Apartheid: A Graphic Guide

Camden Press Graphic Guides

by Donald Woods, Mike Bostock

Origins of apartheid, development and effects of apartheid, Kruger's Transvaal,government and political system of apartheid.

Genres: History

148 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 1988

About the author

Donald Woods was editor-in-chief of the Daily Dispatch, a newspaper in South Africa. While editor, he integrated the editorial staff (in direct opposition to apartheid) and took up an anti-apartheid stance. However, Woods was originally opposed also to the Black Consciousness Movement, and in particular Steve Biko; they became friends, and Woods was put under ban after the Soweto Uprising.
Woods and his entire family (wife and five surviving children) escaped to England via Lesotho after Biko died, and there Woods became an active speaker against apartheid. He spoke in the U.S. and before the U.N. Security Council.
Woods died in 2001 of cancer, after traveling back to South Africa after apartheid ended.
The 1987 movie Cry Freedom is about Woods, and he and his wife were very involved in the film.

Reviews

[George Kasnic · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent history of Apartheid and South Africa by a white South African whose epiphany was catalyzed by his relationship with Steve Biko. This is not a graphic novel, but a history supplemented by graphic art. The art is brilliant in how it presents the abuses of the institution of Apartheid, skillfully representing the humanity of the oppressed against the inhumanity of the oppressive forces. Being written from the perspective of a South African it is effective in presenting nuanced details of the rise of nationalism in that country and how it maintained power. This was written prior to the fall of apartheid and while offering nods to the inevitability of its demise, avoids any predictions. It shatters the myths used to undermine the resistance to apartheid while recognizing not only the leading personages, but accentuating the power of the people through collective action. Also it provides more than enough maps to understand the geographic parameters of the story. More demographic and economic thematic maps would have been helpful.

I’m teaching apartheid this coming year and will use parts of this book to supplement instruction.

[kayleigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Uses a wonderfully disparaging tone to cut through the atrocities of apartheid.
A short, accessible read that summaries a part of South Africa’s history that everyone should read about at least once.

[Spicy T AKA Mr. Tea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I took a break from Gage to read Apartheid by Donald Woods and Mike Bostock. It's really accessible and quick read that gives some of the history of South Africa, talks about the rise of apartheid and what it is, and the major players in both South Africa and the international community. I knew something about it, but this book really gave me some good foundational information fast from which I can do much more thorough research on. It certainly wasn't meant to be a history of apartheid by any means, but it was a solid introduction. The artwork is pretty great too. I highly recommend it if you know nothing about apartheid. And you need to know about apartheid especially when looking at contemporary examples apartheid-like systems of oppression (then and now) such as the occupation of Palestine by the state of Israel, or the Jim Crow south in the US. I'd love to see a second edition updated to 2016.

[Aonarán · Rating 4 out of 5]

Knowing close to nothing about Apartheid I really enjoyed this book.

Very concise and a quick read, so I know not everything could be covered as thoroughly as I'd like. But I was left feeling like whites were the protagonists, and more often blacks were acted upon - though I imagine a more thorough discussion of black resistance or inter-racial resistance exists. I wish it had been a part of this book.

The other though I left the book with was, 'holy shit, those people were actually nazis!!' Since I didn't know those running south africa for forty years had been nazi supporters (some committing acts of sabotage and counter-recruitment) in pro-british world war II south africa, and later modeling their white supremacy laws on racial fascism from europe (not to mention the organic white supremacy of european conquest in africa already developing for years.)

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a very interesting read. I feel much more informed about apartheid and colonization in South Africa. Great images.