Kaffir Boy – A Non-Review
There was a NYTimes article today about school children in Cape Town, South Africa. They marched to City Hall and made their request – libraries and librarians. It was organized by a group called Equal Education. It appeared to be a sort of peaceful and organized repeat of what happened spontaneously in 1976. The article even mentions the 1976 march that was prompted by the shooting of 13-year-old Hector Pieterson in Soweto.
Mark Mathabane was a teenager during the riots in South Africa in the mid 1970s. Kaffir Boy is a moving account of that period in South Africa’s history including the uprisings. He lived in the township of Alexandra and writes of the world he knew and then of the world he got a glimpse of through tennis.
It’s been awhile since I’ve read it (that’s why the non-review), but I remember being fascinated, horrified, and disturbed that as a college student I didn’t pay more attention at the time. I do remember when Arthur Ashe went to South Africa and Mathabane writes of this event in his book.
He also describes what it was like to actually become aware of the kind of life white people led in a world that was completely foreign to him; what it felt like to be admitted in some very small way because he was a good tennis player; how he felt when he finally saw not only the inequality, but the harsh treatment blacks received at the hand of whites; and about the various attitudes of the people around him including determination, anger, defiance, and sometimes hopeless submission.
Today the students in South Africa are able to march peacefully, thankfully. There are people in power that are responsive to their needs, both black and white. I hope they get the results they want with peaceful marching. So far it seems to be working. One school has had 500 broken windows replaced. In another the students wanted a 12th grade science teacher and got one. It’s unfortunate that the inequality still exists, but we see that in schools in the US so have no room to talk.
It is so easy to forget history, or to ignore it while it is happening. And as the saying goes, I believe we are doomed to repeat it if we can’t learn and remember. I also believe that looking at a situation through someone elses eyes, changes you, if you let it. No, I can’t know what it was like to be in that situation. But, I can be educated about the personal impact it had on individuals. And if you care about how your actions impact others that is valuable education.
There have been much more recent atrocities perpetuated by human beings on other human beings. Sometimes its racial, sometimes religious, or ethnic, but it seems to be a part of human nature. Somethings haven’t changed at all since Kaffir Boy was written. For this reason it is still relevant today. We need the reminders of how humans can behave if we lose sight of the fact that “they”, who ever they may be, are human too.
I think I need to pull Kaffir Boy back off the shelf. If you haven’t read it, do. It will be well worth your time.
You can find the NYTimes article at http://bit.ly/RsEeW
June 28th, 2010 at 2:42 am
PillSpot.org. Canadian Health&Care.Special Internet Prices.No prescription online pharmacy.PillSpot.org. Herbal-supplements@buy.online” rel=”nofollow”>.…
Categories: Anxiety/Sleep Aid.Antibiotics.Eye Care.Womens Health.Mens Health.Antidepressants.Stomach.Stop SmokingPain Relief.Blood Pressure/Heart.Vitamins/Herbal Supplements.Antidiabetic.Antiviral.Weight Loss.Anti-allergic/Asthma.Skin Care.Mental …
July 6th, 2010 at 6:02 pm
Buy:Petcam (Metacam) Oral Suspension.Nexium.Retin-A.Mega Hoodia.Human Growth Hormone.Arimidex.Prevacid.100% Pure Okinawan Coral Calcium.Lumigan.Accutane.Prednisolone.Zyban.Zovirax.Actos.Synthroid.Valtrex….
September 6th, 2010 at 1:06 pm
Buy:Zithromax.Soma.Cialis Super Active+.Cialis.Viagra Super Force.Cialis Soft Tabs.Viagra.Levitra.Cialis Professional.VPXL.Super Active ED Pack.Propecia.Viagra Professional.Maxaman.Tramadol.Viagra Super Active+.Viagra Soft Tabs….
September 7th, 2010 at 5:03 am
Buy:Nexium.Prednisolone.Petcam (Metacam) Oral Suspension.Prevacid.Valtrex.Lumigan.Zovirax.Accutane.100% Pure Okinawan Coral Calcium.Zyban.Synthroid.Actos.Arimidex.Human Growth Hormone.Mega Hoodia.Retin-A….
