Week 12: Marketing

Our team has had a lot of ideas about marketing, but we've been a bit disorganized regarding who we will focus our attention on: tourists or locals? Tourists are more likely to eat out but will probably not return more than once. Locals have the potential to be repeat customers but they often cannot afford to eat out. This article describes ways to market towards customers.

It talks about the importance of social media and reviews. Rather than a small group of us marketing the restuarant, we should get the customers to market the restuarant. If we add a blurb like "Make sure to review us on Yelp!" we will firstly get customers aware of our Yelp page, but also get them to market for us. A way to increase spending could be telling them they get a free dessert every three times they visit. Whatever we do, we need to make sure people come and keep coming.

http://www.rewardsnetwork.com/blog/the-only-4-ways-to-increase-restaurant-sales/

Week 11: Business Model

I took an MIS class last semester and in it we learned about the need to constantly be looking at ways to change and improve your business while also keeping some things the same. Many companies are resistent to change due to a general feeling of "well, this is how we have always done it". However, in order for a company to be successful it needs to be adaptable. This article talks about what a business model is and how it is critical to a company's growth and success. A business model can strengthen a company's customer base, weaken competitor's advantages, and increase efficiency and profitability. A good business model is also one that is difficult to copy. Amazon, for examply, has spent so much money on it's infrastructure that it can deliver products faster to consumers much faster than its competitors. It would be very difficult for another company to pop up and build a similarly robust network of transporters and manufacturers. This concept can be applied to the restuarant: what makes it stick out and why would somebody want to it there instead of at a competitor's location? We will soon see.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/timworstall/2014/09/07/the-internal-economics-of-amazons-no-profits-growth-model/

Week 10: Service Project

I found a blog post by a tourist to South Africa. In it, she describes in detail her visit to Mzansi Restaurant, where I will be conducting my service project. She speaks about the warmth and authenticity of the people who run it. She also attests to the amazing food ;). I found the descriptions about the location insightful. The restuarant is located in a township, yet they describe seeing people drive by in Mercedes. Such a scene vividly illustrates the vast income inequality in South Africa. The owners have built this place up from scratch and their success also translates into the success of the community because they provide jobs and bring cash flow. I am very excited to visit and if our experience is anything like the blogger, we are in for a tasty South African treat!

http://www.awanderingsole.com/archives/cape-town-an-unforgettable-township-experience

Week 9: Top 10 Review

The Top 10 List contains a lot of very useful information. The power and privilege definitions help to distinguish nuances between commonly interchanged words such as racist and prejudiced. The Apartheid Timeline reveals just how recent Apartheid was; middle-aged South Africans will remember the era. Knowing the history can also help us understand why South Africa is where it is and what can be done to remedy historical problems. The "Not White Enough..." article informs us about Coloreds, a group most Americans are unaware of. Race is not a black and white issue, literally! Race is a complex issue and it is important to be aware of how different groups feel. This also applies to the LGBT community and women. Knowing what issues are important to South Africans will help us better understand their actions and beliefs and lead to more fruitful discussions with them. The Bucket List is obviously useful for discerning exactly where to visit on one's trip. Entering a foreign country with knowledge and preparedness is essential to avoid both culture shock and potentially awkward or dangerous situations. The Culture in South Africa article is helpful in this regard as is the Gangs, Race, and Poverty article. In particular, the wiki article talked about different types of universities in South Africa which is good info for us as we will be talking  class at UCT.

Week 8: Top 10

This week I provide my top 10 "need to read" items before visiting South Africa (in no particular order).

1. http://www.forbes.com/sites/larryolmsted/2013/03/18/ultimate-bucket-list-trip-south-africa/

    Bucket List for South Africa!

2. http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/11/opinion/sunday/the-backlash-against-african-women.html?_r=1

    An article discussing attitudes towards women

3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_South_Africa

     A basic overview of culture in South Africa

4. http://articles.latimes.com/2009/apr/19/opinion/oe-gevisser19

    An article about current South African president Jacob Zuma.

5. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0738059309000935

     Discusses human rights, specifically the right to education

6. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYbRZhymD5A

     A video about the white-only town of Orania

7. http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/gnxp/2009/06/who-are-the-cape-coloureds-of-south-africa/#.VRnoDvnF-Sp

    Article discussing Cape Coloureds

8. http://www.thejournal.ie/readme/african-pride-1592944-Aug2014/

    Article on homosexuality in S. Africa

9.  http://www.academia.edu/211213/Becoming_African_Debating_Post-Apartheid_White_South_African_Identities

Whites in Post-Apartheid South Africa

10.  https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CB4QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amsa.org%2FAMSA%2FLibraries%2FCommittee_Docs%2FPower_Privilege_Definitions.sflb.ashx&ei=Gs34VK_WK5L4yQTElIDgDg&usg=AFQjCNF0hKvK_MzO4IebtQwaX3Oe6f1Yzw&sig2=ppEWSi2IGwDBhP-CrmIScw

This link will download a list of power and privilege definitions

Week 7: More Research

This week I read Joshua Alvarez's "Power and Privilege Definitions". It had a lot of interesting definitions about commonly confused terms. It declared that prejudice is either based on ignorance or a disregard of facts. Thus, nobody can be simultaneously prejudiced and  accepting of facts. Therefore, it declared, prejudice can be unlearned. Later, it emphasized that race is imaginary and not rooted in biology. I remember once reading an article that stated that if one was to walk from sub-Saharan Africa to Northern Europe, they would not notice any physical difference between the inhabitants from one village to the next. This is because the racial transitions are gradual with no clear boundaries. Finally, it the list declared that racism can only be exhibited when it has institutional power behind it. Thus, even though minority targeted groups can be prejudiced, they cannot be racist.

I also read Joanna Windom's "The Backlash Against African Women". I felt it elucidated the attitudes of many men towards the changing status of women. There is not as much male resentment concerning where women are in comparison to where they are going. The growing egalitarianism of the modern age is clashing with many traditional values of male dominance that were taught to today's young men. However, despite what we would think, many African countries have made huge progress in regards to womens' rights, with Rwanda becoming the only country in the world where females outnumber males in the legislature.

Finally, I read Sarah Fisher's "The Complexity of Human Rights in Global Times: the case of the right to education in South Africa". It suggested that as much as we like to think our rights are god-given, rights are fought for and achieved; similarly, they can be abused or lost. I liked it because many people here in the West take K-12 education for granted and don't even appreciate that they can safely (in most cases) go to school and get a free education. However, as we saw with the kidnapping of the Nigerian schoolgirls, this right is not respected in all areas of the world.

Week 6: Research

                                            

Below is a trailer for Invictus. It chronicles the world cup win for the South African ruby team. It also shows the first few years of Mandela's presidency. The movie is really effective in highlighting the clashes and tensions that remained after the end of Apartheid.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2isdUuHmFY

I was interested in learning more about South Africa's current president. This article, from his election in 2009, highlights his perceived flaws and incompetency. However, there are many he support him because he was somewhat of an underdog and comes from the party historically associated with black Africans.

http://articles.latimes.com/2009/apr/19/opinion/oe-gevisser19

The second article describes the recent tensions between South Africans and foreign business owners. South Africa's economy has been growing more slowly in recent years and many blame the influx of foreigners for taking South African jobs and outcompeting South African businesses. The article worries about what these tensions could mean for the "Rainbow nation". Even immigrants from African countries are the targets of anti-foreign attacks.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/foreign-businesses-face-backlash-in-south-africa-1425514688

Week 5: Comparisons

                                          

The Apartheid system in South Africa and slavery in the United States were both institutions that systematically dehumanized and oppressed the non-White populations in the two countries. While Blacks and Coloreds made up the vast majority of the population in South Africa, they were not given the power to voice themselves. Like in America, they were denied suffrage and having no vote meant they had no representation. While they often protested using non-violent means, they were met with violent opposition from whites. Both MLK and Mandela were jailed, although Mandela was jailed for much longer.

The population of the oppressed in both countries were divided on how to achieve equality. While MLK preached non-violence, Malcolm X used violent measures. Mandela began preaching non-violence but later felt violence could be used as a last resort. These institutions of oppression also created hardship and tension among families as spouses differed in their reactions to the situation. Noticeably, at the time of their demise, the leaders of the southern states and the leaders of South Africa largely resisted the end of segregation. It was only because of the pressure of outside actors that these systems began to disintegrate. Also once these wrongs were corrected by law, de facto segregation and discrimination still occurred.

