April 27, 2025 • 21 mins
The beautiful arrival of spring weather and the healing power of a stranger's psychic reading set the stage for our deeper dive into a troubling conflict dividing Black communities online. As my palm reader wisely noted that my defensive walls might be keeping out more good than bad, I couldn't help but see the parallel to what's happening between Black Americans and South Africans over the controversial Zulu parade in New Orleans.
When South African Zulu people voiced concerns about cultural appropriation and blackface in this Mardi Gras tradition, the response should have been simple: listen and learn. Instead, dismissal spiraled into a full-blown diaspora war with both sides hurling increasingly harmful stereotypes. From mocking American slavery to perpetuating colonial myths about Africa, these exchanges reveal something deeply troubling – we're fighting each other using the very weapons created by white supremacy to keep us divided.
What's most heartbreaking is watching how these conflicts strengthen the systems designed to oppress all Black people globally. Every time we aim hurtful stereotypes at each other, we're doing the work of white supremacy for free. These diaspora wars – whether between Black Americans and South Africans, light-skinned versus dark-skinned, or any other division within our community – follow the same destructive pattern. They drain our collective energy while reinforcing harmful narratives that benefit no one except those who wish to see us remain divided and conquered.
True liberation requires us to recognize when we're being played against each other. Can we start by simply acknowledging when something is offensive without justification or deflection? Can we redirect our passion toward dismantling the real enemy – global white supremacy – rather than tearing each other down? I'm convinced we're infinitely stronger together than apart, but getting there means breaking down walls between us, not building them higher. What walls might you need to examine in your own life and community?
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Is this thing on?
Hello, hello, uh-oh, anotheryapper with a mic.
Hello everyone, and welcomeback to the Napkin and Midspring
Podcast.
I'm your host, dejanae Jones.
Bitch, my allergies are so badright now.
(00:23):
Spring is definitely on its way.
I cannot breathe.
I want to scratch my eyes out.
I am constantly sneezing likeoh my God.
So if I sound like stuffy today, or if I look like my left eye
is absolutely swollen right nowso I'm just giving y'all a heads
up, girl I'm confused becausethe weapons formed against me
(00:45):
are prospering, like myallergies are so fucking crazy.
So, anyway, if I sound stuffyor you know whatever, it's just
allergies, so don't mind that,even though the allergies are
kicking my ass.
Right now, though, I'm soexcited because spring I
wouldn't say it's fully here,but she's definitely on her
fucking way and I'm so excitedbecause I love when the sun is
(01:10):
out, I love when the weather isnice.
I'm wearing a dress right nowFor the auto listeners you can't
see, but for the visuallisteners, like, I have not worn
a dress in months and I lovewearing dresses because pants
are so constricting.
I hate wearing pants and I'mwearing a dress right now, like
I'm so excited for spring andfor the weather to be nicer
because I'm trying to be outside.
I am trying to be outside.
(01:31):
So this has been the peak of myweek.
It's just the weather gettingnicer because then I can be
outside more.
And the other day, me and myroommate we went outside because
the weather was so nice.
So we were just like let's justgo dilly dally, see what we can
get into and tell me why we'rewalking down the street.
And there was this lady sittingon this little stool.
She had like this really minitable and she had a sign on the
(01:53):
table that said psychic readings.
And we were like, oh my god,like she looks legit, because it
was just like the way she wassitting.
I was like, oh, she gets down,she don't play.
So we were like, let's getpsychic readings.
So I had this woman read mypoems to tell me about, like, my
past and my future and to becompletely honest, I would say
like 82 of what she said waspretty spot on.
(02:16):
She was talking about how mylast relationship she said it
wasn't very long but it was veryintense and because of that
relationship she was like, haveyou like built up like a little
bit of a defense ball andbecause of that relationship,
she was like have you like builtup like a little bit of a
defense wall?
And I was like, hey, yes, queen, like I built this wall brick
by brick.
And she was like, yeah, that'snot.
And I said, oh, um, okay.
(02:38):
So she was explaining to me likeoh, like your wall, you're like
keeping people out.
And I I said, yeah, girl, likethat's the point of a wall, like
what else?
But she was like you're keepingout people who like want to
treat you well and and do goodby you.
And I was like I mean, yeah,you're right, but at the end of
(02:58):
the day I think I'm still gonnatake my chances with the wall
and and keep it up.
But thanks for the information.
But she was telling me like Ineed to like be more open and
let people in more.
And you know, and I'm like,yeah, I definitely like.
She was pretty spot on, like mylast relationship, which I feel
like one day I'll probably do astory time about, because that
(03:19):
shit was crazy, like straightout of a movie type shit, crazy,
um.
So I'll probably like telly'all about it one day, but let
me heal a little bit more first,but anyway, it was super
intense and super crazy and yeah, I've definitely built up a
wall ever since thatrelationship ended.
But she was telling me, likeyou know, you're, you're keeping
(03:40):
good people out, and I was like, okay, but like I feel like I'm
justifying the wall, and Itotally understand that.
Am I gonna stop doing it?
No, Is it completely healthy?
Probably not, but again, I'mnot gonna stop doing it.