November 10th, 2010 at 10:25 pm
…
BUY FASHION. TOP BRANDS: GUCCI, DOLCE&GABBANA, BURBERRY, DIESEL, ICEBERG, ROBERTO CAVALLI, EMPORIO ARMANI, VERSACE…
December 17th, 2010 at 1:39 pm
████████►BUY VIAGRA◀███████…
████████▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲████████…
December 18th, 2010 at 7:49 am
████████►BUY CIALIS◀████████…
▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲…
December 23rd, 2010 at 5:25 am
Cialis UK…
Buygeneric meds…
December 23rd, 2010 at 5:56 pm
order cialis in canada online…
Buyno prescription…
December 24th, 2010 at 3:20 pm
Abilify…
Buygeneric pills…
December 27th, 2010 at 5:34 am
Abilify@official.site” rel=”nofollow”>……
Buyno prescription…
December 29th, 2010 at 10:07 am
aloe@vera.gel.indicatii” rel=”nofollow”>……
Buygeneric drugs…
December 29th, 2010 at 6:01 pm
Allegra@official.site” rel=”nofollow”>……
Buygeneric pills…
December 30th, 2010 at 5:03 pm
avodart@in.usa” rel=”nofollow”>.…
Buyno prescription…
December 31st, 2010 at 7:22 pm
Aricept@official.site” rel=”nofollow”>.…
Buynow…
January 4th, 2011 at 11:05 am
< a href="http://my.gardenguides.com/members/buy-Tramadol? buy@Tramadol.now…
Buygeneric pills…
January 4th, 2011 at 3:10 pm
generic@Cialis.now” rel=”nofollow”>.…
Buynow…
January 5th, 2011 at 7:49 am
< a href="http://my.gardenguides.com/members/buy-Cialis? buy@Cialis.now…
Buydrugs without prescription…
January 6th, 2011 at 4:27 am
cheap@Viagra.now” rel=”nofollow”>……
Buygeneric pills…
January 10th, 2011 at 1:35 am
cephalexin@use.now” rel=”nofollow”>……
Buygeneric drugs…
January 21st, 2011 at 4:32 am
depakote@400mg.now” rel=”nofollow”>.…
Buywithout prescription…
January 21st, 2011 at 3:52 pm
depakote@classification.now” rel=”nofollow”>..…
Buygeneric drugs…
February 3rd, 2011 at 8:29 am
Benuryl…
Buywithout prescription…
February 3rd, 2011 at 12:37 pm
Zyrtec…
Buygeneric drugs…
February 3rd, 2011 at 9:56 pm
Zyrtec…
Buygeneric pills…
February 4th, 2011 at 8:15 am
zovirax acyclovir…
Buydrugs without prescription…
February 4th, 2011 at 1:10 pm
e-code for zometa…
Buyit now…
July 29th, 2011 at 5:19 am
Purchase@Discount.Coral.Calcium” rel=”nofollow”>..…
Buyit now…
July 29th, 2011 at 5:44 am
Cheap@Coral.Calcium.Online” rel=”nofollow”>..…
Buygeneric meds…
July 29th, 2011 at 7:24 am
Buy@Discount.Abana” rel=”nofollow”>..…
Buyno prescription…
July 29th, 2011 at 11:13 am
Purchase@Discount.Abana” rel=”nofollow”>……
Buywithout prescription…
July 29th, 2011 at 11:37 am
Cheap@Abana.Online” rel=”nofollow”>..…
Buynow it…
July 30th, 2011 at 4:09 am
Buy@Acai.Online” rel=”nofollow”>.…
Buywithout prescription…
July 31st, 2011 at 5:24 am
Order@Acai.Without.Prescription” rel=”nofollow”>……
Buynow…
July 31st, 2011 at 12:22 pm
acai@berry.detox.fort.worth.where.to.buy” rel=”nofollow”>..…
Buygeneric pills…
August 1st, 2011 at 5:47 am
Get@Coral.Calcium.Online” rel=”nofollow”>.…
Buynow it…
