Kaffir Boy: An Autobiography
Kelly Teague
7/19/11
Kaffir boy: an autobiography: The true story of a Black Youth’s coming of Age in Apartheid South Africa.
Mark Mathabane
Copyright: October 7, 1998 Pgs: 354
Growing up as a youth in Alexandra, black ghetto of Johannesburg, where mark was born and lived for eighteen years with hopes of becoming a successful man in a world full of obstacles that would eventually help or destroy him while dealing with the laws of society. He had to endured pain, grief, and sorrow and discovers courage, dedication, and motivation on order to survive the many police raids to revolutionary equality protests. Also becoming a rebellious, who didn’t see the importance of having an education? He discovered early on the pain …show more content…
and suffering is family had to endure at the early stage of life in South Africa’s apartheid. During this time he learned at an early age about the feeling of starvation. He was filled with hatred, confusion, helplessness, hopelessness, anxiety, loneliness, selfishness, and a cynical attitude towards people.
The turning point of his life had come when he accompanied his grandmother to her gardening job in his eleventh year and met a white family that didn’t fit the stereotype of Afrikaners. From this family, he received gifts of books and secondhand clothes. The books he had received are what steered him in the direction of exploring reading and having a true passion of excelling at it. This marked his new beginning in joining the revolts against Bantus’ attempts to place the limits on his life and aspirations; and his place in his South African life. Also during this time the smith family introduced to the sport of tennis and found interest in playing. He saw this as a golden opportunity in leaving behind his ghetto home. At this time he also started to attend school because of his mother’s determination of him going very far with his education. He proved to be an excellent student by coming out as the top student in all his levels of schooling and scoring the highest out of everyone, despite not having the necessary materials needed for class. Here is the time he, actually started to excel in tennis.
He was hired at Barclays Bank and was surprised of the fact that he worked alongside his white counterparts. He also found the true passion for tennis which led him to great things. He ended up having white friends that shared the same goals for him. He dreamed of going to the America on a tennis scholarship with the aid of some his close friends and mentors. Being one of the top ranked Kaffir scholars and spoke English better than some Afrikaners could help in his journey into the Promised Land. This book isn’t about his success but, the challenges and adversities he had to overcome as being a youth in Alexandria receiving several offers from various colleges and universities. This was his golden ticket to a new world outside of apartheid back at home, leaving behind his family and friends that supported him to a better future.
Significance of “Kaffir Boy”
“Kaffir” originated from Arabic origin meaning infidel. In South Africa it is used disparagingly by most whites to refer to blacks. It is the equivalent of the term nigger. Mark’s usage of the word is ironic. He doesn’t claim he is a Kaffir in the manner it implies, but as an attempt to reclaim the word queer, wearing the label proudly than allowing one to provoke shame. He wants others to see it as a sign of identity in his hometown.
Main
characters:
Mark: perseverance, self-discipline, confidence, loyalty, inquisitive.
Mama: loving, strong-willed, hardworking, supportive, and gentle
Papa: vicious, lack of self control, abusive, lazy, compassionate
Granny: hard-working, stern, supportive, encouraging, and strong-willed
Wilfred: helpful, liberal, well-mannered, friendly, and supportive
Scaramouche: mentor, stern, gentle, gentle, supportive, and loyal
Andre Zietsman: friendly, humorous, soft-spoken, hard-working, brave
Stan Smith: loving, supportive, charismatic, humorous, and supportive
First impressions:
Protagonist: My first impression of mark was that he was very inquisitive because he was curious of everything and constantly questioned authority. He was born to be a leader and something important. For example, he was considered to be the sage in the family because his navel was an “innie” and not an “outtie”, and because he was left-handed, was destined to become the sage in the family and someday do something great. (18.10, p101) marks’ perseverance is what helped him survived through the many struggles of the apartheid state left on him. Also his self- discipline was shown throughout the book and represented the burning desire of leaving for the Promised Land. It was acknowledge by Mr. Montsisi, when he told Mark why he knew he’ll be accepted to college. “You’re an unusual type, you believed in yourself.”(53, pg342).Mark is a dynamic and round character because his beliefs and values change as the story moves along. Fro example he didn’t want to go to school because his friends didn’t and claimed it a waste of time. He later on changed his mind after listening to an old lady woman speak about what to her oldest when he stayed on the streets instead of going to school. Also, when his dad beat his mom all because she was paying for him to go to school and the dad opposed the “white man’s education.” Also when he wanted to play tennis and was called a traitor by his own people, he had to be courageous and brave after receiving several death threats from everyone against his success. He couldn’t bear the thought of placing his own life in harm’s way. The gangs made it a life or death situation for him. He didn’t want to end up dead on the street, and his mother wanted a better future for her son. .
