Kaffir Boy (139-204)

Summary:

       Mark's first day of school was actually a horrible experience for him. In the begining, everyone was miserable there, the courtyard had a swarm of kids in extemely hot weather. The Principle goes over rules telling them how not to get beaten by canes, and then after that they break off into groups. Mark got sent into the chrch hall with more than 200 other students. The teacher actually looks like a little girl with a low tone, therefone no one listened to her. This was actually suprising to me, even though there is a lot of kids, I thought in a desprate situation like this more kids would be grateful. It did not take long until the teacher had to yell to get people's attention, that was not very effective so then she had to go around beating people with a stick; Mark avoids her by hiding in a corner. The principle comes and sorts the students into shifts, Mark has a later shift so he gets hungry and mad while waiting. When finally the time came, the teacher taught the students the albaphet, how to count to twenety, and sitting/standing on command. If Mark never promised him mom then he would have never went back to school. I felt sad knowing that Mark is now learning the basics at the age of nine years old.

       Mark finally turns ten years old, this year will be the year that he ends up being scared for life. When Mark was walking from from soccer pratice in the night, he overseen thugs trying to robb a person. Mark quickly hides and continues to watch. The person trys to resist the thugs by running to away to but the thugs quickly pursuit him attack using weapons such as knifes. The person then again trys to escape but then the thugs pursuit again to finish him off this time and then take all of his valubles. Mark runs home after seeing this, completely freaked out knowing that that could of happened to him if he got caught. This is completely unbelievable to me, going as far as KILLING someone just to get a little bit of money, I do not blame Mark to be overwhelmed with fear. After seeing this situation, his grades start go to down, he become affect back isomnia, and has a nightmare everynight; he starts living a life of dispear but he still has hope that something great willl happen in the future which is his only motivation. This motivation eventually helped him getting back itno school, becoming actually one of the above average students. Even Mark's teacher recommened for him to be a teacher or a doctor. This helps Mark sees that idea that as long as he works hard, he will be succesful. After all the maddness Mark had to go through, I was pleased to see that some things are starting to become well.

Quote: "Education  our children is the only way out of this pit of poverty." (Mathabane 176)

Reaction:

       Even though I mother is not educated, she still is protrayed having a lot of wisdom. Unlike the father only wants to make Mark work, the mother actually thinks for the long run and wants Mark to be succesful. I was definetly Team Mom, the only way to be succesful in life is to have an education, and we live by this standard even today. If anything, I feel that if Mark does not go to work, then he will end up like his father, not only remaining in poverty but never able to be someone. Education is what keeps Mark's hope alive.