|
Sometimes it is hard to believe the bad things that really go on in the world. This book was really good and an eyeopener in many ways.
After reading Miriam's Song I have gained a new respect for black women all over the world. the mistress slowly raises the thick ruler. This is the story of her struggle to overcome the difficulties of living in South Africa during the apartheid to achieve the power women and blacks were starved of. Miriam lived in a dysfunctional family consisting of an abusive father, smart but illiterate mother, and enough brothers and sisters to lose track of. The story showed me a new side of inequality not just judged by the color of skin but by gender. In the book Miriam describes one experience with the strange education system saying, "Mama forgot to borrow a fingernail clipper.
The book Miriam's Song, by Mark Mathabane, opened my eyes to the hardships and terrifying stories of Alexandria's slums and poverty. On top of all of her hardships at home, Miriam had to deal with the Bantu (black) Educational system, which was staffed by cruel teachers and based on tough discipline. I never take my eyes off the thick ruler in the mistress's right hand. This book taught me more about how women are treated in superiorly in other places of the world and how differently I live from many other people. The only encouraging force keeping Miriam in the awful school was her brave mother who was continually encouraging. The teachers were more interested in clean hands and fingernails than the quality of education in the over crowded classes. Told through the eyes of Miriam Mathabane, a poor black girl in Alexandria, South Africa, the story is inspirational and heart braking at the same time. From the beginning of the book, I was enthralled by the vivid details of Miriam's Bantu Education and poor living conditions.
It was inspiring to read about the struggles for equality and the great measures many people went through to overcome the all-white government. high up in the air and prepares to rap my fingers." (24). `They are long and dirty'. It was clear through out the story that physical and sexual abuse was accepted in the ghetto of Alexandria and was quite common. the mistress finally class my name.
Even when the vast majority of the population was black, they were still treated like animals, and squeezed into small towns around the country. Miriam taught me to stand up for what I believe in and "fight the system." This is a great book for girls throughout the country to read because it is encouraging and a great read. The discrimination of blacks was also very surprising. By the end of the book I felt as if I was inside Miriam's head, dealing with her emotions as if they were mine and following her story with a devout interest. It is clear that the mistress, or teacher, is worrying more than she should be on how long each students nails are and is disciplining in a harsh way.
I gingerly step forward. The family lived in a shack they called a house, in an over crowded slum full of disease and mal-hygiene. to trim my long and dirty finger nails.
Do not pass up this opportunity to learn more about the legendary Mathabane family. I strongly encourage everyone to buy and read this book. This book tells the story of what it is like to be female in apartheid South Africa.
I find myself wondering how Miriam is doing now, and would welcome another book including the rest of her story and her observations of the US. Shame on me for ever complaining that my opportunities in the US are limited because of my gender. The text does not attempt to justify or rationalize or otherwise explain the social structure, and is remarkably pure in its telling of Miriam's story. Not just a touching and eye-opening memoir, but also a story of fierce determination and strength, Miriam's Song ranks among my must-reads.
.about my life, my educational opportunities, my social status. Whole-heartedly recommended. Because this book is free from philisophy and pontification about wrong and right, fair and unfair, here-and-there comparisons, the reader is left to come to these realizations on his/her own and thus the story becomes most poignant. Miriam's Song should be required reading for all spoiled brats who think their lives are difficult.
Her story is inspiring and her candid writing makes the reader feel as if she is sitting right there in the room, like an new friend telling you about her life. Finished it yesterday and loaned it to a friend today. Shame on me for ever taking education for granted. This book left an indelible mark on my social consciousness.
How nice it is to sit in our American homes and vaguely read of the troubles of South Africa. There is a communal tap outside. This is a riveting book that takes you past the superficial headlines and into the lives of the blacks who suffered under apartheid. Employment is hard to come by--for one to work, one must have a permit.
Many become pregnant, single mothers, unable to finish school.While the story is unbelievably horrifying, their outlook is one of constant hope and faith. Raw sewage runs in the street outside their door. (These people live in complete poverty, and it was not uncommon for children to not have underwear). I am unable to get this family out of my mind, and I will be reading Mark Mathabane's autobiographical books as soon as I get my hands on them.This is an amazing story of how people in other parts of the world live. The young teenage girls are easy targets of sexual abuse. I am ashamed to have never paid more attention to this subject.
Black children are only allowed to be taught certain subjects in a certain manner, and Miriam and her classmates are routinely beaten for any infraction--mistakes in schoolwork, uncombed hair, nails that are dirty/too long, wearing dirty bloomers, or not wearing bloomers at all. I strongly recommend this book. The Mathabane family lives in a suburb of Johannesburg, in a one-square mile ghetto that is home to over 200,000 people (400,000 by the end of the book). But to get a permit, one must have a job.Their home is a two room shack, where four of the children sleep on the kitchen floor.
|