Antagonist:
My first impression of the apartheid state was that it wasn’t all pictures- perfect and the most tragic event South Africa had to deal with. I really didn’t like the fact that the way the government had chose to handle this huge problem. It was a disaster on both sides of the country. The antagonist used a form of manipulation towards the black Africans who lived there the longest. I knew that the government and Peri-Urbans had no mercy for anyone but themselves and tried to cover up the truth behind the brutality Mark’s people had to endure. For example the Peri-Urbans came and destroyed several shacks in Alexandra without any mercy. Evidently, the apartheid state are static, because they barely change the rules until years later and stayed that way to help keep the political in the hands of the whites. The system only wanted to benefit all the white Africans rather than the country’s people. Apartheid left many suffering from depression, starvation, homelessness, and poverty. This left a bad mark on a beautiful country for the whole world to see.
“Why didn’t he go to school, Mama?” “He refused to go to school because his father led him to believe that an education was a tool through which white people were going to take things away from him, like they did black people in the old days. And that a white man’s education was worthless insofar as black people were concerned because it prepared them for jobs they can’t have. But I know it isn’t totally so, child, because times have changed somewhat. Though our lot isn’t any better today, an education will get you a decent job. If you ca read or write you’ll be better off than those of us who can’t. take my situation: I can’t find a job because I don’t have papers, and I can’t get papers because white people mainly want to register people who can read and write. But I want things to be different for you, child. For you and your brother and sisters, I want you to go to school, because I believe that an education is the key you need to open up a new world and a new life for yourself, a word and life different from that of either your father’s or mine. It is the only key that can do that, and only those who seek it earnestly and perseveringly will get anywhere in the white man’s world. Education will open doors where none seem to exist. It’ll make people talk to you, listen to you and help you; people who otherwise wouldn’t bother. It will make you soar, like a bird lifting up into the endless blue sky, and leave poverty, hunger and suffering behind. It’ll teach you to learn to embrace what’s good and shun what’s bad and evil. Above all, it’ll make you become somebody in this world. It’ll make you grow up to be a good and proud person. That’s why I want you to go to school, child, so that education can do all that, and more, for you.” This passage really hit home for me. When I was around Mark’s age I didn’t really like school because I thought it was only pointless to go if others out there wouldn’t mind doing things for me. And then, my mama told me why she wanted me and my sisters go to school. She wanted us to be better than her and my dad because they already have their college degrees. They both saw a better future or their kids and made sure they kept their promised to support us throughout our schooling. I’ll always remember my mom teaching me on how to read and I finding a rue passion for it. Parents are the greatest motivators a child can eve have.
Life lessons: The many life lessons I learned from this book was to never give up when the storm comes in and knocks you down. You just have to get back up and keep on going till you reach your destination. Also, I learned the true value of identity and knowing and remembering where you came from. It taught me how to work against the odds to succeed in life. Many lessons in this book created many opportunities fro Mark.
Literary merit: You can learn a lot of literary terms in this book. He used a lot of comparison to express his deep feelings. He shows some signs of symbolism, imagery and allegory, for, example (10.58) hunger as a monster or bear. America was a symbol of freedom. He also used some forms of epigraphs in his memoir. This was what the book really was, except, he only changed the form of the memories. The most literary devices I saw were his flashback moments, when he says the cause and effect of a situation.
Dislikes: I disliked the fact hat majority of his feelings weren’t all that clear to me. I really became confused when he entered his phase of confusion and life itself. His character was a little unstable to me. His beliefs weren’t all authentic. I wasn’t quite sure of what his true beliefs were except when it came to his education. The religions were I couldn’t quite understand why and what his religion was. He was on a deeper level than I was used to. Also the fact he believed he had to give up his true identity of being a kaffir boy in South Africa.
