Kaffir Boy in America [Paperback]

Having read the author's seminal work "Kaffir Boy", recounting the incredible hardships in the South African ghetto where he was raised, I was eager to learn more about how Mark Mathabane fared once he arrived in his so-called "promised land" and started the adjustment from a repressed third-world existence to one of opportunity and possibility in the US.

Two things struck me about this follow up account of his life which bear mentioning: the author continues with his unflinchingly honest style of revealing everything, good and bad, in his experience; and secondly, the adjustment was difficult, because of the obvious cultural differences (and some similarities) to South Africa, together with the author's intense personality (which could also be seen, arguably, as stubbornness). Mathabane is unquestionably well read, highly intelligent, highly motivated and has strong opinions. Those are not faults, although he does tend to be a little unnecessarily verbose at times (and this, despite him quoting writers who warn against such things); his opining and at times unwillingness to bend or compromise or adapt to others led him to change or discontinue college courses at least four times, and some would say, squander opportunities. That last point is in the end, probably unsustainable, since he has accomplished much, and succeeded beyond anyone's wildest dreams in reaching a wide and sympathetic audience for his story and work.

It is obvious that Mathabane, after having seen so much suffering and rising above it, does not want to be conventional, which led him to discontinue studies under scholarships at schools that most college students would covet the opportunity to attend. To his credit, he does not try to hide these issues, nor does he hide the, at times, incredulity and head-shaking from those well-meaning and intelligent friends, including Stan Smith and others, who question his decisions and direction.

Mathabane brought to light, at a very needed time, the struggles of South Africa under apartheid. I found him more compelling, more convincing and I felt more empathetic in reading his experiences in South Africa in "Kaffir Boy", than in his recounting of his new life in America in this book, although there are some good passages which shine light on how a form of apartheid, economic and power-oriented as much as racial, still exists in America today. In the end, people of various persuasions appear to have looked to Mathabane to argue their view, be it Christian, humanist, liberal or conservative. I don't think any one group is entirely comfortable with where he sits. It seems at times that he is a little conflicted about where his beliefs lie. It can be frustrating at times, but ultimately this is not a measured and resolute work of fiction, but a true story of this man's life, with all its faults, contradictions and accomplishments wrapped up together.

I agree with the previous reviewer that this was a big disappointment. After reading the amazing book Miriam's Song, I was looking forward to Mark's own story. Upon his arrival in America, he enters college under a tennis scholarship. Continually disappointed with his college choices, he changes schools three times within the first year and a half. He is unable to make the tennis teams and is voted off a soccer team by his teammates. Likely because of cultural differences, Mark has many difficulties making friends. He comes across as a self-serving egoist. He's not a sympathetic central figure for a book.

Likable tennis star Stan Smith emerges as the behind-the-scenes hero. Mark repeatedly approaches Stan and his wife for more money, first for college and later for grad school. (This does not add to Mark's appeal.) Though Stan and his family live frugally, they continue to provide Mark with money and introductions to their personal friends.

Despite my dissatisfaction, I still look forward to reading Mark's Kaffir Boy. However, I will think twice before reading his other books in which I was previously interested (about the interracial relationship with his wife and the book about his grandmother/mother/sister).

If you've read other books of Mark's, you need to read this as part of his story. If you haven't read any of his books yet, I wouldn't recommend starting with this one.

Mark Mathabane tells the story of his first five years in America. He had difficulties fitting into the college scene, where American students often preferred partying to studying and didn't understand his oppressed, impoverished background or appreciate his intense desire to improve himself. As a result, he lost his initial tennis scholarship, changed schools twice, and was near deportation a number of times. Mark believed in himself, and he believed in telling the world about apartheid, which ultimately resulted in his publishing the best-selling "Kaffir Boy." But Mark's success was due in great part to the unwavering support of American tennis player Stan Smith, without whom he would not have had the opportunity to tell his story. God bless Mark AND Stan!