So I feel like if someone trulywants to be in my life, you have
(04:00):
to show it to me, and part ofthat is I'm gonna do things to
self-sabotage.
That's just what it is.
I definitely self-sabotage, andif you really care about me,
then you'll, you'll work aroundthis.
I need to go talk to that, ladybro.
But I just feel like there'speople that I've tested in the
(04:21):
past and I'm like I'm gonna dothis thing to see how you react
to it, and this thing wascarefully crafted by yours truly
to I don't want to say getunder your skin, but like to
push you away.
This thing was carefullycrafted to push you away and if
you allow it to push you away,then you just weren't real in
the first place.
(04:41):
That's what I tell myself.
Again, I understand that that'snot healthy.
I shouldn't do that, but it iswhat it is.
The ones who are supposed to behere will fight through all of
my self-sabotage and break thewall down.
If you can't break the walldown, you weren't meant to be in
my life.
Anyway.
I need to go talk to that lady.
So bad anyway, but that wasdefinitely the peak of my week.
(05:02):
I've never done a psychicreading before.
It kind of low-key scares me,um, but I was like let's just
see what this lady has to say,but she was accurate about that.
She also said that I, in thefuture, I'm gonna own my own
business, which I was like thankgod, because I I've always felt
that like I was supposed to bemy own boss.
Like maybe it's because I'm aSagittarius, maybe it's just
(05:22):
because I'm stubborn, but I hateHaving to like answer to
somebody.
You know what I mean.
Um, so I've always wanted tohave my own thing and and be my
own boss and do whatever I wantto do.
Like I feel like I was justtalking to some friends about
this last week.
If I want to go on a vacation, Ishould be able to go on a
vacation.
I'm grown as fuck.
I have the money, like let mego on a vacation.
(05:44):
But the fact that I have to goto someone else and be like, hey
, I want to take this time off,is that okay with you?
That really grinds my gears.
Like I hate having to ask otherpeople to do shit.
I just want to do my own thing.
Like I'm grown as fuck.
You know what I mean.
So I've always wanted you knowmy own business, that if I want
to travel, I can do that.
If I want to take a couple days, like do whatever, you know
what I mean.
Like I just want to be able tolive my life fully without
(06:06):
having to depend on or ask otherpeople if I could live my life.
So that was really cool.
She said I'm going to own my ownbusiness and she said New York
is my forever home, which Iloved hearing because I've
always felt like that I feellike I've moved around quite a
bit just to try to find likewhere I feel like I fit in the
best.
And New York is definitelywhere, of all the places that
I've ever lived, I feel like,okay, this is like where I'm
(06:28):
supposed to be.
So that was really cool to hearthat New York is like my
forever home, so overall it wasa pretty cool experience.
Um, my roommate also got herpalms read and I felt like her
reading was way more accuratethan mine, like the things that
she was saying.
I was like wait, like we werejust talking about that, um, so
it was pretty cool it was.
It was a very interestingexperience and just something
that I've never done before, andI feel like I'm at the point
(06:51):
where I want to like try newthings or like push myself
outside of my comfort zone, andso it was really cool to to be
able to do that.
So that was definitely the peakof my week the fact that the
weather is getting nicer andgetting a palm reading.
As always.
Please tell me the peak of yourweek, something that made you
smile, kept you grounded,something that you found joy in
in the chaos of the world.
Interestingly enough, after myroommate and I got our palms
(07:12):
read, we were talking about youknow, psychics and getting
readings done, and she wastelling me how, like, she wants
to go downtown in New York where, like, the bigger psychics are
and get more readings.
And I was like, girl, we shouldjust go to New Orleans and get
a reading and she's like, oh myGod, yes, and it's so
interesting because, segwayinginto what we're going to talk
(07:32):
about today, the girls arefighting.
There is currently discoursegoing on on the internet between
Black Americans and SouthAfricans because of the Zulu
parade in New Orleans duringMardi Gras, and people have been
asking me my thoughts and mytake on the whole situation and
truly I have been clicking, notinterested, on all of the videos
(07:53):
that I have seen about thiswhole discourse.
I avoid diaspora wars more thanjlo avoids using her vocals and
her songs, because I hatediaspora wars, I hate them.
I hate them.
I hate them because, at the endof the day, no one one is
really winning.
No one involved in the back andforth is truly winning.
(08:15):
I'm seeing people like, oh mygod, the South Africans are
eating the black Americans up.
Oh my god, the black Americansare eating the South Africans up
.
Truly, all I see whenever it isa black diaspora against
another black diaspora is whitesupremacy tactics versus white
supremacy tactics.
So who's actually winning?
White supremacy, bitch, and Ifucking hate that shit.
(08:38):
I hate it.
All of this, the fightingamongst black people, a scheme
set up by white supremacy tokeep us fighting each other
rather than fighting the whitesupremacy itself.
I want to start off by sayingagain I have been avoiding all
this like the plague, so I havevery little understanding or
information around the entirediscourse, but from my
(08:59):
understanding, the Zulu paradeis a parade that happens in New
Orleans during Mardi Gras, andZulu people who are from South
Africa came out and said likehey, we find this pretty
offensive because of the use ofblackface.
We feel like our culture isbeing used as a costume.
