This stuff is trivial compared to what some see in their native lands. I'm all for personal responsibility but that will be wasted if it's not happening collectively. I'm as individual and independent as they come, pride myself on it but even I recognised there's no place for individualism and independence when it comes to family and community....you know weh me coulda deh! But as most of us will testify, no matter where you could have been, there's nothing better than living amongst your fellow Africans....council flat or not.

In a family/community the academic has a role to play which is just as equal in magnitude and significance to the role the mini cab driver has to play. My personal experience found me reasoning with the academics about their lack of community and reasoning with the wotliss for having no ambition - when you sit on the fence watching it all from middle ground the bridges that need to be built seem impossible.

But back to the comment about the system also being to blame, for all my independence and for all my ambition, no matter how educated, in this oppressive system , to get anywhere in life a grey man has to tick a box for you somewhere along the line. In many cases most don't even let you on the first rung on the ladder of your dreams because they no someone along the line will bring you to a sudden dead end. Any African man who hasd made anything in this system respect is due but as far as ticking those boxes is concerned, that is recognition that the system has a massive part to play in sorting this mess out.