The story begins with mathabanes escape from south africa to the u. Kaffir is an insulting and contemptuous term for a black african. Apartheid is a policy of segregation and discrimination on grounds of race that presides in south africa. It tells the story about his escape from life in apartheid, a political system enacted by whiteminorityled government in south africa in 1948 and lasted until 1994, using education and sports.
Mark mathabane recreates the authors boyhood experiences in south africa. The term kaffir is a derogatory term in south africa, and its use in the title is somewhat shocking but perhaps, appropriately so. The true story of a black youths coming of age in apartheid south africa is mark. This page was last edited on 17 february 2020, at 04. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.
The chapter begins with the text of a sign posted at the entrance of alexandra, the black ghetto where mark mathabane grew up. The true story of a black youths coming of age in apartheid south africa, was published in 1986 when apartheid was still a very large part of the south african way of life. In mark mathabanes autobiography kaffir boy, he recalls his journey that begins in. Mathabanes parents hide from the police if they do not have their pass book and is force to do labor work for months. This absorbing sequel, about mathabanes life in the u. The true events of what it was like to live in the johannesburg, south africa slums, along with the hardships that families there had to face shows marks strength and survival out of this hell hole and how education and work brought him fortune to come into america and live his dream. Learn about the book and the historical context in which it was written. The unrevised book is still used as high school reading material regardless of the controversial scenes. Dec 15, 2014 what do the words kaffir and apartheid mean. The second was to achieve his goal and receive a tennis scholarship.
Jackie booker after a careful analysis of this book, i have come to understand that the main thesis of kaffir boy, the autobiography of mark mathabane, a young black who grew up in alexandra, a ghetto of. Kaffir boy summary at wikisummaries, free book summaries. Kaffir boy, the best known of my books, won a christopher award for inspiring hope, was a finalist for the robert f. The true story of a black youths coming of age in apartheid south africa by mark mathabane. Kaffir boy by mark mathabane is a touching and heartfelt story any reader would love. The true story of black youths coming of age in apartheid south africa, excerpted from gales acclaimed nonfiction classics for students. At his mothers insistence, he starts school and promises to stay there. Mathabnes aspiration for writing this book was to inform the world that apartheid had to end because it could not be reformed. Kaffir boy does for apartheidera south africa what richard wrights black boy did for the segregated american southmathabane reveals that troubled world on these pages in a way that only someone who has lived this life can. Kaffir boy is not a hard read at all and it will keep your attention for the most part. The book reached number one on the washington post bestsellers list and number three on the new york times bestsellers list.
Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Throughout his childhood, mark suffers hunger, witnesses violence, and learns to hate and fear whites. Kaffir boy by mark mathabane the classic story of life in apartheid south africa. Kaffir boy quickly became a national bestseller, translated into seven languages. The sign declares that any person who passes into the area without a permit may be prosecuted for breaking the bantu urban areas consolidation act of 1946. Kaffir boy this book is in very good condition and will be shipped within 24 hours of ordering. By embracing education, he is able to rise out of despair and destitution. Kaffir boy is mark mathabanes 1986 autobiography about life under the south african apartheid regime. The book starts out with mark being six years old and in his home in south africa sleeping. Kaffir boy book by mark mathabane official publisher. On a page of explanation before the narrative begins, mathabane tells the reader, in south africa the word kaffir is used disparagingly by most whites to refer to. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading kaffir boy.
Kaffir boy was an extremely honest tale of what life was like during apartheid. Throughout this book, we examine their daily struggles to survive under south africas system of apartheid. The true story of a black youths coming of age in apartheid south africa mark mathabane. Kaffir boy in america and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle. Kaffir boy is mark mathabanes autobiographical story of his escape from life in apartheid south africa through education and sports.
The true story of a black youths coming of age in apartheid south africa summary, chapterbychapter analysis, book notes, essays, quotes, character descriptions, lesson plans, and more everything you need for studying or teaching kaffir boy. A black writer describes his childhood in south africa under apartheid and recounts how arthur ashe and stan smith helped him leave for america on a tennis scholarship. Kaffir boy by mark mathabane, 1987, new american library. Set in south africa during the dark days of apartheid, kaffir boy is the story of mark mathabanes life. If you want to read a book that can constantly engage you, kaffir boy is the. Kaffir boy mark mathabane was weaned on devastating poverty and schooled in the cruel streets of south africas most desperate ghetto. Mark mathabane was weaned on devastating poverty and schooled in the cruel.