Like they were explaining whythey feel like this is offensive
(09:20):
to them.
I feel like once they came outand said, hey, we find this
offensive, the only responseshould have been okay, basically
, you know what I mean.
Like you find this offensive,we are sorry that this is
offensive to you.
Like maybe let's can you teachus more about your culture?
Is there a way that we can dothis parade in a way that it
won't be offensive to you?
Like I feel like that shouldhave been the response.
(09:42):
However, from my understanding,the overwhelming response was
well, you know, like that's justsomething that they do in new
orleans.
Us, as other black americanswho aren't from new orleans,
like we don't really understandnew orleans people and like what
they do and and they theyweren't meaning to be offensive
like that's just something thatthey do in new orleans.
I feel like that was a terribleresponse, truly.
(10:06):
Number one the use of blackfacein 2025 is fucking crazy.
Like and as black people,regardless of where you're from,
I think that that is a prettygeneral understanding that the
use of blackface, because of itshistory and how it's been used,
to mock black people, that'scrazy.
I don't understand why theblackface was used or was needed
(10:28):
.
Number two, two, again, asblack people, no matter where
you're from, you understand thegravity and the
disrespectfulness of somebodytaking your culture and
essentially making fun of it,like using someone's culture as
a costume or the appropriationof like braids, like we all
understand how that feels foryour culture to be appropriated.
(10:52):
So, like, at the end of the day,when someone tells you hey,
this thing is offensive to me,you don't get to try to
rationalize with them as to whyit's not offensive.
The only response should beyou're offended.
Can you explain to me why, andis there a way that I can do
this in a way that would not beoffensive to you?
Because do I think that thepeople of New Orleans meant to
(11:13):
be offensive to Zulu people inSouth Africa?
No, but at the end of the day,it doesn't matter.
You were offensive.
So how can we do this thing?
How can we reshape this thing,if at all possible, to a way
that it won't be offensive?
But I think that the overallresponse was, you know, like we
don't really understand itwasn't meant to be offensive
(11:33):
Like why are you guys makingsuch a big deal of it?
And it's like that's theirculture.
Why wouldn't they make a bigdeal out of it?
You know what I mean.
So in response to that or I Idon't know if it was truly in
response to that, but somehow wegot to a point where now south
africans are saying really,really disrespectful and racist
things in defense of theircauldron, in defense of south
(11:56):
africa.
One of the biggest ones thatI've seen was from a woman who
was dressed as a slave.
She had cotton in her hand andshe's crip walking to Kendrick
Lamar's, not Like Us.
I've also seen South Africanpeople asking for ways that they
can donate to the Americanpolice force.
I'm seeing South African peoplesay the only evidence that
(12:18):
their schools in America are theschool shootings.
It's gotten to the point whereSouth Africans are now claiming
Elon Musk.
I made a video in December andI was jokingly like when are
y'all gonna start telling ElonMusk to go back to Africa,
referencing how white people arealways, like you know, go back
to Africa to black Americansbecause Elon Musk is from South
Africa, which a lot of themdon't even realize because he's
(12:39):
white.
They just think that he'sAmerican, but he is from South
Africa and there were so manySouth Africans in the comments.
Like we don't claim him, he'snot from South Africa.
Now, a couple months later,they're like your country is run
by a South African, like we'vegotten to the point where y'all
(13:00):
are now claiming Elon Musk, likeI fear we may have lost the
plot.
And on the other side, I'mseeing Black Americans talk
about how all there is in Africaare dirt roads and they don't
have clean water and how theyhave this outbreak of HIV, like
the craziest fucking shit, and Iam just like I don't know how
(13:21):
we got here.
But at the end of the day, whitesupremacy is winning and that's
really.
All I care about is the factthat we are fighting each other,
which is a scheme set up bywhite supremacy.
All of these diaspora wars,whether it's light-skinned
versus dark skinned, whetherit's black Americans versus
South Africans, whether it'sblack Americans versus the black
(13:43):
British, like all of them, areschemes set up by white
supremacy, because while we'rebusy fighting amongst ourselves
and fighting each other, whitesupremacy continues to thrive.
These are all stereotypes.
Every single jab that I haveseen thrown, whether it be from
a black American or from a SouthAfrican, all of these jabs are
rooted in white supremacy.
(14:04):
Every single one, every singleone, and it's just.
It makes me so upset because,like, why can't we just have a
conversation?
Why can't we just be like, hey,you know, this thing is
offensive.
This is why it's offensive.
Like I said before, theresponse should have been can
you tell us why this isoffensive?
Is there a way that we can dothis in a way that won't be
offensive?
Because, again, I do think thatthey were just trying to
(14:27):
celebrate culture with the Zuluparade.
I don't think that it was meantto be offensive, but at the end
of the day, that doesn't matter.
It doesn't matter if it wasmeant to be offensive.
They found it offensive.
So how can we do it in a waythat's not offensive?
You know what I mean.
Like yeah, maybe we had neverheard of the zulu parade.
I, before this whole thing, didnot know about the zulu parade,
but that doesn't make it anyless offensive and that doesn't
(14:49):
serve as an excuse as to why weshould be like downplaying the
fact that they said that this isoffensive and at the very same
time because, as we know, twothings can and in situations
like this often are true at atonce.
