The
Power of One by Bryce Courtenay.
Fiction, 369pgs. This is a favorite of a colleague and friend of mine,
Sandra Goodrich. I like to read people’s favorite books to see what all the
fuss is about. Set at the outbreak of WWII in South Africa, it is the story of
a young boy named Peekay who must navigate life in a nation with a very complex
history. A history and culture that affects his everyday existence. I read this
first, which was good because it gave me a strong sense of the history and
culture of South Africa.
Kaffir
Boy by Mark Mathabane. Autobiography, 399pgs. First, DO NOT ever use the
word “Kaffir” anywhere in Africa. It is the same as using the N-word in the US.
I had an issue at customs at Tambo Airport when I was searching for my boarding
pass, and threw this book on the counter. The customs agent did not understand
why the book was titled as it was, and felt obligated to educate me on use of
this word. This book DETAILS the life of Johannes “Mark” Mathabane who grew up
in one of the poorest townships, Alexandra, outside of Johannesburg in the
1960’s and 70’s. This is an unrestrained biography of apartheid as seen through
the eyes of one child and one family. The
de facto and de jure racism that black Africans faced everyday under apartheid
made me cry. I am amazed that any human being could withstand and survive in
that environment.
Long Walk to
Freedom by Nelson Madela. Autobiography, 656pgs. I did not meet one person
in Africa, white or black, that did not hold Mandela up as a hero. Long Walk to
Freedom is the story of an activist and his movement. I like a book that
describes the episodes in one’s life where a lesson was learned. I guess that is
possible to recall these events when one has 27 years in jail to reflect one’s
life. What struck me most was how long this struggle, to end Apartheid,
lasted…1912-1994, with first democratic elections in South Africa. Also, like
most social movements, the world associates a movement with one person. In this
case, the end of apartheid is credited to Mandela, but in fact there were many
people fighting to end apartheid. His celebrity was invented as a highly
successful “Free Mandela” media campaign by the African National Congress (ANC).
This book also reinforced the harsh sacrifices an activist’s family must
endure.
The juxtaposition of reading three books about the same
country from different perspectives, while visiting that country gave me comprehensive
insight into the history and culture of a people. The Power of One gave a glimpse into
colonial South Africa, while Mathabane’s and Madella’s respective biographies
showed different hues of the policy of Apartheid.
