Literacy Analysis: Mark Mathabanes Kaffir Boy - Essay Example

Literacy Analysis: Mark Mathabane’s “Kaffir Boy” Introduction Man is a social being. His interactions with those around him bring out the most human he can be. Indeed, man and his development can, and is, affected by his surroundings. Still, in a very similar way, man himself can influence those around him. This humanity and influence of man is perhaps one of the things that are most powerfully portrayed in every work of literature ever written. The words penned by numerous authors throughout the centuries have shown people the best – and the worst – that humans can be. Certainly, the humanity – as well as the brutality –of man is powerfully displayed in Mark Mathabane’s autobiography, “Kaffir Boy: The True Story of a Black Youth’s Coming of Age in Apartheid South Africa”. In this moving story of a young boy aspiring for a bright future while going through hell, Mathabane beautifully rendered a portrait of how society can affect the individual and, more importantly, how an individual can affect society. In relation, this paper will then explore the two-way interaction of the individual and the society, by looking at the experiences related by Mathabane in “Kaffir Boy”. Moreover, this paper will explore the answer to two questions: “How does society impact the individual”, and “how does the individual impact society?” Most importantly, this paper will attempt to prove, through an analysis of “Kaffir Boy” that through positive or negative instances and actions, the person and the society can ultimately influence each other towards betterment and progress. Society and Its Brutality As much as man is molded by the things around him, these things may not necessarily be good and pure. Indeed, sometimes, society can be the most evil nemesis for an individual trying to find himself in the world. This evil alone is seen in the novel’s title: Kaffir Boy. The word Kaffir is derived from the Arabic kāfir, meaning “infidel” (Merriam-Webster, Incorporated n.p.). It is a derogatory term assigned to blacks, and was most commonly used by the whites in South Africa to disparage black residents. The presence and the use of such a term show the inequalities that the society, as something that is formed by a collection of individuals, breeds. Although numerous sociologists promote such inequalities, even suggesting that conflicts are necessary for societal functions, the different strata existing in the apartheid world show how society can be so brutal. This brutality is in fact supported by two important aspects of society: law and culture (tribalism). The law involves the different rules, norms, and regulations that dictated how a man should behave and act. In Mark’s childhood years, laws were enforced by the Peri-Urban, a group of abusive, sadistic, and unorganized policemen who supposedly enforce law and order. According to Mark, the Peri-Urban functioned through raids to “’clean up’ the neighbourhood” (1.11). Norms in colonial South Africa also involved surprise raids from the Peri-Urban, poverty, crimes, and starvation. The rules and the norms set by dominant members of the society, especially apartheid, make society a formidable force that can destroy the individual. Similarly culture, specifically tribalism, is another aspect by which society impacts the individual. Although Mark was proud of his heritage and customs, he recognized that in order to be free from the apartheid system, he had to risk losing his cultural identity in embracing the more modern ideals and education of the white world. However, his father’s insistence in continuing the tribal rituals of South Africa showed that culture may somehow negatively affect the individual in terms of progress, wherein tradition hampers the individual in moving towards modernization and other forms of enlightenment. Society and Its Humanity To be human means to be humane; and to be humane means to be compassionate and caring. Thus, in as much as the human society can be brutal, it can also be humane. This fact was most portrayed in Part II of the book, “Passport to Knowledge”(21.1). Although the sad state of the African community still pervaded this chapter, the humanity of the society was first shown to the reader in the form of education, and the opportunity of accessing it. Humanity is also shown by the author in the form of the Smiths, Americans who were a rare part of the society who remained open towards equality. Education is a glimpse of the humanity of society because of its promise and potentials. The establishment of education, specifically academies and universities, shows a side of society that nurtures minds and venerates order and enhancement. Through education, society affects the individual by improving him, by opening his mind to thousands of possibilities, and by giving him an opportunity to rise above the brutal side of the society. Society also affects the individual through education by giving him knowledge to excel, to improve, and to make those around him better. By doing so, the individual is also able to affect the society. Moreover, through education, open-mindedness is also cultivated, which was something that was shown by the Smiths. Mrs. Smith was very welcoming of the black population, providing every support possible for Mark, especially comics, books, clothing, and others. Indeed, when one of her own children belittled Mark, Mrs. Smith admonished the child and wondered what the country was going to come to, as long as the “damn uncivilized Boers from Pretoria teach children [racism]” (30.95). In addition, humanity is also seen in the form of Mark’s mother, who encouraged him to study and rise above their situation. By telling Mark that “not all white people are bad” (20.12), she was able to show that the society is not pure evil. The Individual’s Transcendence of the Society In the