[pic]Black or white
Afrikaners or Kaffirs?
7/19/11
Kaffir boy: an autobiography: The true story of a Black Youth’s coming of Age in Apartheid South Africa.
Mark Mathabane
Copyright: October 7, 1998 Pgs: 354
Growing up as a youth in Alexandra, black ghetto of Johannesburg, where mark was born and lived for eighteen years with hopes of becoming a successful man in a world full of obstacles that would eventually help or destroy him while dealing with the laws of society. He had to endured pain, grief, and sorrow and discovers courage, dedication, and motivation on order to survive the many police raids to revolutionary equality protests. Also becoming a rebellious, who didn’t see the importance of having an education? He discovered early on the pain …show more content…
and suffering is family had to endure at the early stage of life in South Africa’s apartheid. During this time he learned at an early age about the feeling of starvation. He was filled with hatred, confusion, helplessness, hopelessness, anxiety, loneliness, selfishness, and a cynical attitude towards people.
The turning point of his life had come when he accompanied his grandmother to her gardening job in his eleventh year and met a white family that didn’t fit the stereotype of Afrikaners. From this family, he received gifts of books and secondhand clothes. The books he had received are what steered him in the direction of exploring reading and having a true passion of excelling at it. This marked his new beginning in joining the revolts against Bantus’ attempts to place the limits on his life and aspirations; and his place in his South African life. Also during this time the smith family introduced to the sport of tennis and found interest in playing. He saw this as a golden opportunity in leaving behind his ghetto home. At this time he also started to attend school because of his mother’s determination of him going very far with his education. He proved to be an excellent student by coming out as the top student in all his levels of schooling and scoring the highest out of everyone, despite not having the necessary materials needed for class. Here is the time he, actually started to excel in tennis.
He was hired at Barclays Bank and was surprised of the fact that he worked alongside his white counterparts. He also found the true passion for tennis which led him to great things. He ended up having white friends that shared the same goals for him. He dreamed of going to the America on a tennis scholarship with the aid of some his close friends and mentors. Being one of the top ranked Kaffir scholars and spoke English better than some Afrikaners could help in his journey into the Promised Land. This book isn’t about his success but, the challenges and adversities he had to overcome as being a youth in Alexandria receiving several offers from various colleges and universities. This was his golden ticket to a new world outside of apartheid back at home, leaving behind his family and friends that supported him to a better future.
Significance of “Kaffir Boy”
“Kaffir” originated from Arabic origin meaning infidel. In South Africa it is used disparagingly by most whites to refer to blacks. It is the equivalent of the term nigger. Mark’s usage of the word is ironic. He doesn’t claim he is a Kaffir in the manner it implies, but as an attempt to reclaim the word queer, wearing the label proudly than allowing one to provoke shame. He wants others to see it as a sign of identity in his hometown.
Main
characters:
Mark: perseverance, self-discipline, confidence, loyalty, inquisitive.
Mama: loving, strong-willed, hardworking, supportive, and gentle
Papa: vicious, lack of self control, abusive, lazy, compassionate
Granny: hard-working, stern, supportive, encouraging, and strong-willed
Wilfred: helpful, liberal, well-mannered, friendly, and supportive
Scaramouche: mentor, stern, gentle, gentle, supportive, and loyal
Andre Zietsman: friendly, humorous, soft-spoken, hard-working, brave
Stan Smith: loving, supportive, charismatic, humorous, and supportive
First impressions:
Protagonist: My first impression of mark was that he was very inquisitive because he was curious of everything and constantly questioned authority. He was born to be a leader and something important. For example, he was considered to be the sage in the family because his navel was an “innie” and not an “outtie”, and because he was left-handed, was destined to become the sage in the family and someday do something great. (18.10, p101) marks’ perseverance is what helped him survived through the many struggles of the apartheid state left on him. Also his self- discipline was shown throughout the book and represented the burning desire of leaving for the Promised Land. It was acknowledge by Mr. Montsisi, when he told Mark why he knew he’ll be accepted to college. “You’re an unusual type, you believed in yourself.”(53, pg342).Mark is a dynamic and round character because his beliefs and values change as the story moves along. Fro example he didn’t want to go to school because his friends didn’t and claimed it a waste of time. He later on changed his mind after listening to an old lady woman speak about what to her oldest when he stayed on the streets instead of going to school. Also, when his dad beat his mom all because she was paying for him to go to school and the dad opposed the “white man’s education.” Also when he wanted to play tennis and was called a traitor by his own people, he had to be courageous and brave after receiving several death threats from everyone against his success. He couldn’t bear the thought of placing his own life in harm’s way. The gangs made it a life or death situation for him. He didn’t want to end up dead on the street, and his mother wanted a better future for her son. .
