Home
1. Author Biography (Barri J.)
2. History Research (Sydney B.)
3. Themes (D'Anthony R.)
4. Review (Nia T.)
5. Character list & analysis (Nia T.)
6. Vocabulary (D'Anthony R.)
"Clipped" Daily Work
1.Questioner/Discussion Director (Nia T.)
2. Summarizer (Sydney B.)
3. Illustrator (Barri J.)
4. Connector (D'Anthony R.)
5. Journals
1. Author Biography
1. Author Biography
Mark Mathabane
He was born on October 18th, 1960n in Alexandra just on the outskirts of Johannesburg, South Africa. As a child he didn’t have the best things in life. He lived in a two room shack with his parents and his siblings. The only bedroom in the shack was for his parents so he had to sleep on the floor under the kitchen table on a cardboard slab. The shack that he lived in for the rest of his childhood life had no electricity, running water, no sewers or outdoor plumbing and they also faced cold, hunger and malnutrition.
As a child he always faced the brutality from the Perri-Urban police because many people in their neighborhood didn’t have their passes together. It was the law for blacks in alexandra to have a pass in order to live in Alexandra. He was the leader of his family at age 5 because his parent were always running from the Perri-Urban. He had to take care of his siblings. His dad didn’t seem like he had the best relationship with him because his dad thought that he was deifying him.
Mark was also involved in the Soweto Riots that took place in Alexandra. The riots were based off of the anger that students had in South Africa revolving over the way that they were being taught. They didn’t like the Bantu Education because they were labeled as 3rd party learners. Mark didn’t like this because he was being labeled as lower then he thought of himself. He hated learning the language of his oppressors also known as the language of Afrikaans. They thought that learning this language would not help them in the long run. Students all over the country started to rebel against the education system and the government.
Mark Mathabane has always been into education from a little boy. In the beginning he didn’t like it very much because he was being beat. At the school he went to he would be beat for not having the correct books, not having proper uniform, and always being tardy to school. After a while he started to like school because he enjoyed learning and reading. He learned about all the opportunities he could have if he studied abroad. He always went above and beyond to be in the 1% of his class. He always made his mother proud but his father doesn’t like his decisions.
Another topic that spark his interest was the game of tennis. He actually loved the game and always strived to be the best at it. He wanted to work with tennis players such as Stan Smith, Arther Ash, and many more. As a child he would go to Ellis PArk and watch them play and be in awe. He loved to watch the grace and tried to mock them in their styles. Later on in life he met Stan Smith and his wife, they made him believe that there were whites on earth that didn’t believe in apartheid. He asked Stan Smith to help him get into an american college under a tennis scholarship.
2. History Research
The History of Apartheid
Apartheid: any system or practice that separates people according to race, caste, etc. The word apartheid is derived from the African word apartness. It began in the 1930’s but was legalized on May 28, 1948. But what does that mean for an African American boy who grew up during this period of time? What did he experience? How did he feel towards his white oppressors?
Apartheid occurred in South Africa from 1948-1994. Apartheid was introduced after a general election in 1948. In the general election the main leader of the Afrikaner nationalist party, Daniel Francois Malan, campaigned for his idea of apartheid. Malan became the first elected prime minister in support of the apartheid. The two parties later merged to become the Nationalist Party. The new legislation classified people into racial groups such as blacks, coloreds, Indians and whites. Residential areas were separated as well as work areas. This often time caused difficulty for many blacks because their families were allocated into different races. In 1970 blacks were no longer allowed to legally obtain their citizenship. Education, healthcare, beaches, and other public services were separated by legal means. The resources were often inferior to those of the whites. Legislation argued that South Africa didn’t become one unified nation, which they had split into four groups; the whites, blacks, Indians and whites. These groups were later split into further racial federations. The first passed apartheid law was The Population Registration Act of 1950. It legally formalized the using of racial classification cards. These were called a dumbas (dumb pass in Afrikans). Blacks were required to have these as well as permit. Without one black could be persecuted and put on trial.
Apartheid caused for trade embargoes in South Africa as well as violence. After the 1950’s these riots often lead to the opposition and anti-apartheid believers to be persecuted. The government often times responded with state supported violence and increasing repression.
