During the worst years of apartheid, from 1990 to 1994, in only four years, there were 14,000 casualties and 22,000 injuries. Although blacks were the vast majority of South Africa from 1948 to 1994, they only allocated thirteen percent of all land and had significantly less doctors and teachers per person. Kaffir Boy by Mark Mathabane, also known as Johannes, takes place in South Africa where he grew up under the laws of apartheid with his family. Mathabane and his family lived in a two room shack where him and his many siblings had to sleep on the floor. They did not make very much money and were not able to afford enough food, but fortunately Johannes and his siblings were able to go to school and get an education. Today Mathabane lives
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With the money Johannes’ father made, he used most of it to gamble and drink. Therefore, they were not able to afford much food, clothing, or furniture. Mathabane and his family had to find a cheap source of food. On multiple occasions they settled on something horrific, Johannes clarified, “We had no money, so we settled for blood, which was free” (Mathabane 107). Although they cooked and simmered the blood, this was still repulsive for all of them. This was their only source of the vitamins and minerals they need to survive at the time, so they had to deal with it or have nothing. Eventually, the blood was not free anymore and they could not even afford that. They had to subside the amount of food they had each and everyday. Not eating enough causes many problems, Mathabane proclaims, “A few weeks later George and Florah came down with a mysterious illness, which left them emaciated and lethargic, their stomachs so distended that i thought they would burst . . . My mother did not have one hundred cents to take them to the clinic” (Mathabane 69). Luckily, Mathabane’s grandmother came to visit and had money to take George and Florah to the clinic, and there more money was required to continue treatment. They were deathly sick and needed to professional care. Johannes’ grandmother came up with the all the money needed and slowly George and Florah overcame their
With the money Johannes’ father made, he used most of it to gamble and drink. Therefore, they were not able to afford much food, clothing, or furniture. Mathabane and his family had to find a cheap source of food. On multiple occasions they settled on something horrific, Johannes clarified, “We had no money, so we settled for blood, which was free” (Mathabane 107). Although they cooked and simmered the blood, this was still repulsive for all of them. This was their only source of the vitamins and minerals they need to survive at the time, so they had to deal with it or have nothing. Eventually, the blood was not free anymore and they could not even afford that. They had to subside the amount of food they had each and everyday. Not eating enough causes many problems, Mathabane proclaims, “A few weeks later George and Florah came down with a mysterious illness, which left them emaciated and lethargic, their stomachs so distended that i thought they would burst . . . My mother did not have one hundred cents to take them to the clinic” (Mathabane 69). Luckily, Mathabane’s grandmother came to visit and had money to take George and Florah to the clinic, and there more money was required to continue treatment. They were deathly sick and needed to professional care. Johannes’ grandmother came up with the all the money needed and slowly George and Florah overcame their