In a recent online kerfuffle, serial poster and occasional rocket launcher Elon Musk and his band of loyal followers found themselves entangled in a classic case of metaphorical misinterpretation.
(I don’t need to point out that ‘BREAKING’ in this headline is sarcasm, do I?)
It all began when Musk shared a video featuring South African politician Julius Malema.
Elon Musk vs Julius Malema
In the clip, Malema stated, “We are cutting the throat of whiteness.”
Musk, the part-time space enthusiast and full-time keyboard warrior, then responded with a call for “immediate sanctions” against Malema, labelling him an “international criminal.”
Immediate sanctions for Malema and declaration of him as an international criminal! https://t.co/KLwfsp9c2j
Naturally, Malema didn’t let Musk’s tweet slide without a response.
He clapped back with zero chill, pointing out that Musk was a “typical spoiled brat and direct beneficiary of Apartheid whiteness.”
Malema added: “America is exposing us to its stupidity. I don’t care about your sanctions; I will never stop fighting for black people to be equal to white people, and if that makes me an international criminal, I am proud to be one.”
Ouch. That’s not a subtweet; that’s a full-on paragraph of unfiltered heat. Malema’s response was less “let me explain myself” and more “hold my tea.”
I really think you have entirely lost your left brain: a typical spoiled brat and direct beneficiary of Apartheid whiteness. I know black people look the same to you, typical racist. Look closer, and you will realise those are two different people. America is exposing us to its…
Before jumping to conclusions, it’s essential to understand the context and figurative language. Otherwise, we risk turning every statement into unnecessary drama.
For those scratching their heads, let’s break it down:
Metaphor: A way of saying something by comparing it to something else. For example, saying “time is a thief” means time passes quickly, not that it literally steals.
Metonymy: Using a related word to stand in for something. Like calling the business world “the boardroom.” In this case, referring to “systemic racism” as “whiteness.”
When Malema mentioned “cutting the throat of whiteness,” he used a metaphor to describe ending systemic racism, not harming individuals.
Get it?
Afrikaners and metaphors…
You know what really baffles the mind?
How metaphors can be so wildly misunderstood by a bunch of South Africans of a certain demographic, especially when Afrikaans kids grew up singing that C.J. Langenhoven song:
“Siembamba, mamma se kindjie, draai sy nek om, gooi hom in die sloot, trap op sy kop dan is hy dood.”
Which literally translates to “Siembamba, mommy’s little baby, twist his neck, throw him in the ditch, step on his head, then he’s dead.”
I’m pretty sure no one’s out here advocating baby ditch-tossing.
It’s just… a lullaby.
Weird? Yes.
Literal? No.
So if we can accept that as “just a song,” surely the concept of cutting the throat of whiteness (as in dismantling systems of white supremacy) shouldn’t be rocket science.
And ironically, even the guy who builds rockets seems to struggle with it.
Cheryl KahlaFounder and Editor
Cheryl Kahla explores the intersections of tech and society. She covers emerging tech trends, AI, science, and gaming. Outside of writing, Cheryl indulges in martial arts and debating the merits of AI with her cat, Gotham. He is indifferent to the subject.