The true story of a black youths coming of age in apartheid south africa by. A study guide for mark mathabane s kaffir boy the true story of black youth s coming of age in apartheid south africa book summary. Kaffir boy 1984, one of the best books ever written about apartheid, became a bestseller everywhere but in south africa, where it is banned. Jun 07, 2015 kaffir boy book trailer on imovie by apple. Kaffir boy discussion questions part 1 myenglishclasssavior. The true story of a black youths coming of age in apartheid south africa is the true account of the life of mark born johannes mathabane, a south african tennis player who grew up during apartheid. Selected from kaffir boy mark mathabane book title. The book kaffir boy has won the prestigious christopher award for inspiring hope.
I usually dont read many biographies but after reading only a few pages. Kaffir boy quotes rules and order and in that shack i was born, a few months before sixtynine unarmed black protesters were massacred many shot in the back as they fled for safety by south african policemen during a peaceful demonstration against the pass laws in sharpeville on march 21, 1960. This book has clearly been well maintained and looked after thus far. Mark mathabane is born into a povertystricken black family in south africa during the apartheid years. Mark mathabanes kaffir boy essay 1684 words bartleby. Get an answer for what is the authors purpose in writing kaffir boy. The first of his problems was to get through school in his poor south african ghetto. In his autobiography, kaffir boy, mark mathabane demonstrates the hardships of growing up in the black ghetto of alexandra in south africa during the 1960s and 1970s. The book tells the story of johannes mark and his family, his childhood in south africa and then his success in the the world of tennis. Mark mathabane is the author of kaffir boy in america, love in black and white, and african women.
The book kaffir boy is a good book to read, it felt like i could understand most parts of the book like the struggle for money they had. Ebook kaffir boy as pdf download portable document format. Macmillan, 1986 includes index mathabanes young life in south africa. The cover may have some limited signs of wear but the pages are clean, intact and the spine remains undamaged. Afterwards, his popularity and literary success skyrocketed.
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. The true story of a black youths coming of age in apartheid south africa. He lives with his family in a ghetto in johannesburg, not only in abject poverty, but also in. Pdf kaffir boy by mark mathabane free book download read. Kaffir boy top results of your surfing kaffir boy start download portable document format pdf and ebooks electronic books free online rating news 20162017 is books that can provide inspiration, insight, knowledge to the reader. Kaffir boy in america is the bestselling sequel to mark mathabanes extraordinary autobiography, kaffir boy. Kaffir boy and millions of other books are available for instant access. Overcomming obstacles in kaffir boy by mark mathebane 123. The true story of a black youths coming of age in apartheid south africa is mark mathabanes 1986 autobiography about life under the south african apartheid regime. It focuses on the brutality of the apartheid system and how he escaped from it, and from the township alexandra, to become a wellknown tennis player. Kaffir boy, written by mark mathabane, is about his struggle growing up in south africa during apartheid. Kaffir boy is the title of mark mathabanes autobiography, who grew up in the township of alexandra, travelled to the united states on a tennis scholarship. He also depicted how the young black children dealt with racism and stereotypes.
They conformed them into small ghettos or tribal reserves which where unpractical and unsanitary. Apartheid was a political system enacted by the whiteminorityled government in south africa in 1948 and lasted until 1994. I feel like in this book the two biggest problems that occurred were racism and poverty which was the reason they were treated like they were. Why do you think that the name of the book is kaffir boy. When the book begins johannes, now mark, lives in south africa, in a town named alexandra. Apartheid was a system designed by holland settlers to separate the native africans from their settlers. It was the first south african autobiography to be written in english by a black native. Overcomming obstacles in kaffir boy in the book kaffir boy by mark mathebane there are many obstacles that mark the protagonist has to overcome. Mark mathabane nykki smalls independent africa april 23, 2008 dr.
Kennedy human rights award, and has been published in more than a dozen languages, and is on the american library associations list of outstanding books for the collegebound and lifelong learners. The autobiography, published in 1986, describes mathabanes povertystricken childhood in alexandra, a black ghetto into which. It was a hard thing to do, for there were many good things in my african heritage, which, had it been left to me to choose freely, i would have preserved and venerated. In this powerful account of growing up black in south africa, a young writer. A chance reading of the book by oprah winfrey moved her to buy the film rights and arrange a family reunion with mathabane and his family as guests on her show. Kaffir boy is also about how, in order to escape from the clutches of apartheid, i had to reject the tribal traditions of my ancestors. Open library is an open, editable library catalog, building towards a web page for every book ever published.