The story discusses racial attitudes in Mozambique long ago, when whites saw themselves as superior to blacks. A teacher tells his students that blacks were better than whites, which went against the common belief at the time that whites were nice and clean while blacks were only fit to wash hands and feet. Not all agreed with these racist views, as one woman, Dona Estifania, disagreed with the mistreatment of blacks as slaves. In the end, the hands of blacks are described as being the same as the hands of whites.

1. The Hands of
the Blacks
By Luis Bernardo Honwana

2. One day, teacher said…

3. Father
Cristiano

4. Blacks were better than us

5. Praying in secret

6. Dona Dores

7. Senhur Antones
- the coca-cola man

8. Long ago, many years ago..
Jesus Crist
Virgin Mary
Peter

9. Angels in heaven

10. Hold some clay and…

11. Hung them in chimneys

12. Black as coal

13. Senhor Frias & Senhor Antones

14. Lake in heaven

15. People were nice & white

16. Blacks wash only their hands and
feet

17. Dona Estifania didn’t agree…

18. slaves

19. Hands of blacks are the same as
of those white ….

21. The end..