Kaffir

Boy
Mark Mathabane
 Mark Mathabane:
O Born in Alexandra, South Africa
O Eldest (7 siblings)
O Born to a life of poverty
O Join his first gang at the age of 6
O Used Tennis as a key element to escape
from apartheid South Africa
 Characters:
O Johannes Mark Mathabane

-the protagonist and narrator of his

autobiography. Mathabane grows
up as a black person.
O Magdalene Mathbane

-Mathabane’s mother does not

share her husband’s devotion to
tribalism, but since he owns her by
tribal law, she follows his lead for
much of their marriage.
 Setting:
Alexandra, South Africa, 1960s and 1970s

-Alexandra was one of South Africa's blacks

townships, nestled near Johannesburg. As
such, it was a spot marked for demolition by
the authorities that wanted to replace the
small homes and shacks with single-sex
dormitories.
 Conflict:
O Mark's father opposed anything to
do with Mark getting education.He
was a very traditional man and he
didn’t like anything that had to do
with the “white man”.

O His family is living in poverty.

 Themes:
O racism,
O classism,
O perseverance in the face of
oppression,
O and individual choice
SUMMARY