Is xenophobia racism?

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Periodical article

Title:	Is xenophobia racism?
Author:	Tafira, Kenneth
Year:	2011
Periodical:	Anthropology Southern Africa (ISSN 2332-3264)
Volume:	34
Issue:	3-4
Pages:	114-121
Language:	English
Geographic term:	South Africa
Subjects:	xenophobia racism
Abstract:	The outbreak of anti-immigrant violence in Alexandra, South Africa, in 2008 has prompted a number of theoretical questions. While the attacks have pervasively been presented as xenophobia, the present author argues that what is termed xenophobia is in fact racism, practised by people of the same (black) population group. The author carried out research in Alexandra in 2009, focusing on the construction of Otherness and the subsequent racialized identities and cultural racism. He describes the labels used in Alexandra for non-South African immigrants, all of which carry racial connotations. He argues that this kind of new racism is entrenched in cultural differences in nationality, ethnicity language, dress, customs, social origins, and speech patterns. The differences are deepened by social and economic inequalities. Frustrations among local people are expressed through economic grievances which, however, mask the preceding cultural contempt. Ironically, some current black on black practices are reminiscent of apartheid white anti-black racism. Bibliogr., notes, ref., sum. [ASC Leiden abstract]