fellow panellists Professor Peter Alexander, director at the Centre for Sociological research and Dr David Masondo, a post-doctoral fellow of development studies at the university. All three brought up questions and debates around engaging in the race argument and structures in the economic and political spheres.

“With this book we can even address current situations, including the xenophobic attacks. Such as how tribalism would reproduce xenophobia because right now everyone is afraid to tackle the king today because of what he said,” added Masondo.

Masondo continued that it was refreshing for the book to bring back ideas of Marxism and does not argue class.