On the other side, doing thingsto intentionally be offensive
to Black Americans is also deadfucking wrong.
(15:09):
And not only is it wrong, but,like the ways in which South
Africans are responding to itare just not even really
historically accurate.
Again, I think one of thebiggest responses that I've seen
and why black americans gotupset, there was a woman who was
dressed as a slave with cottonin her hand, and she's crip
walking to kendrick lamar's notlike us, and it's like in
(15:30):
louisiana.
They mostly focused onsugarcane, not cotton, and also
the crip walk is from california, not new, or so it's like
you're throwing jabs orattempting to throw jabs, but
it's at everyone except for thepeople of New Orleans, like if
you were upset about the paradein New Orleans and you're.
(15:52):
You want to be disrespectful tosomeone, not not justifying it?
I'm not.
I, again, I don't agree withdiaspora wars and, again, the
only people who win are whitepeople and white supremacy.
But if you're gonna make jokeslike this, like, at least try to
aim for the right people.
You know what I mean.
And it's like I also saw peopletalking about, like, how
(16:13):
they're gonna donate to thepolice fund and they're like, oh
, I need to get my I can'tbreathe t-shirt, which I can't
breathe was in reference to thekilling of eric gardner, who's
from staten island.
So it's just like we're, we're,we've lost the plot and the
jabs aren't even fuckingaccurate.
Everyone else is catchingfucking strays and you're mad at
(16:35):
the people of new orleans.
And again, I'm not saying thatI agree with any of it, but I'm
saying like, if you're gonna doit, at least maybe try to be
accurate and hit the rightpeople.
I don't fucking know.
I don't think we should be doingit at all, because, again, all
of this is rooted in whitesupremacy.
It's white supremacy tacticsversus white supremacy tactics,
so the only people who arewinning are white people and
(16:56):
white supremacy.
We will never be free.
Oh my god.
Like this is why I hate.
I've been avoiding this shitlike the plague, because no one
is winning, at least like peopleare like oh my god, the black
americans are winning, the southafricans are winning.
Truly, neither one is winning.
We look fucking foolish,everyone involved looks fucking
(17:18):
foolish.
So my only take through thiswhole thing we have to stop this
madness.
It is crazy.
I don't understand why it evengot to this point.
I don't and again, I have verylimited knowledge about all of
this because I've been avoidingthis shit.
So I don't know if it was theresponse from black Americans
(17:39):
that started it.
I don't know if it was SouthAfricans, and I don't give a
fuck.
I don't give a fuck because, atthe end of the day, white
supremacy is winning and that'swhat I give a fuck about.
I just wish black people andwhen I say black people, I'm
referencing everyone, blackAmericans, south Africans, black
, british like I wish all blackpeople.
(18:00):
I just wish we had morecommunity, I wish we had more
respect for one another and Iwish that we could truly come
together, because I feel like ifwe really came together like
not everyone, because there'salways going to be some who are
going to cling to bakunari andharriet tubman left people all
behind for a reason.
We need to keep that sameenergy, but I wish, as a
(18:21):
majority, we could all cometogether, because if we
genuinely all came together, weare so much stronger together
than we are separate.
We really are, and every timewe participate in a black
diaspora war, every time westart fighting against one
another, whether we're ready toadmit it or accept it, we are
helping to uphold whitesupremacy, and that's why I hate
(18:43):
them so much, because, at theend of the day, none of us are
winning.
We are still all beingoppressed and we're enabling
that oppression in one form oranother.
Every single time weparticipate in a black diaspora
war, every single time weparticipate in fighting one
another, we are helping keep theshackles firmly in place.
(19:07):
As we wrap up today's episode, Iam begging y'all please stop
the diaspora wars.
There is no real winner otherthan white people and white
supremacy.
To any black South Africans whomight be watching this, my
knowledge of the Zulu parade isextremely limited, but I am open
to listening and learning as towhy it is offensive.
I've done a little bit ofresearch, but if anybody wants
(19:30):
to DM me, email me.
I'm always looking to be moreeducated.
So please reach out.
I'm open and I want to learn,and I also want to try to teach
other Black Americans why it isoffensive and, if at all, if we
can do the parade still and itnot be offensive, I'm open to
those suggestions as well.
At the same time, I hope thaty'all will understand how the
(19:52):
use of Black American historyand the way that Black Americans
are treated in America today asa way to clap back or make jabs
at us is also very offensiveand it's also very wrong and
moral of the story.
I just want us to not fight oneanother.
I want us to come together as acommunity because, again, I do
(20:13):
feel that we are much strongertogether than we are separate.
So that is my take on the wholesituation.
I hate it all.
I hate all the fighting and Ijust would love for it to stop.
So, again, I'm open to beingeducated and I hope that you
guys will understand that theuse of our history and our
current lives is also veryoffensive.
(20:34):
At the end of the day, whitesupremacy is winning and I hate
to see it.
I hate to see it.
I just want my people to befree, bruh.
Like I hate this shit so much.
So thank you all for tuning intotoday's episode.
I hope that it was helpful.
I hope that it will make youstop and think about the actual
repercussions of your actions,because again and I'm just gonna
keep saying it none of us arewinning.