last part of the novel, Part III: Passport to Freedom, Mark finally brings the reader to realize that the individual can transcend the horrors thrown to him by the society. Although once again wrought with pain and suffering, Mark’s quest towards freedom in Part III of the novel showed that through constant effort and perseverance, the individual can rise above the brutality of society. More importantly, by transcending society and its brutality, the individual can begin to influence the society and begin much-needed changes. One of the ways by which the individual can affect the society is through hope. Hope was shown by Mark’s mother when he continuously encouraged him to study, and it was again seen in Mark himself, who said that “unshakeable hope [is needed in] order to triumph in the end” (54.15). Through hope, Mark was able to persevere despite the numerous difficulties he experienced as he went through school and even as he began to work on his career as a tennis player. Ultimately, as well, it was hope that propelled him to seek better opportunities so that one day, he may help his family and help do something for his country (Hill 765). Another way by which the individual affects the society through transcendence is the improvement and the ripple effect. Improvement for Mark came in the form of education, the sport of tennis, and in the fact that he simply refused to be a part of the status quo of his society. Through improvement, change is initiated in the individual, and through change in the individuals, ripples of transformation also occur throughout the society. In addition, through change, the individual is able to garner resources and riches that help him transform the society’s concept of him. Most importantly, these changes or improvements made it possible for Mark to provide the reader a powerful example of the triumph of the human spirit of suffering, hate, oppression and brutality of the society. Mathabane’s Impact on Society The transcendence of the individual over the society can be most seen in the case of Mark Mathabane. He is also a powerful example of how an individual can impact the society by working towards the improvement of its systems and the abolition of the apartheid. Although his life in America was not detailed in Kaffir Boy, Mathabane strongly impacted the society in the said period of his life. In the prologue of Kaffir Boy, Mathabane mentioned that being in America has provided him the opportunity of “using the pen to fight against injustice and racism in my native land” (xi). Indeed, through his writings, Mathabane was able to open the eyes of the world to the real situation of South Africa, and to the real evils of the apartheid system. Through his writing, Mark Mathabane portrayed the difficulty of living through the apartheid, and the hundreds of oppression or limitations experienced by the black community. In the sequel of Kaffir Boy entitled “Kaffir Boy in America: An encounter with Apartheid”, Mathabane narrated his experiences after he arrived in America and began to learn the numerous ideals of the world. It is in this book that it was shown how Mathabane impacted the society. In the said book, it was revealed that after his autobiography became a best seller and people started to become interested in the ill effects of the apartheid system, he became an advocate for equality, education, and the abolition of racism. Mathabane also provided vital contributions to the society. Because of his books, he appeared in numerous shows, including the Oprah Winfrey Show, where he provided accounts and arguments on why the apartheid had to be abolished once and for all. He published numerous other essays and books that touch the conscience of his readers, and that forced many people to reconsider the support that they give on American business and governments in South Africa. He also won numerous awards for his works, and Mathabane has served as a speaker and resource person for apartheid, racism and equality. Most importantly, when he received a White House Fellowship in 1996-1997, Mathabane also impacted the society by helping design the education initiatives of then-president Bill Clinton. Conclusion In the end, “Kaffir Boy” has brought to light the fact that society does indeed affect the individual, and the individual does affect the society. The experiences of Mathabane showed that society, in all its brutality and humanity, affects the individual through rules and culture, as well as education and open-mindedness. The brutality of the society is observed in the harsh living conditions of the Alexandran ghetto, while its humanity is seen in its rare sections that value life and equality. More importantly, this writer was able to observe that the greatest traits an individual has that can influence society are hope and transcendence through perseverance. Through, hope, the individual tries to improve; and by doing so, he is able to transcend the brutal side of his society. Hope also fuels perseverance which in turn makes possible transcendence. From all of these, it can then be seen that a vital lesson of the novel is that it is essential for people to persevere, in order to achieve their dreams and aspirations. Most of all, this paper concludes that based on the story, through positive or negative instances and actions, the person and the society can ultimately influence each other towards betterment and progress. Works Cited Hill, Pamela Steed. "Critical Essay on Kaffir Boy." Galens, David. Nonfiction Classics for Students. Detroit: Gale / Cengage Learning, 2002. 762-765. Mathabane, Mark. Kaffir boy in America: an encounter with apartheid. New York: Scribner's, 1989. —. Kaffir Boy: The True Story of a Black Youth's Coming of Age in Apartheir South Africa. London: Pan Books, 1987. Merriam-Webster, Incorporated. "Kaffir." 2010. Merriam-Webster Dictionary.Web. Read More