Shades-of-Black

About

Shades of Black Works CC was founded in 2007 (registration # 2007/178671/23) by the following individuals: Dr. Sibusiso Sifunda (Specialist in Public Health); Elelwani Ramugondo (Head of Division of Occupational Therapy, University of Cape Town); Maano Muvhulawa (Instrumentation Engineer, Eskom); Brigitte Da Gama (Human Resources, Sanlam); and Frank Kronenberg (International Guest Lecturer in Occupational Therapy without Borders & Head of Ubuntourism - Development & Marketing).

In line with the lived experiences of the founding members and directors of Shades of Black, the name of the company had to honour what they understand - the ‘black experience’. Inequities across societies world-wide often run along constructed racial divides, with those of a darker complexion mostly at the bottom rungs of the ladder of privilege and opportunities. This awareness however does not preclude the fact that there are many others who by virtue of appearance, social class, and other factors of difference are excluded from meaningfully contributing to world agendas. It is up to those to find common ground with what Shades of Black stands for.

The name Shades of Black also implies that as human beings we are derivatives of a common heritage - Africa. In this sense, white people are but a lighter shade of black.