It was standing room only at the launch of Ryland Fisher’s new book, Race at the CTICC’s Marimba Cafe during the Cape Town Book Fair yesterday.

BOOK SA could barely get a look-in – but we managed to reel off one (now highly doctored) photograph.

Fisher spoke of how strongly and openly ractial tags are still used to describe and “announce” people. HIs book aims to stop covert racism by helping people engage with the idea of “race.” He referred to a newspaper article he read recently, which spoke of a “so-called Coloured” delegation which would like to meet the president. Why was this appellation necessary to the piece? asked Fisher.

Race chronicles a series of interviews Fisher recorded, Studs Terkel-style, with South Africans .

Quote of the hour: “I honour my parents for the positive influence they had on me when growing up. The would always encourage me to ask questions about everything and never take things for granted.”
-Ryland Fisher