'I may not be on a canvas but I matter'

This was expressed on a placard at a silent protest staged under UCT’s Black Academic Caucus (BAC) banner on the plaza on 24 February. Dozens of scholars gathered with placards imploring members of the university community to, “Stop! Check your privilege”, and sardonically asking, “What ‘black accent’?”

Labelled the #BACsilentprotest, the demonstration lived up to its name with protestors letting their placards do the talking for the best part of an hour. The chatter came from interested onlookers, who discussed the messages amongst themselves and photographed the occasion. Some of said placards asked, “Transformation? Where is my black female professor?” and decried the “Structural violence in higher education” that reified “patriarchy, ableism, heteronormativity, colonialism” and similar injustices.

Story by staff reporter. Photo by Michael Hammond.