The Petrified Country
The Petrified Country “But when that dawn will come, of our emancipation, from the fear of bondage and the bondage of fear, why that is a secret” (Paton 312). Fear limits people from growing and achieving their full potential, yet people can only become free by overcoming their fears. When fear restrains the people, then the country will suffer the same confinement. Throughout the 19th century, South Africa was racially segregated due to the many apartheids put in place. However, what really segregated South Africa were not the apartheids but both races’ fears. In Alan Paton’s Cry, the Beloved Country, Paton illustrates how fear causes inequality and injustice to become a vicious cycle. The white South Africans’ fear of the native colored
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Arthur Jarvis was known for his activism in South Africa that benefited the natives struggling in Johannesburg. When he was asked why he defends blacks Arthur responded: “I do this not because I am courageous and honest, but because it is the only way to end the conflict of my deepest soul” (Paton 208). Arthur chooses to fight for equality because, even though he is fearful, he believes justice is most important. Another man who helped a native man was Mr. Carmichael. He decided to take Absalom’s case for nothing but God (Paton 156). To help a native to receive a fair trial for nothing is brave because at the time lawyers did not defend a native unless they were paid a good amount for their services, and even then they did not always try their best to defend their client. Moreover, during the bus strikes a few whites would give rides to the thousands of blacks walking to their homes and works. The police questioned the whites for a license to carry a passenger, but, instead of ceasing to give blacks a ride, they told the cops to take them to court (Paton 81). These white people were not afraid of being fined for helping the blacks arrive to their destinations; consequently, the blacks were able to make the bus companies lower the bus fares to a reasonable charge. The few fearless men prove that when people are not afraid then they can end the cycle of inequality and
Arthur Jarvis was known for his activism in South Africa that benefited the natives struggling in Johannesburg. When he was asked why he defends blacks Arthur responded: “I do this not because I am courageous and honest, but because it is the only way to end the conflict of my deepest soul” (Paton 208). Arthur chooses to fight for equality because, even though he is fearful, he believes justice is most important. Another man who helped a native man was Mr. Carmichael. He decided to take Absalom’s case for nothing but God (Paton 156). To help a native to receive a fair trial for nothing is brave because at the time lawyers did not defend a native unless they were paid a good amount for their services, and even then they did not always try their best to defend their client. Moreover, during the bus strikes a few whites would give rides to the thousands of blacks walking to their homes and works. The police questioned the whites for a license to carry a passenger, but, instead of ceasing to give blacks a ride, they told the cops to take them to court (Paton 81). These white people were not afraid of being fined for helping the blacks arrive to their destinations; consequently, the blacks were able to make the bus companies lower the bus fares to a reasonable charge. The few fearless men prove that when people are not afraid then they can end the cycle of inequality and