Blog Post 1: Children’s Literature on Apartheid in South Africa

I chose to focus on a specific historical event pertaining to a certain country and highlight children’s books on that event. I am studying South Africa, so the major event that comes to mind is apartheid. Apartheid was institutionalized racial segregation that was implemented in 1948 when the “white” National Party was elected and lasted until 1994. Nelson Mandela was a significant member of the African National Congress which fought to have apartheid repealed.

We have learned over and over again in this class that children’s literature can be a tool utilized to teach children about those tough to talk about topics such as government implemented racial segregation. However, after searching for fictional children’s literature on apartheid, I was disappointed to discover that it is not well represented in the literature. This could be due to the fact that apartheid did not end very long ago in the early 1990s. Additionally, there is still racial tension as a result of the white supremacy which took place. There are three children’s books that discuss apartheid in their plot: Journey to Jo’burg: A South African Story by Beverley Naidoo, The Soccer Fence: A Story of Friendship, Hope, and Apartheid in South Africa by Phil Bildner, and The Day Gogo Went to Vote by Elinor Sisulu.

Journey to Joburg: A South African Story is about Naledi and her younger brother, Tiro. They live in a village far away from where their mother works in the city, Johannesburg. The siblings take a trip to Jo’burg to fetch their mother when their baby sister becomes sick. On their journey, they learn the harsh realities of apartheid: policy corruption, segregation, and oppression (Naidoo, 1985). The book offers a perspective of apartheid through a child’s eyes.

The Soccer Fence: A Story of Friendship, Hope, and Apartheid in South Africa is about a young boy named Hector who loves playing soccer in his township. He aspires to play soccer more seriously, but he cannot do so because of the apartheid. When Mandela gets released from prison, things start to turn around, and the national soccer team wins the African Cup. Now, Hector has hope that his dreams can come true (Bildner, 2014). This book discusses a national pastime, soccer, and engages our emotions as Hector hopes to pursue his dreams in the midst of apartheid.

Lastly, The Day Gogo Went to Vote is a happy story about Thembi and her Gogo who head to the voting booths when Black South Africans are restored their right to vote after the fall of apartheid (Sisulu, 1997). This story focuses on the relief post-apartheid as the country works to restore balance and peace.

References:

Bildner, P. (2014). The soccer fence: A story of friendship, hope, apartheid in south africa. London, UK: G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers.

Naidoo, B. (1985). Journey to jo’burg: A south african story. London, UK: Longman Group Limited.

Sisulu, E. (1997). The day gogo went to vote. New York, NY: Hachette Book Group.