Coloured: How Classification Became Culture

Tessa Dooms · Lynsey Ebony Chutel

Sep 2023 · Jonathan Ball Publishers

About this ebook

'This is a book for Coloured people, by Coloured people, a book of Coloured and colourful stories from varied corners of the South African vista, past, present and future.' What does it mean to be Coloured? Who are Coloured people? Are they San or Khoe, Malay or mixed, and where in South Africa do they fit in? And then the enduring, but also insulting, question: do Coloured people even have a culture? In this book, Tessa Dooms and Lynsey Ebony Chutel challenge the notion that Coloured people do not have a distinct heritage or culture – that they are neither Black nor White enough – and present a different angle to that narrative. They delve into the history of Coloured people as descendants of indigenous Africans and as a people whose identity has been shaped by colonisation and slavery, and unpack the racial and political hierarchies these forces created. Although this book examines a difficult history, it is also about the culture that Coloured communities have created for themselves through food, music and shared lived experiences. This culture is an act of defiance and resilience. Coloured is a reflection on, and celebration of, Coloured identities as lived experiences. It is a call to Coloured communities to reclaim their identity – and an invitation to understand the history of Coloured people and their place in the making of South Africa's future.

Ratings and reviews

This book is an honest, insightful read explaining the history of the Coloured community. They have always been a bit of a mystery in my eyes because you mostly hear about the White oppression and Black struggle. This is the story of those who were forced into a grey area and now are reinventing themselves. It is quite fascinating.

Coloured identity is not something I grew up hearing about in a positive light so it was about high time I changed that. This was wonderfully written.

About the author

TESSA DOOMS is a Director at the Rivonia Circle. She is a sociologist, political analyst, and development practitioner with 15 years’ experience. She holds a Master of Arts from the University of the Witwatersrand. Tessa is a trustee of the Kagiso Trust.

LYNSEY EBONY CHUTEL is a journalist and writer. She is a reporter for the New York Times and has worked for South African and international news outlets, along with stints in scriptwriting for an international Emmy-nominated news satire show. She holds a master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University and a master’s degree in international relations from the University of the Witwatersrand.