(20:55):
It's, it's, it's whitesupremacy that's winning, and I
really hate that for us.
So please just be mindful aboutwhat you're doing and saying
and who the real winner and whothe real enemy is at the end of
the day, because the enemy isalways white supremacy and we
should always be trying toactively fight against white
supremacy.
So I hope that we will do thatmore in the future.
(21:18):
I hope that everyone is havinga good day, except for that
orange drink, lady, and I willtalk to you in the next episode.
Peace and love.
Talk to you later.
The Napkin in Between, hostedby Dejanae Jones, produced by
Dejanae Jones, post-productionby Dejanae Jones, music by Sam
Champagne and graphics by YzmaVidal.
Don't forget to like andsubscribe.
See you next episode.
Is this thing on?
Hello, hello, uh-oh, anotheryapper with a mic.
Hello everyone, and welcomeback to the Napkin and Midspring
Podcast.
I'm your host, dejanae Jones.
Bitch, my allergies are so badright now.
(00:23):
Spring is definitely on its way.
I cannot breathe.
I want to scratch my eyes out.
I am constantly sneezing likeoh my God.
So if I sound like stuffy today, or if I look like my left eye
is absolutely swollen right nowso I'm just giving y'all a heads
up, girl I'm confused becausethe weapons formed against me
(00:45):
are prospering, like myallergies are so fucking crazy.
So, anyway, if I sound stuffyor you know whatever, it's just
allergies, so don't mind that,even though the allergies are
kicking my ass.
Right now, though, I'm soexcited because spring I
wouldn't say it's fully here,but she's definitely on her
fucking way and I'm so excitedbecause I love when the sun is
(01:10):
out, I love when the weather isnice.
I'm wearing a dress right nowFor the auto listeners you can't
see, but for the visuallisteners, like, I have not worn
a dress in months and I lovewearing dresses because pants
are so constricting.
I hate wearing pants and I'mwearing a dress right now, like
I'm so excited for spring andfor the weather to be nicer
because I'm trying to be outside.
I am trying to be outside.
(01:31):
So this has been the peak of myweek.
It's just the weather gettingnicer because then I can be
outside more.
And the other day, me and myroommate we went outside because
the weather was so nice.
So we were just like let's justgo dilly dally, see what we can
get into and tell me why we'rewalking down the street.
And there was this lady sittingon this little stool.
She had like this really minitable and she had a sign on the
(01:53):
table that said psychic readings.
And we were like, oh my god,like she looks legit, because it
was just like the way she wassitting.
I was like, oh, she gets down,she don't play.
So we were like, let's getpsychic readings.
So I had this woman read mypoems to tell me about, like, my
past and my future and to becompletely honest, I would say
like 82 of what she said waspretty spot on.
(02:16):
She was talking about how mylast relationship she said it
wasn't very long but it was veryintense and because of that
relationship she was like, haveyou like built up like a little
bit of a defense ball andbecause of that relationship,
she was like have you like builtup like a little bit of a
defense wall?
And I was like, hey, yes, queen, like I built this wall brick
by brick.
And she was like, yeah, that'snot.
And I said, oh, um, okay.
(02:38):
So she was explaining to me likeoh, like your wall, you're like
keeping people out.
And I I said, yeah, girl, likethat's the point of a wall, like
what else?
But she was like you're keepingout people who like want to
treat you well and and do goodby you.
And I was like I mean, yeah,you're right, but at the end of
(02:58):
the day I think I'm still gonnatake my chances with the wall
and and keep it up.
But thanks for the information.
But she was telling me like Ineed to like be more open and
let people in more.
And you know, and I'm like,yeah, I definitely like.
She was pretty spot on, like mylast relationship, which I feel
like one day I'll probably do astory time about, because that
(03:19):
shit was crazy, like straightout of a movie type shit, crazy,
um.
So I'll probably like telly'all about it one day, but let
me heal a little bit more first,but anyway, it was super
intense and super crazy and yeah, I've definitely built up a
wall ever since thatrelationship ended.
But she was telling me, likeyou know, you're, you're keeping
(03:40):
good people out, and I was like, okay, but like I feel like I'm
justifying the wall, and Itotally understand that.
Am I gonna stop doing it?
No, Is it completely healthy?
Probably not, but again, I'mnot gonna stop doing it.
So I feel like if someone trulywants to be in my life, you have
(04:00):
to show it to me, and part ofthat is I'm gonna do things to
self-sabotage.
That's just what it is.
I definitely self-sabotage, andif you really care about me,
then you'll, you'll work aroundthis.
I need to go talk to that, ladybro.
But I just feel like there'speople that I've tested in the
(04:21):
past and I'm like I'm gonna dothis thing to see how you react
to it, and this thing wascarefully crafted by yours truly
to I don't want to say getunder your skin, but like to
push you away.
This thing was carefullycrafted to push you away and if
you allow it to push you away,then you just weren't real in
the first place.
(04:41):
That's what I tell myself.
Again, I understand that that'snot healthy.
I shouldn't do that, but it iswhat it is.
The ones who are supposed to behere will fight through all of
my self-sabotage and break thewall down.
