The Role Of Apartheid In Mark Mathabane's Kaffir Boy

The phrase catch 22 is the idea that no matter what, a situation will never change. For the colored citizens of South Africa this was exactly how it felt. Even when they had opportunities to get ahead they were stopped by inability to buy the proper papers or permits. In the case of Mark Mathabane as a reader I learned about his life under Apartheid. In Mark’s autobiography Kaffir Boy, his ticket out of Apartheid was through tennis and his education. By looking at the hardships black citizens of South africa faced, it becomes clear the greatest challenges were lack of money, education, and conflicting cultural beliefs.

First off, as a reader It was prevalent that Marks family’s problems all root back to one thing, lack of money. Throughout …show more content…
There are some who follow the tribal laws and traditions, while others follow along with christianity and other religions. Mark’s father constantly would try and make him partake in tribal rituals. This began Mark and his father 's problems. Mark began to resent his father for making him partake. “ I told my mother that I hated him and promised her i would kill him when I grew up.” (pg.33). Mark begins to resent his father for trying to force him into the tribal life style. Mark also talks about how his mother switches into christianity which Mark believes that it 's simply because she wants something to believe in. So as a reader we quickly see this as a problem when Mark’s parents believe different things. Such as when Mark is sick and his father wants to take him to the witch doctor but Mark’s mother wants to take him to the clinic. Mark at one point doesn’t know which one healed him better. Another example would be how it was difficult for Mark 's parents because they are from different tribes so they shouldn’t have been allowed to marry. This meant they couldn’t get the permits to be able to even live in Alexandra. Which in Mark’s younger years caused many police raids. “ My mother explained that my father’s relatives would not allow us to move in with any of her relatives because according to tribal marriage customs we were my father 's property.” (pg.43). Mark’s mother later thinks about leaving his father because of his gambling and drinking problems but due to the same tribal law she is unable to. This was a struggle for Mark and his siblings. Mark finds peace from the cultural clashing in his household and community through his education and tennis and in the end, after all the hardships he grew up with. He made it to America and was