Antagonist:
My first impression of the apartheid state was that it wasn’t all pictures- perfect and the most tragic event South Africa had to deal with. I really didn’t like the fact that the way the government had chose to handle this huge problem. It was a disaster on both sides of the country. The antagonist used a form of manipulation towards the black Africans who lived there the longest. I knew that the government and Peri-Urbans had no mercy for anyone but themselves and tried to cover up the truth behind the brutality Mark’s people had to endure. For example the Peri-Urbans came and destroyed several shacks in Alexandra without any mercy. Evidently, the apartheid state are static, because they barely change the rules until years later and stayed that way to help keep the political in the hands of the whites. The system only wanted to benefit all the white Africans rather than the country’s people. Apartheid left many suffering from depression, starvation, homelessness, and poverty. This left a bad mark on a beautiful country for the whole world to see.
“Why didn’t he go to school, Mama?” “He refused to go to school because his father led him to believe that an education was a tool through which white people were going to take things away from him, like they did black people in the old days. And that a white man’s education was worthless insofar as black people were concerned because it prepared them for jobs they can’t have. But I know it isn’t totally so, child, because times have changed somewhat. Though our lot isn’t any better today, an education will get you a decent job. If you ca read or write you’ll be better off than those of us who can’t. take my situation: I can’t find a job because I don’t have papers, and I can’t get papers because white people mainly want to register people who can read and write. But I want things to be different for you, child. For you and your brother and sisters, I want you to go to school, because I believe that an education is the key you need to open up a new world and a new life for yourself, a word and life different from that of either your father’s or mine. It is the only key that can do that, and only those who seek it earnestly and perseveringly will get anywhere in the white man’s world. Education will open doors where none seem to exist. It’ll make people talk to you, listen to you and help you; people who otherwise wouldn’t bother. It will make you soar, like a bird lifting up into the endless blue sky, and leave poverty, hunger and suffering behind. It’ll teach you to learn to embrace what’s good and shun what’s bad and evil. Above all, it’ll make you become somebody in this world. It’ll make you grow up to be a good and proud person. That’s why I want you to go to school, child, so that education can do all that, and more, for you.” This passage really hit home for me. When I was around Mark’s age I didn’t really like school because I thought it was only pointless to go if others out there wouldn’t mind doing things for me. And then, my mama told me why she wanted me and my sisters go to school. She wanted us to be better than her and my dad because they already have their college degrees. They both saw a better future or their kids and made sure they kept their promised to support us throughout our schooling. I’ll always remember my mom teaching me on how to read and I finding a rue passion for it. Parents are the greatest motivators a child can eve have.
Life lessons: The many life lessons I learned from this book was to never give up when the storm comes in and knocks you down. You just have to get back up and keep on going till you reach your destination. Also, I learned the true value of identity and knowing and remembering where you came from. It taught me how to work against the odds to succeed in life. Many lessons in this book created many opportunities fro Mark.
Literary merit: You can learn a lot of literary terms in this book. He used a lot of comparison to express his deep feelings. He shows some signs of symbolism, imagery and allegory, for, example (10.58) hunger as a monster or bear. America was a symbol of freedom. He also used some forms of epigraphs in his memoir. This was what the book really was, except, he only changed the form of the memories. The most literary devices I saw were his flashback moments, when he says the cause and effect of a situation.
Dislikes: I disliked the fact hat majority of his feelings weren’t all that clear to me. I really became confused when he entered his phase of confusion and life itself. His character was a little unstable to me. His beliefs weren’t all authentic. I wasn’t quite sure of what his true beliefs were except when it came to his education. The religions were I couldn’t quite understand why and what his religion was. He was on a deeper level than I was used to. Also the fact he believed he had to give up his true identity of being a kaffir boy in South Africa.
[pic]Black or white
Afrikaners or Kaffirs?