If you can't break the walldown, you weren't meant to be in
my life.
Anyway.
I need to go talk to that lady.
So bad anyway, but that wasdefinitely the peak of my week.
(05:02):
I've never done a psychicreading before.
It kind of low-key scares me,um, but I was like let's just
see what this lady has to say,but she was accurate about that.
She also said that I, in thefuture, I'm gonna own my own
business, which I was like thankgod, because I I've always felt
that like I was supposed to bemy own boss.
Like maybe it's because I'm aSagittarius, maybe it's just
(05:22):
because I'm stubborn, but I hateHaving to like answer to
somebody.
You know what I mean.
Um, so I've always wanted tohave my own thing and and be my
own boss and do whatever I wantto do.
Like I feel like I was justtalking to some friends about
this last week.
If I want to go on a vacation, Ishould be able to go on a
vacation.
I'm grown as fuck.
I have the money, like let mego on a vacation.
(05:44):
But the fact that I have to goto someone else and be like, hey
, I want to take this time off,is that okay with you?
That really grinds my gears.
Like I hate having to ask otherpeople to do shit.
I just want to do my own thing.
Like I'm grown as fuck.
You know what I mean.
So I've always wanted you knowmy own business, that if I want
to travel, I can do that.
If I want to take a couple days, like do whatever, you know
what I mean.
Like I just want to be able tolive my life fully without
(06:06):
having to depend on or ask otherpeople if I could live my life.
So that was really cool.
She said I'm going to own my ownbusiness and she said New York
is my forever home, which Iloved hearing because I've
always felt like that I feellike I've moved around quite a
bit just to try to find likewhere I feel like I fit in the
best.
And New York is definitelywhere, of all the places that
I've ever lived, I feel like,okay, this is like where I'm
(06:28):
supposed to be.
So that was really cool to hearthat New York is like my
forever home, so overall it wasa pretty cool experience.
Um, my roommate also got herpalms read and I felt like her
reading was way more accuratethan mine, like the things that
she was saying.
I was like wait, like we werejust talking about that, um, so
it was pretty cool it was.
It was a very interestingexperience and just something
that I've never done before, andI feel like I'm at the point
(06:51):
where I want to like try newthings or like push myself
outside of my comfort zone, andso it was really cool to to be
able to do that.
So that was definitely the peakof my week the fact that the
weather is getting nicer andgetting a palm reading.
As always.
Please tell me the peak of yourweek, something that made you
smile, kept you grounded,something that you found joy in
in the chaos of the world.
Interestingly enough, after myroommate and I got our palms
(07:12):
read, we were talking about youknow, psychics and getting
readings done, and she wastelling me how, like, she wants
to go downtown in New York where, like, the bigger psychics are
and get more readings.
And I was like, girl, we shouldjust go to New Orleans and get
a reading and she's like, oh myGod, yes, and it's so
interesting because, segwayinginto what we're going to talk
(07:32):
about today, the girls arefighting.
There is currently discoursegoing on on the internet between
Black Americans and SouthAfricans because of the Zulu
parade in New Orleans duringMardi Gras, and people have been
asking me my thoughts and mytake on the whole situation and
truly I have been clicking, notinterested, on all of the videos
(07:53):
that I have seen about thiswhole discourse.
I avoid diaspora wars more thanjlo avoids using her vocals and
her songs, because I hatediaspora wars, I hate them.
I hate them.
I hate them because, at the endof the day, no one one is
really winning.
No one involved in the back andforth is truly winning.
(08:15):
I'm seeing people like, oh mygod, the South Africans are
eating the black Americans up.
Oh my god, the black Americansare eating the South Africans up
.
Truly, all I see whenever it isa black diaspora against
another black diaspora is whitesupremacy tactics versus white
supremacy tactics.
So who's actually winning?
White supremacy, bitch, and Ifucking hate that shit.
(08:38):
I hate it.
All of this, the fightingamongst black people, a scheme
set up by white supremacy tokeep us fighting each other
rather than fighting the whitesupremacy itself.
I want to start off by sayingagain I have been avoiding all
this like the plague, so I havevery little understanding or
information around the entirediscourse, but from my
(08:59):
understanding, the Zulu paradeis a parade that happens in New
Orleans during Mardi Gras, andZulu people who are from South
Africa came out and said likehey, we find this pretty
offensive because of the use ofblackface.
We feel like our culture isbeing used as a costume.
Like they were explaining whythey feel like this is offensive
(09:20):
to them.
I feel like once they came outand said, hey, we find this
offensive, the only responseshould have been okay, basically
, you know what I mean.
Like you find this offensive,we are sorry that this is
offensive to you.
Like maybe let's can you teachus more about your culture?
Is there a way that we can dothis parade in a way that it
won't be offensive to you?
Like I feel like that shouldhave been the response.
(09:42):
However, from my understanding,the overwhelming response was
well, you know, like that's justsomething that they do in new
orleans.
Us, as other black americanswho aren't from new orleans,
like we don't really understandnew orleans people and like what
they do and and they theyweren't meaning to be offensive
like that's just something thatthey do in new orleans.
I feel like that was a terribleresponse, truly.
(10:06):
Number one the use of blackfacein 2025 is fucking crazy.
