Black and White

Hey,

today we continued to study the text entitled "Black and White" about a white journalist who visits a black family in a township during Apartheid. Here is what we said about the characters in the text so far (opinions, reactions, and comparisons):

Tenjy: Black - Woman - She opposes herself to the white power but she believes both white and black people have skills - She recognizes white people have brought positive things to South Africa such as medicine and industry.

Tenjy's uncle (John): Black - Man - He agrees with Tenjy (his niece) - He is proud of his country - He is a nationalist, he says: "This is an African country". However, he is tolerant with the whites and believes in unity. He uses the word "our" to prove he wants to share the country / the land.

Mapetla: Black - Man (but we don't know it in the text) - His tone of voice is bitter / angry - He doesn't like white people - He makes a difference between blacks and whites - He thinks blacks are superior.
He thinks very little of whites people / He scorns white people / He despises white people -

Mapetla thinks the whites are reponsible for the problems in South Africa:
- the homeless
- the poor
- the children who are abandoned
- apartheid

He blames the whites for the problems in Africa / He reproaches the whites with the problems in Africa / He accuses the whites of the problems in Africa -> cf. he uses the word "your" to insist on the separation between blacks and whites.


Comparison Mapetla / John: Mapetla is narrow-minded, he is bitter whereas Tenjy' uncle is open-minded / tolerant; he is sweet; he speaks kindly.
Tenjy's uncle wants unity whereas Mapetla wants a war / segregation / only black people in Africa.

Steve Biko: Black - Man - Nationalist (he is involved in politics) - He fights for the rights of black people.

Donald Woods: White - Man - A Journalist asks people questions and  makes a report / an interview.

HW: for next time, you need to learn your vocabulary as you will have a quick test at the beginning of the class.