Kaffir Boy: The True Story of a Black Youth’s Coming of Age in Apartheid South Africa
I finally finished Kaffir Boy: The True Story of a Black Youth’s Coming of Age in Apartheid South Africa by Mark Mathabane, which I was reading for Banned Books Week. (Yeah, well, I’m a slow reader and I don’t have much time to read.) It appears on the American Library Association’s list of 100 most frequently challenged books, 1990-2000. Mathabane tells the story of growing up in apartheid South Africa. The book left a big impression on me–there were times when I did not want to stop reading–and yet, I don’t know where or how to begin to tell you about it. The abject poverty under which his family lived boggles my mind. I can’t imagine what it must have been like for Mathabane’s mother to worry about providing for her family, especially during a year when his father was jailed and she could not work.
The first-hand account of life in Alexandra under apartheid examines the daily struggles, the rules the white South African government imposed, and the emotions of black South Africans. I had to keep reminding myself that the book is set in the 1960s and 70s; these events did not happen long ago.
The mother decides she’s going to do what it takes for her children to get an education because she believes that’s the only way her family could improve its situation. She not only makes sacrifices herself, but she also may have sacrificed things for the family in order to pay for tuition, school uniforms, books, and materials. Mathabane falls in love with reading and does very well in school. One of the strong themes is the benefit and importance of reading, access to books, and getting an education. At times, he offers to quit school in order to help the family, but his mother does not allow it. Even though he knows he has a far way to go to reach his dreams, he tries very hard. The book closes as he is on the road to success.
I imagine people object to this book because of the racial issues, a few graphic scenes of violence and bloodshed, and the theme of distrusting the government.
There’s a sequel I found by accident called Kaffir Boy in America: an Encounter with Apartheid I might read next. Love in Black and White: the Triumph of Love over Prejudice and Taboo seems to be a third book.
I’m curious to know how much things have changed since the end of apartheid. I didn’t learn much about African history in any of the world history courses I took. In college, I learned about South African apartheid through a biography of Stephen Biko and Down Second Avenue by Ezekiel Mphahlele. I don’t remember much about those books, but I similarly remember being captivated by them at the time.
Addendum 11/11: I went to the library last night to return Kaffir Boy and borrow the next two books. I’m already on page 75 of Kaffir Boy in America.