Like and as black people,regardless of where you're from,
I think that that is a prettygeneral understanding that the
use of blackface, because of itshistory and how it's been used,
to mock black people, that'scrazy.
I don't understand why theblackface was used or was needed
(10:28):
.
Number two, two, again, asblack people, no matter where
you're from, you understand thegravity and the
disrespectfulness of somebodytaking your culture and
essentially making fun of it,like using someone's culture as
a costume or the appropriationof like braids, like we all
understand how that feels foryour culture to be appropriated.
(10:52):
So, like, at the end of the day,when someone tells you hey,
this thing is offensive to me,you don't get to try to
rationalize with them as to whyit's not offensive.
The only response should beyou're offended.
Can you explain to me why, andis there a way that I can do
this in a way that would not beoffensive to you?
Because do I think that thepeople of New Orleans meant to
(11:13):
be offensive to Zulu people inSouth Africa?
No, but at the end of the day,it doesn't matter.
You were offensive.
So how can we do this thing?
How can we reshape this thing,if at all possible, to a way
that it won't be offensive?
But I think that the overallresponse was, you know, like we
don't really understand itwasn't meant to be offensive
(11:33):
Like why are you guys makingsuch a big deal of it?
And it's like that's theirculture.
Why wouldn't they make a bigdeal out of it?
You know what I mean.
So in response to that or I Idon't know if it was truly in
response to that, but somehow wegot to a point where now south
africans are saying really,really disrespectful and racist
things in defense of theircauldron, in defense of south
(11:56):
africa.
One of the biggest ones thatI've seen was from a woman who
was dressed as a slave.
She had cotton in her hand andshe's crip walking to Kendrick
Lamar's, not Like Us.
I've also seen South Africanpeople asking for ways that they
can donate to the Americanpolice force.
I'm seeing South African peoplesay the only evidence that
(12:18):
their schools in America are theschool shootings.
It's gotten to the point whereSouth Africans are now claiming
Elon Musk.
I made a video in December andI was jokingly like when are
y'all gonna start telling ElonMusk to go back to Africa,
referencing how white people arealways, like you know, go back
to Africa to black Americansbecause Elon Musk is from South
Africa, which a lot of themdon't even realize because he's
(12:39):
white.
They just think that he'sAmerican, but he is from South
Africa and there were so manySouth Africans in the comments.
Like we don't claim him, he'snot from South Africa.
Now, a couple months later,they're like your country is run
by a South African, like we'vegotten to the point where y'all
(13:00):
are now claiming Elon Musk, likeI fear we may have lost the
plot.
And on the other side, I'mseeing Black Americans talk
about how all there is in Africaare dirt roads and they don't
have clean water and how theyhave this outbreak of HIV, like
the craziest fucking shit, and Iam just like I don't know how
(13:21):
we got here.
But at the end of the day, whitesupremacy is winning and that's
really.
All I care about is the factthat we are fighting each other,
which is a scheme set up bywhite supremacy.
All of these diaspora wars,whether it's light-skinned
versus dark skinned, whetherit's black Americans versus
South Africans, whether it'sblack Americans versus the black
(13:43):
British, like all of them, areschemes set up by white
supremacy, because while we'rebusy fighting amongst ourselves
and fighting each other, whitesupremacy continues to thrive.
These are all stereotypes.
Every single jab that I haveseen thrown, whether it be from
a black American or from a SouthAfrican, all of these jabs are
rooted in white supremacy.
(14:04):
Every single one, every singleone, and it's just.
It makes me so upset because,like, why can't we just have a
conversation?
Why can't we just be like, hey,you know, this thing is
offensive.
This is why it's offensive.
Like I said before, theresponse should have been can
you tell us why this isoffensive?
Is there a way that we can dothis in a way that won't be
offensive?
Because, again, I do think thatthey were just trying to
(14:27):
celebrate culture with the Zuluparade.
I don't think that it was meantto be offensive, but at the end
of the day, that doesn't matter.
It doesn't matter if it wasmeant to be offensive.
They found it offensive.
So how can we do it in a waythat's not offensive?
You know what I mean.
Like yeah, maybe we had neverheard of the zulu parade.
I, before this whole thing, didnot know about the zulu parade,
but that doesn't make it anyless offensive and that doesn't
(14:49):
serve as an excuse as to why weshould be like downplaying the
fact that they said that this isoffensive and at the very same
time because, as we know, twothings can and in situations
like this often are true at atonce.
On the other side, doing thingsto intentionally be offensive
to Black Americans is also deadfucking wrong.
(15:09):
And not only is it wrong, but,like the ways in which South
Africans are responding to itare just not even really
historically accurate.
Again, I think one of thebiggest responses that I've seen
and why black americans gotupset, there was a woman who was
dressed as a slave with cottonin her hand, and she's crip
walking to kendrick lamar's notlike us, and it's like in
(15:30):
louisiana.
They mostly focused onsugarcane, not cotton, and also
the crip walk is from california, not new, or so it's like
you're throwing jabs orattempting to throw jabs, but
it's at everyone except for thepeople of New Orleans, like if
you were upset about the paradein New Orleans and you're.