During the Apartheid movement, there were many influential leaders that worked hard to discontinue it. Such leaders were Nelson Mandela, Steve Biko, PW Botha, Chris Hani and Joe Solvo. Nelson Mandela was one of the most famous Africans who spent 27 years in prison for his leadership against the struggle of apartheid, and later became president. Steve Biko was the founder of the Black Consciousness movement, which was designed to raise black self-awareness and the unification of black students. PW Botha was the leader of South Africa’s government during the most violent years of anti-Apartheid resistance. Chris Hani was the Secretary-General of the South African Communist Party. Lastly, Joe Solvo was another anti-Apartheid activist that also served as a Secretary-General of the South African Communist Party.
The issues of Apartheid were very serious and it took a group of determined people to bring an end to it. The beginning of the apartheid was only the start of struggles for different races in South Africa. Mandela once said “We are not anti-white, we are against white supremacy…we have been condemned racialism no matter by whom it is professed”
3. Themes
One theme I noticed in the book “Kaffir Boy” was Traditions and Customs. Mark’s dad believes in that all children will go back to the reserves to live a traditional African life. So that’s why Mark’s dad believes that it is so important for Mark to learn about Venda’s customs and traditions to be prepared. On the contrast Mark thinks that the traditional “tribalism” is the very thing that is holding black people back. The way he thinks is to be successful in this world is to relate to the whites and the world they control.
Another theme in the book is “Identity”. The South African government tries to create Mark’s identity and the goal is to get and carry a pass to work and live. Throughout the book you see Mark set his own path and future through education and sports. In the end Mark overcomes the South African system and gets a scholarship to college in America instead of working dead end jobs in South Africa.
Fear is probably the main theme in this book. Mark had a fear of whites and a fear of police. Because of nightly raiding’s and people getting arrested because their passes were not in order Mark experienced terror and pain on a regular basis. Mark’s parents were even arrested occasionally because they were either unemployed or their passes were out of order, and this lead to suffering and more fear. Fear is the most dominant thing in Mark’s life until he overcomes it through persistence, willpower, and a little bit of luck. Mark’s luck came through his grandmother who introduced him to a nice white family. Once Mark learned that some white are kind he dominated in education and on in the tennis world. The kids that did not overcome their fears ended up in violence, guns, and carrying passes all their lives and living the reality of apartheid.
“Race” is another theme. In Kaffir Boy race defies where you live, what kind of education you get, and what kind of job you will receive. Race keeps blacks from escaping poverty in the ghettos and to ever become equal with whites.
The 5th theme I saw was Religion. Christianity was portrayed as negative and positively in the book. Mark’s mother converted to Christianity because she saw fellow Christians having good jobs, nice things, and more money. Also when Mark’s mother converted to Christianity she became a kinder person, willing to help others, and find decent jobs for her self. On the other hand Mark’s father hated the idea of Christianity in the house. He even abused the wife because he thought she was changing sides on him.
4. Review
Book Review
The book my group read was Kaffir Boy by Mark Mathabane. The book was set from when Mark was a young child from the age of 6 until he graduated from college. Mark grew up in a ghetto called Alexandria during the period of apartheid. This book is about how he gets through his everyday struggles in an attempt to beat a system to keep people of color (especially black people) down. The book is divided into three sections Part I The Road to Alexandria, Part II Passport to Knowledge, and Part III Passport to Freedom.
Part I The Road to Alexandria is the section of the book that introduces the reader to Mark a.k.a Johannes and his environment. Johannes is currently living in a ghetto in Alexandria which is in South Africa. The South African region is ruled by apartheid and when Johannes is only 6 years old he is forced to accept a harsh reality which is apartheid. He is taught to hate white people because they are the one who oppressed their people. One major event in the first section is the constant police raids the families in Alexandria have to go through because the police are constantly looking for people who don’t have their “books” in order. This has a major impact on Johannes because his father gets taken away more than once and it strains their relationship.
Part II Passport to Knowledge is the part of the book is where Johannes finally gets exposed to other aspects of life besides the ghetto in Alexandria he is used to everyday. Johannes’ grandmother takes him to a nice white lady who takes a lot of interest in him. She gives him books to read and that was how his interest in reading came about. From then on he continued reading and educating himself, he also made it a goal to learn English. His mother made many sacrifices to enroll him in school and he goes through many humiliating times at his school but fortunately enough he graduates each year top of his class. Along with his education he is introduced to the game of tennis which has a positive impact on his life. Tennis takes him to place no other black person could dream of going and many envied him for this privilege.
Part III Passport to Freedom Johannes is more mature. He has the experiences from his life in the ghetto and the harsh rules from apartheid. He also has been exposed to a different reality, a reality where he can actually live a decent life under the South African rules. Living life in a decent environment under the South African rules was no enough for Johannes. He traveled and made a difference in not only in his life but everyone surrounded around him.