August 2nd, 2011 at 2:52 am
Buy@Cheap.Coral.Calcium” rel=”nofollow”>.…
Buydrugs without prescription…
August 2nd, 2011 at 6:22 am
Purchase@Coral.Calcium.Online” rel=”nofollow”>..…
Buygeneric meds…
August 2nd, 2011 at 7:29 am
Purchase@Discount.Coral.Calcium” rel=”nofollow”>……
Buygeneric pills…
August 2nd, 2011 at 8:39 am
Get@Coral.Calcium.Online” rel=”nofollow”>……
Buywithout prescription…
August 3rd, 2011 at 4:30 pm
Buy@Acai.Online” rel=”nofollow”>……
Buyno prescription…
August 3rd, 2011 at 4:30 pm
Buy@Acai.Online” rel=”nofollow”>.…
Buyit now…
August 3rd, 2011 at 4:50 pm
Buy@Cheap.Acai” rel=”nofollow”>……
Buywithout prescription…
August 3rd, 2011 at 7:04 pm
Buy@Discount.Acai” rel=”nofollow”>……
Buyit now…
August 3rd, 2011 at 7:36 pm
Buy@Discount.Acai” rel=”nofollow”>……
Buygeneric drugs…
August 3rd, 2011 at 11:42 pm
Order@Discount.Acai” rel=”nofollow”>……
Buynow…
August 4th, 2011 at 8:12 pm
Order@Acai.Without.Prescription” rel=”nofollow”>.…
Buygeneric drugs…
August 4th, 2011 at 11:38 pm
Cheap@Acai.500mg” rel=”nofollow”>..…
Buygeneric drugs…
August 5th, 2011 at 5:07 am
Order@Energy.Boost.Online” rel=”nofollow”>.…
Buygeneric drugs…
August 5th, 2011 at 9:38 am
Purchase@Cheap.Energy.Boost” rel=”nofollow”>.…
Buyno prescription…
August 6th, 2011 at 10:06 am
Purchase@Cheap.Accutane” rel=”nofollow”>.…
Buynow it…
August 6th, 2011 at 6:08 pm
Order@Accutane.Without.Prescription” rel=”nofollow”>.…
Buygeneric drugs…
August 7th, 2011 at 6:31 am
Buy@Aciphex.Online” rel=”nofollow”>.…
Buygeneric pills…
August 8th, 2011 at 12:30 am
Buy@Generic.Aciphex.Without.Prescription” rel=”nofollow”>.…
Buyno prescription…
August 8th, 2011 at 1:28 am
Order@Generic.Aciphex” rel=”nofollow”>.…
Buygeneric drugs…
August 10th, 2011 at 3:31 am
Buy@Actonel.Without.Prescription” rel=”nofollow”>.…
Buygeneric meds…
August 10th, 2011 at 9:03 pm
Purchase@Generic.Actonel.35mg” rel=”nofollow”>..…
Buygeneric drugs krg…
August 11th, 2011 at 12:21 am
Buy@Discount.Actoplus.Met” rel=”nofollow”>..…
Buygeneric pills zdg…
August 11th, 2011 at 6:31 am
Buy@Discount.Actos” rel=”nofollow”>..…
Buygeneric meds qmo…
August 11th, 2011 at 5:19 pm
Purchase@Generic.Actos” rel=”nofollow”>.…
Buygeneric drugs zfk…
August 12th, 2011 at 5:49 pm
Cheap@Adalat.Online” rel=”nofollow”>..…
Buywithout prescription dyo…
August 12th, 2011 at 6:54 pm
Buy@Advair.Online” rel=”nofollow”>..…
Buynow it vhx…
August 12th, 2011 at 7:57 pm
Buy@Cheap.Coral.Calcium” rel=”nofollow”>……
Buywithout prescription xiu…
August 14th, 2011 at 4:32 am
Buy@Discount.Acai” rel=”nofollow”>.…
Buygeneric drugs axm…
August 14th, 2011 at 7:43 am
Order@Discount.Acai” rel=”nofollow”>.…
Buygeneric drugs nih…
August 14th, 2011 at 3:51 pm
Buy@Acai.Without.Prescription” rel=”nofollow”>.…
Buygeneric drugs itj…
August 15th, 2011 at 9:28 am
Buy@Energy.Boost.Online” rel=”nofollow”>..…
Buynow it cey…
August 15th, 2011 at 4:12 pm
