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Kaffir Boy is the story of a young South African tennis player living under the restrictions of apartheid. He ends up going the self-preservation r...
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Kaffir Boy is the story of a young South African tennis player living under the restrictions of apartheid. He ends up going the self-preservation route instead of rebelling against the system. Do you think this was a good decision? Shmoop amongst yourselves.
Transcript
- 00:00
Kaffir Boy, a la Shmoop: Advantage Mathabane. Mark Mathabane was a guy in a tough spot.
- 00:11
A young black man living under the oppression of apartheid. . .
- 00:14
. . .he thought that playing tennis would be his ticket out.
- 00:18
Not a bad idea. . .
- 00:19
. . .considering how often sports have changed lives. . .
Full Transcript
- 00:22
. . .but there were a few roadblocks along the way.
- 00:26
Instead of banding with other black athletes. . .
- 00:28
. . .and boycotting events to protest the inclusion of blacks just in the interest of
- 00:33
making white owners seem progressive. . .
- 00:34
. . .he decided to play on. . .
- 00:37
. . .which only got him kicked out of the black tennis association for life.
- 00:41
So, if there’s strength in numbers. . .
- 00:43
. . .and it’s easier to follow the crowd. . .
- 00:45
. . .why did Mark decide to keep playing? Maybe he thought he could lead the way. . .
- 00:50
. . .kind of like a South African Jackie Robinson.
- 00:53
He might have thought his connections. . .
- 00:54
. . .and talent. . .
- 00:55
. . .would be enough to move the cause along for everyone.
- 00:59
If he could prove how good he was, then maybe it would pave the way for others to follow
- 01:03
in his footsteps… But maybe selflessness had nothing to do with
- 01:07
it. Maybe Mark knew this was his shot. . .
- 01:10
. . .and knew he had to look out for his own best interests. . .
- 01:14
. . .whatever the cost. You can’t blame the guy for wanting to get
- 01:17
out of a horrible situation. . .
- 01:19
. . .even if it meant leaving others in the dust.
- 01:22
And getting that scholarship in the U.S. had to be a powerful motivator.
- 01:26
But let’s remember that things were pretty tense in South Africa.
- 01:30
Maybe Mark just didn’t want to get caught up in a “black against white” fight.
- 01:36
Could be he thought that holding a grudge would only slow him down. . .
- 01:39
. . .or worse yet, keep him from ever getting out of South Africa. . .
- 01:43
. . .and he just wanted to forget about politics and play tennis.
- 01:46
So what’s your call? Did Mark strike out on his own to be a leader.
- 01:49
. .
- 01:49
. . .to look out for himself. . .
- 01:51
. . .or to break away from all that political turmoil?
- 01:54
Shmoop amongst yourselves.
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