The book Kaffir Boy was a very insightful book. Even though it was an autobiography it gave a lot of information of how life was really like living during the reign of apartheid in the South African ghettos. Kaffir boy is not a hard read at all and it will keep your attention for the most part. One disappointment with the book is that even though Mark went through a lot of struggles he still had a sense of one of the “fairytale endings”. I would recommend this book to these people who want to read something that will expose you to a truth that isn’t sugar coated like in the textbooks. Also this book is also good for people who have respect and want to learn more about the African struggle in South Africa.
5. Character and Analysis
Character List
Johannes/Mark – Johannes is the main character in the book. Johannes starts off as a feeble character but as the book goes on he grows mentally, emotionally, and physically. The entire book is revolved around Johannes’ and it follows him from the age of 6 until adulthood. The book is divided in three sections in the first section it was about Johannes being introduced to the brutality of apartheid. This part of the book he hates white people and he only looks at things from one side. In the second and third section he gets and education and he views the world differently he has a mature perspective on life.
Mother – Johannes’ mother is his backbone. His mother is the one who helps him receive and education. She is very strong because she had to stand up to her husband and went against many beliefs her husband had to create a future for her son.
Father – Johannes’ father was a very negative person. Even though he was so negative he greatly influenced Johannes. One of the reasons why Johannes grew up and wanted an education for himself is because he wanted to grow up and not be like his father.
Granny – Granny is an important character because she is one of the main reasons why Johannes got a chance to receive an education. Not only did she give him that opportunity but she also helped him experience something else rather than the ghetto in Alexandria. From then on he grew as an educated individual
Scaramouche – He was the first person to teach Johannes how to play tennis. He was very strict and he comes off as rude. This was really a groundbreaking moment but you wouldn’t know until you’ve read the rest of the book but this is when Johannes’ life made a complete turn for a positive light.
Wilfred- Wilfred was a nice white man Johannes was introduced to Wilfred was one of the many people living in South Africa that had no idea that apartheid was so dehumanizing. Wilfred was very understand of Johannes struggle and tried to help him anyway he could. Johannes told Wilfred his story and then they became friends and Wilfred let Johannes play at the tennis ranch. Wilfred was also Johannes first “un-official” tennis sponsor
Helmut- Helmut was a German white man who was living in South Africa but he didn’t know the severity of the segregation until he got down there. Helmut was bold and fought against apartheid anyway he could and this built up a sense of boldness and courage in Johannes.
Stan- Stan was Johannes first official tennis sponsor. He helped Johannes travel and he continued to be exposed to different realities. Stan also faced a lot of threats because he was helping a “Kaffir”. He did it anyway.
6. Vocabulary
1. Ablution- a washing of the body, esp. as a religious ceremony.
2. Jugular- of the neck or throat.
3. Macabre- grim and horrible; gruesome; ghastly.
4. Imp- A devil’s offspring or mischievous child.
5. Credence- Belief or believability.
6. Matriarch- Female ruler of family, clan, or tribe.
7. Accost- To approach & speak to, especially in a pushy way.
8. Utilitarian- Useful.
9. Intricate- Hard to follow or understand because entangled, complicated, or perplexing.
10. Notoriety- State of being widely but unfavorably known or talked about; infamy.
11. Embalm- To keep a dead body from decaying by treating it with various chemicals.
12. Austere- Stern, Strict, Severely, Self- Disciplined.
13. Respite- A break; to put off or delay.
14. Latrine- A receptacle for use as a toilet.
15. Concocting- To prepare by combining raw materials, ingredients.
16. Ambiguous- doubtful or uncertain, inexplicable, unclear.
17. Enigmatic- Mysterious, perplexing.
18. Feign- To pretend.
19. Unpretentiously- Modestly or simply.
20. Meager- Small.
21. Throng- To crowd upon, to gather together, or a mass of people.
22. Palpated- Abruptly concise.
23. Terse- Smoothly elegant, or touch abruptly, concise.
24. Vagabond- Moving from one place to another, a person without a home, a drifter.
25. Sardonic- Skeptically humorous, divisively mocking, cynical.
26. Scores- A group of 20 people.
27. Reciprocated- To give and take mutually.
28. Morose- Having sudden and gloomy disposition, sad.
29. Dossier- A file containing detailed info about a person.
30. Perused- To examine or study in detail, to look over subject or to browse.
31. Pickaninny- A black child.