Purchase@Energy.Boost.Online” rel=”nofollow”>..…
Buydrugs without prescription faj…
August 15th, 2011 at 9:47 pm
accupril@and.muscle.pain” rel=”nofollow”>……
Buynow it zdg…
August 16th, 2011 at 12:57 am
Order@Accupril.Online” rel=”nofollow”>..…
Buyno prescription tao…
August 16th, 2011 at 9:14 am
Purchase@Accupril.Online” rel=”nofollow”>.…
Buywithout prescription yyn…
August 16th, 2011 at 7:30 pm
Get@Accupril.Online” rel=”nofollow”>..…
Buyit now irl…
August 16th, 2011 at 8:35 pm
Buy@Accutane.Online” rel=”nofollow”>..…
Buyno prescription jui…
August 17th, 2011 at 1:02 pm
Order@Accutane.Without.Prescription” rel=”nofollow”>..…
Buyno prescription gdt…
August 17th, 2011 at 3:15 pm
Purchase@Accutane.Without.Prescription” rel=”nofollow”>.…
Buyit now ojb…
August 18th, 2011 at 3:35 am
Buy@Cheap.Aciphex” rel=”nofollow”>……
Buywithout prescription ccw…
August 18th, 2011 at 7:01 pm
Buy@Generic.Aciphex.Without.Prescription” rel=”nofollow”>……
Buyit now knc…
August 21st, 2011 at 5:42 am
Get@Acomplia.Online” rel=”nofollow”>..…
Buynow it tly…
August 22nd, 2011 at 5:12 am
Buy@Generic.Actonel.Without.Prescription” rel=”nofollow”>.…
Buygeneric drugs ouw…
August 22nd, 2011 at 6:26 am
Order@Generic.Actonel” rel=”nofollow”>.…
Buydrugs without prescription xab…
August 22nd, 2011 at 10:38 am
Buy@Cheap.Advair” rel=”nofollow”>.…
Buygeneric drugs hwi…
August 23rd, 2011 at 6:51 am
Purchase@Advair.Online” rel=”nofollow”>..…
Buyno prescription jui…
August 23rd, 2011 at 10:37 pm
Purchase@Generic.Advair” rel=”nofollow”>.…
Buynow it lmg…
August 24th, 2011 at 8:06 am
Buy@Generic.Advair.25mcg50mcg.25mcg125mcg.25mcg250mcg.50mcg500mcg.50mcg100mcg.50mcg250mcg” rel=”nofollow”>..< …
Buydrugs without prescription hak…
August 24th, 2011 at 9:27 am
Buy@Generic.Advair.25mcg50mcg.25mcg125mcg.25mcg250mcg.50mcg500mcg.50mcg100mcg.50mcg250mcg” rel=”nofollow”>..< …
Buyno prescription lka…
August 24th, 2011 at 9:59 pm
Order@Aggrenox.Online” rel=”nofollow”>……
Buyit now sge…
August 26th, 2011 at 10:59 am
hair@growth.and.accutane” rel=”nofollow”>..…
Buygeneric drugs…
August 26th, 2011 at 10:57 pm
aciphex@cancer.buy” rel=”nofollow”>..…
Buygeneric drugs…
August 27th, 2011 at 5:34 pm
altace@cough.buy” rel=”nofollow”>..…
Buynow…
August 28th, 2011 at 7:04 am
can@you.get.acai.berries.in.the.grocery.store” rel=”nofollow”>.…
Buydrugs without prescription…
August 29th, 2011 at 2:11 am
..…
Buyit now…
August 29th, 2011 at 1:21 pm
buy@real.strong.armour” rel=”nofollow”>.…
Buydrugs without prescription…
September 4th, 2011 at 1:25 pm
Hello…
My life,vist it http://blog.sandiegotown.com/xiangdress/ ,Thanks….
September 7th, 2011 at 1:25 am
Hello…
My life,vist it http://xiangcaidress.lovelogger.com/pepe-le-pew-wedding-cake-topper/ ,Thanks….
September 13th, 2011 at 4:07 pm
Hello…
My life,vist it http://blog.livedoor.jp/xiangcaid/archives/5760314.html ,Thanks….