(15:52):
You want to be disrespectful tosomeone, not not justifying it?
I'm not.
I, again, I don't agree withdiaspora wars and, again, the
only people who win are whitepeople and white supremacy.
But if you're gonna make jokeslike this, like, at least try to
aim for the right people.
You know what I mean.
And it's like I also saw peopletalking about, like, how
(16:13):
they're gonna donate to thepolice fund and they're like, oh
, I need to get my I can'tbreathe t-shirt, which I can't
breathe was in reference to thekilling of eric gardner, who's
from staten island.
So it's just like we're, we're,we've lost the plot and the
jabs aren't even fuckingaccurate.
Everyone else is catchingfucking strays and you're mad at
(16:35):
the people of new orleans.
And again, I'm not saying thatI agree with any of it, but I'm
saying like, if you're gonna doit, at least maybe try to be
accurate and hit the rightpeople.
I don't fucking know.
I don't think we should be doingit at all, because, again, all
of this is rooted in whitesupremacy.
It's white supremacy tacticsversus white supremacy tactics,
so the only people who arewinning are white people and
(16:56):
white supremacy.
We will never be free.
Oh my god.
Like this is why I hate.
I've been avoiding this shitlike the plague, because no one
is winning, at least like peopleare like oh my god, the black
americans are winning, the southafricans are winning.
Truly, neither one is winning.
We look fucking foolish,everyone involved looks fucking
(17:18):
foolish.
So my only take through thiswhole thing we have to stop this
madness.
It is crazy.
I don't understand why it evengot to this point.
I don't and again, I have verylimited knowledge about all of
this because I've been avoidingthis shit.
So I don't know if it was theresponse from black Americans
(17:39):
that started it.
I don't know if it was SouthAfricans, and I don't give a
fuck.
I don't give a fuck because, atthe end of the day, white
supremacy is winning and that'swhat I give a fuck about.
I just wish black people andwhen I say black people, I'm
referencing everyone, blackAmericans, south Africans, black
, british like I wish all blackpeople.
(18:00):
I just wish we had morecommunity, I wish we had more
respect for one another and Iwish that we could truly come
together, because I feel like ifwe really came together like
not everyone, because there'salways going to be some who are
going to cling to bakunari andharriet tubman left people all
behind for a reason.
We need to keep that sameenergy, but I wish, as a
(18:21):
majority, we could all cometogether, because if we
genuinely all came together, weare so much stronger together
than we are separate.
We really are, and every timewe participate in a black
diaspora war, every time westart fighting against one
another, whether we're ready toadmit it or accept it, we are
helping to uphold whitesupremacy, and that's why I hate
(18:43):
them so much, because, at theend of the day, none of us are
winning.
We are still all beingoppressed and we're enabling
that oppression in one form oranother.
Every single time weparticipate in a black diaspora
war, every single time weparticipate in fighting one
another, we are helping keep theshackles firmly in place.
(19:07):
As we wrap up today's episode, Iam begging y'all please stop
the diaspora wars.
There is no real winner otherthan white people and white
supremacy.
To any black South Africans whomight be watching this, my
knowledge of the Zulu parade isextremely limited, but I am open
to listening and learning as towhy it is offensive.
I've done a little bit ofresearch, but if anybody wants
(19:30):
to DM me, email me.
I'm always looking to be moreeducated.
So please reach out.
I'm open and I want to learn,and I also want to try to teach
other Black Americans why it isoffensive and, if at all, if we
can do the parade still and itnot be offensive, I'm open to
those suggestions as well.
At the same time, I hope thaty'all will understand how the
(19:52):
use of Black American historyand the way that Black Americans
are treated in America today asa way to clap back or make jabs
at us is also very offensiveand it's also very wrong and
moral of the story.
I just want us to not fight oneanother.
I want us to come together as acommunity because, again, I do
(20:13):
feel that we are much strongertogether than we are separate.
So that is my take on the wholesituation.
I hate it all.
I hate all the fighting and Ijust would love for it to stop.
So, again, I'm open to beingeducated and I hope that you
guys will understand that theuse of our history and our
current lives is also veryoffensive.
(20:34):
At the end of the day, whitesupremacy is winning and I hate
to see it.
I hate to see it.
I just want my people to befree, bruh.
Like I hate this shit so much.
So thank you all for tuning intotoday's episode.
I hope that it was helpful.
I hope that it will make youstop and think about the actual
repercussions of your actions,because again and I'm just gonna
keep saying it none of us arewinning.
(20:55):
It's, it's, it's whitesupremacy that's winning, and I
really hate that for us.
So please just be mindful aboutwhat you're doing and saying
and who the real winner and whothe real enemy is at the end of
the day, because the enemy isalways white supremacy and we
should always be trying toactively fight against white
supremacy.
So I hope that we will do thatmore in the future.
(21:18):
I hope that everyone is havinga good day, except for that
orange drink, lady, and I willtalk to you in the next episode.
Peace and love.
Talk to you later.
The Napkin in Between, hostedby Dejanae Jones, produced by
Dejanae Jones, post-productionby Dejanae Jones, music by Sam
Champagne and graphics by YzmaVidal.
Don't forget to like andsubscribe.
See you next episode.
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