Kaffir Boy: An Autobiography

Paper Summary:

This paper introduces, discusses, and analyzes the book "Kaffir Boy: An Autobiography" by Mark Mathabane. Mathabane's book allows the reader to enter the South African world of apartheid and understand more about the system as it worked in South African life. Apartheid, a system of separation and segregation between blacks and whites existed in South Africa until 1994, and it drove a wedge between the people, the country, and its relationship with the world. This paper discusses how the book shows the deep wedge between races, and how much blacks suffered under the system. Furthermore, it looks at how Mathabane's story makes the time of apartheid real to the reader, and shows how prejudice and hatred can tear a people and a country apart. It also discusses that even with apartheid and racism, the author still deeply loves his home country.

From the Paper:

"As the book continues, it is difficult to believe some of the atrocities and outrages were allowed to continue as long as they did. The whites oppressed the blacks and other minorities so completely, it was difficult for them to even survive. For example, Mathabane's father is arrested simply for being unemployed, one of the 'worst' offenses a black man could commit in South Africa. Some of the situations would be laughable, if they were not so real, and many of them are remarkable. Blacks are not allowed to own houses, and the government can tear down their ghetto on a whim, leaving entire families homeless and desperate. Yet, the whites, who enjoy an incredibly high standard of living, do nothing to ease the tensions and inequalities in their country. It is as if there are two separate countries, united only by the name, 'South Africa,' and the as the book continues, it draws the reader in, until they feel as if they are a part of the fight for freedom. It also makes them feel outrage that such atrocities were allowed to continue for so very long."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Mathabane, Mark. Kaffir Boy: An Autobiography. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1986.The World Transformed.

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