An autobiography of Mark Mathabane.

2. the action or state of moving
or being moved apart.
Guess the definition of the word:
Apartheid
is a restriction policy for
people, community or a
country to stay where they
are.
Another word for a south
African citizen.
is a policy that is founded on
the idea of separating people
based on racial or ethnic
criteria.
a)
c)
b)
d)

4. used as an insulting and
contemptuous term for a
Black African.
Guess the definition of the word:
Kaffir
is associated especially with the
era of apartheid, when it was
commonly used as an offensive
racial slur.
All of the above.
a member of a group of
southern African Bantu-
speaking people.
a)
c)
b)
d)

5. Presented by: Jarence Joy Luban
the kaffir boy
by mark mathabane
LIT 15 THF: 1:00-2:30 PM

6. Author
Mark Mathabane is a South
African author and human rights
activist. He was born on October
18, 1960, in Alexandra, a black
township in Johannesburg, South
Africa. Mathabane is best known
for his memoir Kaffir Boy,
published in 1986, which depicts
his life growing up in apartheid
South Africa.

7. Place:
The story is set on a
bus to Johannesburg
and at Mrs. Smith's
house in a white
neighborhood.
Setting
Time:
Apartheid-era
of South
Africa.
Significance:
To show a vivid
description on the
life experiences
of the narrator.

8. Mark Mathabane
characters
Granny Mrs. Smith
Clyde
White schoolchildren

9. The narrator in the selection.
Mark Mathabane represents the black
African experience in South Africa during
apartheid. He is fascinated by the wealth
and luxury of the white world, which
symbolizes the stark contrast between the
living conditions of black and white South
Africans. In a real-life context, the narrator
could symbolize the struggle for equality
and social justice for black Africans during
apartheid.
Young
boy/pickaninny

10. Accompanies the narrator and works in the house
of Mrs. Smith
Granny represents the older generation of black
Africans who may have become resigned to
their circumstances and accepted their inferior
status in society. She is content to work in Mrs.
Smith's garden and does not challenge the
status quo. In a real-life context, Granny could
symbolize the lack of agency and power that
older black Africans had during apartheid.
Granny

11. Mrs. Smith represents the white
South African elite who have
access to wealth, education, and
privilege. She is dismissive of the
narrator and refers to him as a
"clever pickaninny." In a real-life
context, Mrs. Smith could
symbolize the white supremacist
attitudes and actions of many
white South Africans during
apartheid.
Mrs. Smith

12. Clyde represents the younger
generation of white South Africans
who may not have fully internalized
the racism and discrimination of
their elders. Initially, he dislikes the
narrator but eventually warms up to
him. In a real-life context, Clyde
could symbolize the potential for
change and progress among
younger white South Africans who
reject the racist attitudes of their
parents and grandparents.
Clyde

13. white
schoolchildren
The white schoolchildren represent the
stark education gap between black and
white South Africans during apartheid.
They have well-equipped schools and
facilities, while black African schools are
underfunded and poorly resourced. In a
real-life context, the white
schoolchildren could symbolize the
systemic inequality and discrimination
that black Africans faced in education
during apartheid.

14. plot
The narrator is on a bus to
Johannesburg and is fascinated by the
wealth and luxury of the white world.
Upon arriving at Mrs. Smith's house
with Granny, the narrator helps with
gardening while Mrs. Smith goes to
play tennis.
The narrator interacts with Mrs. Smith's
grandson, Clyde, who initially dislikes
him but eventually warms up to him.
The use of derogatory language was
highlighted to show the power of
language in perpetuating
discrimination and prejudice and so
the narrator challenged himself to
learn a new word per day.

15. Themes
1.
2.
- Racial inequality and discrimination.
- Education gap between white and black South Africans.
- Language and its power to perpetuate discrimination and prejudice

16. The well-equipped schools and
facilities of the white
schoolchildren symbolize the
education gap between white
and black South Africans.
Symbolisms
The term "Kaffirs" symbolizes the
derogatory and discriminatory
language used to refer to black
Africans.
The Passbook/ID represents
how they have no freedom in
their own county.
The wealth and luxury of the
white world symbolizes racial
inequality and privilege.
2
3
4
1

17. Author’s style and point of
view
Author's style:
The author uses vivid descriptions to illustrate the stark contrast
between the white world and the black African experience.
Point of view:
The story is told from the perspective of the narrator, a young black
African.

18. Assessment:
Through writing his memoir, “The Kaffir Boy”. What is he trying to make
you understand or what is the message that he wants to tell the world?
(5PTS)

19. AY NALPASEN!
-Thank you-