I specifically felt angry when I saw unjust actions. In Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, there was a scene in which a Black man's murder at the hands of the police was not investigated despite proof that a wrongdoing had occurred. Likewise, when the Selma marchers were attacked for their freedom of expression, I was furious. I didn't understand why LBJ waited to sign the anti-segregation laws. It was shocking that people could talk about justice and freedom but then turn a blind eye to people who were struggling to realize those ideals.

I think having this knowledge might prepare me to better understand the relations between the races in South Africa. Knowing the lengthy history of oppression will help me better empathize and understand those whose actions and thoughts might have conflicted with mine. In order to understand a people you have to know about them and I feel like watching these movies I experienced a taste of the emotions that South Africans have felt. After watching these movies, I definitely feel more empathy towards the oppressed and I feel like honing in on a specific story helped with that (rather than being overwhelmed by faceless facts and figures).

Week 4: Leadership

Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King Jr. were both leaders in championing the civil rights of oppressed blacks in South Africa and the United States, respectively. In their youth, both attended religious schools and after protesting both were thrown into prison for their rebellion. Later, they were both awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. While MLK fought against a white majority, Mandela faced a white minority, although they were equally as powerful and discriminatory. Both promoted passive protest rather than violence. However, Mandela later supported a violent movement because he saw it as a last resort to gaining civil rights. And although Mandela lived to see and govern a nation that was post-Apartheid, MLK was murdered very much in the midst of the American civil rights movement.

"I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality...I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word." -MLK

The quote above encapsulates the vision of both leaders. The fight for civil rights was not easy. It took decades of protest and imprisonment for their vision to come to fruition, but both men never stopped fighting for a day were people of all colors would be regarded as equals. Basing their movements on human dignity and equality, they led their nations to a brighter future.

Week 3: History

Based off the weekly readings, South Africa seems like a very diverse country, but also a country filled with ethnic and cultural tension. Until recently, whites were deemed as superior to black Africans and promoted the policy of Apartheid. The country continues to struggle with its leadership; the current leader is seen as corrupt and uneducated. The effects of the debilitating policies of the past continue to be present. 

Something that surprised me was the past tensions between the British settlers and the Dutch Boers. Apartheid was based on white vs. black policies, but even within the white South African community, tensions between whites existed, I did not know that the Boers had tried to create their own state separate from that of the British Cape Colony.

A strength I see is South Africa's multicultural background and history. Being composed of so many nationalities, it makes it more difficult for one group to dominate without reaction from other groups. However, a challenge is the lack of effective leadership; the current leader seems ineffective yet likely to win the upcoming elections.

I was fascinated by South Africa's international relations policy. Both with China and Sudan, the country is trying to increase global cooperation and trade. This could be beneficial for the country, however, both these trading partners are infamous for their autocratic and oftentimes corrupt governments.

A question I have for Mr. Gilmour is if he thinks it would be likely for South Africans to vote for a white president given the mistreatment seen as a result of previous white leaders.

Week 2: Identity

From the “Who am I” article I realized that privilege is not a straight line and that people can be privileged in different areas. Factors such as race, religion, sexuality, and nationality all play a part in determining someone's privilege; a person can be advantaged in one aspect but disadvantaged in another. “Unpacking the Knapsack of Privilege” exposed me to the idea that men's dominance over women is comparable to a racial majority's dominance over a racial minority. When you are in a dominant group, you do not think about other groups; but that is exactly the awareness that must happen in order for grievances to be addressed. I'm guilty of never having thought that my gender advantaged me in any way. I found it fascinating to see the ways in which the author’s race granted her certain freedoms and safety nets beyond what we typically think of (one particularly interesting one was how Band-Aids are naturally colored to match light skin). A fact from “Is Race Real” that surprised me was that most variation is not between but within races; 85% of total human genetic variation exists within local populations (so two random Norwegians are likely to be as genetically different as a Norwegian and a Korean). This illustrates that race is an illusion- we are all the same species regardless of phenotype differences.

Week 1: Introduction

Hello! My name is Hashem Shokravi. I am a sophomore at UT majoring in International Relations and Global Studies and minoring in Middle Eastern Studies. I am originally from Katy, Texas near Houston. This summer when I travel to Cape Town, South Africa I hope to experience lots of adventure and personal growth. I am especially interested in participating in a project related to Business or Economic Development. I can't wait for the adventures to begin!