What do you think?
Rate this book
Kaffir Boy in America
This is a sequel to KAFFIR BOY, a best-selling account of Mathabane's youth in a black township in South Africa. It deals with his life in America as a student, writer, and outspoken opponent of apartheid. Like many sequels, this one lacks the power of the original.
KAFFIR BOY vividly details the horrors of growing up black in a society premised on radical racial discrimination; its wrenching story virtually grabs the reader by the throat. The sequel, in which the author describes both his trials and successes in coping with and ultimately taking advantage of American mobility, pales in comparison. Still, this work does nicely describe the author's ambivalence toward the United States -- both America's lure and its continuing racial problems.
KAFFIR BOY vividly details the horrors of growing up black in a society premised on radical racial discrimination; its wrenching story virtually grabs the reader by the throat. The sequel, in which the author describes both his trials and successes in coping with and ultimately taking advantage of American mobility, pales in comparison. Still, this work does nicely describe the author's ambivalence toward the United States -- both America's lure and its continuing racial problems.
320 pages, Paperback
First published August 2, 1990
63 people are currently reading
508 people want to read
About the author
Mark Mathabane
29 books103 followersMark Mathabane (born Johannes Mathabane) is an author, lecturer, and former collegiate tennis player.
Dr. Mathabane touched the hearts of millions with his sensational autobiography "Kaffir Boy." Telling the true story of his coming of age under apartheid in South Africa, the book won a prestigious Christopher Award, rose to No. 3 on The New York Times best-sellers list and to No. 1 on the Washington Post best-sellers list, and was translated into several languages.
Dr. Mathabane touched the hearts of millions with his sensational autobiography "Kaffir Boy." Telling the true story of his coming of age under apartheid in South Africa, the book won a prestigious Christopher Award, rose to No. 3 on The New York Times best-sellers list and to No. 1 on the Washington Post best-sellers list, and was translated into several languages.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
June 4, 2011
I liked this book better than the first (meaning, I didn’t hate the other book, I just thought this was better). In this book, he’s more humble and authentic. While he described his economic/civic struggles in the first book, he detailed his personal/spiritual struggles in this one. In Kaffir Boy in America, you really get to the depth of his soul and his personal evolution. Reading this book gives the reader a greater context of Mark’s thoughts and personal journey while writing Kaffir Boy.
As noted, while the previous book contained a lot of details of a rough life, this book detailed his rite of passage in America: how he comes with the ideal that America is a racial harmony utopia, but realizes that de facto segregation still exists. I noticed that other readers critiqued Mathabane for changing schools many times and having a hard time adjusting. But they have to realize what a cultural shock it must have been for Mark. For example, he lived in a tiny shack in South Africa, and was surprised that many American families had homes with several rooms that were larger than his shack back home.
My parents immigrated from India in the 1960’s, and the comments they’ve made over the years about America parallels what Mark wrote about in this book.
In this sequel, I was proud to see that Mark continued to uphold his convictions:
• He refused to do drugs and sleep around;
• He preferred to go to the library rather an party all the time;
He also showed great courage in admitting his shortcomings when things didn’t go his way.
If you read Kaffir Boy, you should read Kaffir Boy in America to get a full sense of who Mark is.
As noted, while the previous book contained a lot of details of a rough life, this book detailed his rite of passage in America: how he comes with the ideal that America is a racial harmony utopia, but realizes that de facto segregation still exists. I noticed that other readers critiqued Mathabane for changing schools many times and having a hard time adjusting. But they have to realize what a cultural shock it must have been for Mark. For example, he lived in a tiny shack in South Africa, and was surprised that many American families had homes with several rooms that were larger than his shack back home.
My parents immigrated from India in the 1960’s, and the comments they’ve made over the years about America parallels what Mark wrote about in this book.
In this sequel, I was proud to see that Mark continued to uphold his convictions:
• He refused to do drugs and sleep around;
• He preferred to go to the library rather an party all the time;
He also showed great courage in admitting his shortcomings when things didn’t go his way.
If you read Kaffir Boy, you should read Kaffir Boy in America to get a full sense of who Mark is.
April 5, 2021
Rebel WITH a cause. A very proud and determined young black man finds out that America is not the utopia he envisioned. With tons and ton of help from well known celebrities he found his way after a disappointing and rocky start.
