Mark Mathabane, Kaffir Boy author, on his mother's courage

[hero1345679]

Your words inspires me!

[ebonics4everyone]

British cunts spread racism globally. They invented plantations and religious intolerance in Ireland. They invented slavery in British America which caused the US civil war. Then the UK turned it's evil eye to Africa sowing injustice seeds from Capetown to Cairo. In Asia, the British smuggled heroin into Hong Kong and killed Ghandhi in India. In South Africa, the British created Apartheid. In Palestine, the British caused Jews and Muslims fight. BRITAIN GO HOME. Signed, the bloody wog.

[PUFFDADDYJC]

great book, love it!!! my teacher is Mr. lee at samohi, were going to write letters to mark when we finish the book

[cdpjudith]

I just got through reading Kaffir Boy. What an eye-opener! I really want to read Miryam's book too. God bless the Mathabane family and all person who have had to endure oppression. I am a white American, so I haven't endured oppression because of race, but I am also a woman religious in the Catholic church where only men are offered positions of leadership. It's really nothing compared to Mark Mathabane's life...nothing...but for us, it's hard.

[ForeverUs]

Wow, Gail in the flesh responding to a comment on a Youtube video. When I first read this book in 7th grade I was so touched I remember hand-writing an emotionally charged letter to Mark and was disappointed when I got no response. I hold both Mark and Gail upon a pedestal that they'd never ask to be put upon. What an amazing life those two have led, my only regret thus far in life is not meeting them. Maybe someday...

[DannieNicole]

Can someone explain something to me, I was reading Kaffir Boy for the second time and at the beginning of chapter 16 his mother has a child a girl named Merriam, previously she had had Maria, Florah, George and Johannes, but at another point when she gives birth to Dinah she is said to be pregnant with her fifth child and I don't believe that Merriam is mentioned again. What happened to her? Am I just confused at some of the reading?

[Mathabanelectures]

Good catch. You are an astute reader. The birth order is: Johannes, Florah, George, Maria, Merriam, Linah and Dinah. Merriam later told her life story to her brother, who wrote her story in another book called Miriam's Song. The spelling of her name changed from Merriam to Miriam when she came to the U.S. to become a nurse. I know because I am her sister-in-law, Gail.

[DannieNicole]

Thank you, it must be really great to have Johannes as a brother-in-law. Or perhaps your husband?

[Mathabanelectures]

Thanks. That's right, Mark is my husband.

[teddiepoh92]

@Mathabanelectures OMG OMG OMG!!!! I have to step aside and really credit you as a human being. You are such a generous and strong woman to stand by Mark's side and be so welcoming to his family. God bless your heart. I just finished reading "Miriam's Song" today and I was so moved. You have a very big heart and the Matahabanes are truly blessed to have you in their lives. I ask, do you know what happened to Miriam after the biography was written? Did she become a nurse? How is her son?

[xcxTwilightxcx]

i love your book :)

[jadama27]

poverty was created in south africa and else where in the world...perhaps they should have just left the damn dark continent alone...not only that but think about all else that poverty breeds? it does not produce bad people it produces an oppressed people who try to find a way to make ends meet...hunger begets violence, (and i mean all types of hunger not just the one we validate through eating...)

[brizzibutch]

Screw that, I wanna read Honkey Boy!

[jamesoffutt]

I remember reading one part in Kaffir boy were this White Supremist believes that our Heavenly Father created Blacks and White to be eternal enemies, and gave them aparthied as a way of keeping South Africa a "pure Christian Race". Stupid.

[Warrensdisplay]

So you believe everything thats written in a book?

[jadama27]

yes and also how blacks were depicted...black skin equaled the devil while white skin equaled pure and good...it is very upsetting...the notion will and has been forever embedded in the minds of the ignorant...

[tantjies]

'treat others with love and kindness' - no ubuntu in south africa then! There is no respect for human life or morals. from an ex-patriotic south african.

[olduvaisampson]

Am reading Kaffir Boy right now. Read Marriage in Black and White about ten years ago. It was great to hear you talk!

Did you know by the way that now Ubuntu is also an operating system?

[JohnElliotSmith]

boo hoo, fucking tool

[Kommander15]

I love your book

[gschneider89]

You are very outstanding