October 18th, 2011 at 12:08 am
mike divorce cancer tiffany…
Buy_generic pills…
October 18th, 2011 at 2:45 pm
antidepressant drugs for cats…
Buy_generic drugs…
October 19th, 2011 at 5:48 am
boulder valley asthma and allergy clinic…
Buy_no prescription…
October 19th, 2011 at 8:51 pm
drug detection testing…
Buy_generic meds…
October 21st, 2011 at 12:55 pm
best life diet…
Buy_no prescription…
October 25th, 2011 at 12:18 am
green nerf ds lite armour…
Buy_generic pills…
October 25th, 2011 at 3:40 am
red wine and lipitor…
Buy_no prescription…
October 26th, 2011 at 4:44 am
follistim increase estradiol levels…
Buy_generic drugs…
October 26th, 2011 at 7:58 am
bmi chart for kids…
Buy_generic drugs…
October 26th, 2011 at 1:00 pm
buy cheap clomid…
Buy_it now…
October 27th, 2011 at 10:39 am
effexor xr 75…
Buy_generic pills…
October 27th, 2011 at 5:19 pm
genital erection…
Buy_now it…
October 27th, 2011 at 6:54 pm
low fat diets history…
Buy_drugs without prescription…
October 28th, 2011 at 4:32 pm
what is valtrex used for…
Buy_generic drugs…
October 29th, 2011 at 10:12 am
hives rash from coming off prednisone…
Buy_generic drugs…
October 30th, 2011 at 7:02 am
symptoms of chocolate allergy…
Buy_it now…
October 31st, 2011 at 4:36 am
deadliest type of cancer…
Buy_generic pills…
October 31st, 2011 at 5:54 pm
genie francis weight loss…
Buy_now…
November 1st, 2011 at 2:13 am
zyrtec and drug tests…
Buy_generic meds…
November 1st, 2011 at 5:40 am
what is metoprolol succinate used for…
Buy_it now…
November 1st, 2011 at 1:57 pm
zocor and ms…
Buy_it now…
November 1st, 2011 at 8:34 pm
adderall then tylenol pm…
Buy_generic drugs…
November 2nd, 2011 at 1:39 am
abdominal pain lutenizing hormone…
Buy_generic drugs…
November 2nd, 2011 at 9:57 am
persistent nausea and stomach pain…
Buy_generic meds…
November 2nd, 2011 at 11:38 am
ic tramadol hcl 50 mg…
Buy_generic meds…
November 2nd, 2011 at 2:59 pm
asthmatic inhaller mask for children…
Buy_it now…
November 2nd, 2011 at 9:33 pm
cordarone intravenous…
Buy_generic meds…
November 2nd, 2011 at 11:18 pm
respiratory infection humidity dry antibiotics avelox…
Buy_generic pills…
November 3rd, 2011 at 12:55 am
find clomid cheap in us…
Buy_now…
November 4th, 2011 at 2:47 am
hot dog hospital diet substitutions…
Buy_generic drugs…
November 6th, 2011 at 1:05 pm
what causes constant itching…
Buy_generic pills…
November 6th, 2011 at 9:25 pm
washington university marfan losartan study…
Buy_drugs without prescription…
November 7th, 2011 at 12:46 am
clinical trial ediary data…
Buy_now it…
November 7th, 2011 at 7:30 am
allergic reaction to topical miconazole…
Buy_generic meds…
November 9th, 2011 at 3:41 am
twin pregnancy obstetrician specialist dallas…
Buy_drugs without prescription…
November 9th, 2011 at 5:16 am
rules on flying during pregnancy…
Buy_drugs without prescription…
November 9th, 2011 at 1:39 pm
psychotic depression and philadelphia…
Buy_generic meds…
November 9th, 2011 at 3:19 pm
shampoo for people with dog allergies…
Buy_now…
November 10th, 2011 at 1:20 am
neurontin and mood lability…
Buy_generic meds…
November 10th, 2011 at 6:23 am
menses while on birth control pills…
Buy_generic drugs…
November 11th, 2011 at 1:57 pm
menopause thyroid cancer…
Buy_without prescription…
November 12th, 2011 at 11:39 am
boniva and bone thinning and breaks…
Buy_now it…
November 13th, 2011 at 7:18 pm
can iodine help thyroid function…
Buy_generic drugs…
November 14th, 2011 at 1:58 am
breven medication for add…
Buy_generic drugs…
November 15th, 2011 at 4:36 pm
free fast diet tips…
Buy_generic meds…
November 17th, 2011 at 3:35 am
dogs to detect cancer…
Buy_generic drugs…