This book was published over 30 years ago, but could have been written yesterday. Bigotry and racism are worse than ever with no end in sight.
When I reviewed Kaffir Boy, I compared it to Richard Wright’s Black Boy(1945). Little did I know what an influence that book and the author had on Mark.
These are two books that should be required reading for blacks and whites alike.
This book was published over 30 years ago, but could have been written yesterday. Bigotry and racism are worse than ever with no end in sight.
When I reviewed Kaffir Boy, I compared it to Richard Wright’s Black Boy(1945). Little did I know what an influence that book and the author had on Mark.
These are two books that should be required reading for blacks and whites alike.
June 10, 2011
Kaffir Boy by Mark Mathabane is a touching and heartfelt story any reader would love. The true events of what it was like to live in the Johannesburg, South Africa slums, along with the hardships that families there had to face shows Mark's strength and survival out of this hell hole and how education and work brought him fortune to come into America and live his dream. Indeed this book shows the truth that "more than 90 percent of white South Africans go through a lifetime without seeing firsthand the inhuman conditions under which blacks have to survive". And the struggle it was just to keep end's meet possible for Mark and his six siblings. "It's an important book that we black people must have in order always, and carry with us at all times" also shows the strict and fear Mark and the rest of his community had to face. Through this difficulty Mark mentions the shocking stories of how far kids will go for money in the construction slums along with an abusive father who he then learns to love and care for because he helps him with his needs. In the end Mark expresses how lucky he was to be able to go to school and afford it unlike the other children. By taking advantage of his opportunities around him, he managed to succeed in coming to America. I recommend this book to anyone who really wants to know the true definition on what it's like to be free and that when times get rough, if you try life can only get better.
February 17, 2009
This is the sequel to Kaffir Boy. This book made me realize how important it is to have a dream that is fluid. Meaning, the dream or goal will change based on our abilities and likes. Mark just wanted to come to America and play tennis. But once he was here, the goal wasn't big enough. He had more important work to do. He is one of my heros.
January 23, 2018
I really appreciated the continued story of Mathabane because much of the acclaim of Kaffir Boy in the US was how it not only shed a light on Apartheid in South Africa, but also how it held a mirror to our own society to examine race relations. In light of Black Lives Matter, these two books still hold relevancy nearly 30 years later.
Another feature of the book that I enjoyed was the metacommentary of how he came about to write Kaffir Boy and what it took for it to "go viral" in today's parlance. By the end of the book, he was even writing about the how he'd started to write it. For anyone interested in writing their own memoir or story, this book is very instructive. However, the publishing world is much different today than it was thirty years ago; still, some basic principles haven't changed.
I was struck by the honesty with which he writes about his struggle to adjust to collegiate and athletic life in the USA in the late '70s and early '80s. Changing colleges four times seems wishy-washy, but considering that Mathabane mentions no orientation or support for international students at any of these schools, it underscores the resiliency to survive that he developed in Alexandra growing up.
While I was disappointed that Mathabane couldn't achieve his dream of competing professionally in tennis; in the end, tennis was his access to the connections he needed beyond his Ghetto-ized life that enabled him to leave South Africa in the first place. What he discovered along the way was his own path to self-discovery and life-long learning. I would group him with Ray Bradbury and Ta-Nehisi Coates as accomplished writers and thinkers who are not beholden to a single institution for their finishing.
This book is well-written and quite a page-turner. It certainly brings closure to the journey that had just begun in Kaffir Boy.
Another feature of the book that I enjoyed was the metacommentary of how he came about to write Kaffir Boy and what it took for it to "go viral" in today's parlance. By the end of the book, he was even writing about the how he'd started to write it. For anyone interested in writing their own memoir or story, this book is very instructive. However, the publishing world is much different today than it was thirty years ago; still, some basic principles haven't changed.
I was struck by the honesty with which he writes about his struggle to adjust to collegiate and athletic life in the USA in the late '70s and early '80s. Changing colleges four times seems wishy-washy, but considering that Mathabane mentions no orientation or support for international students at any of these schools, it underscores the resiliency to survive that he developed in Alexandra growing up.
While I was disappointed that Mathabane couldn't achieve his dream of competing professionally in tennis; in the end, tennis was his access to the connections he needed beyond his Ghetto-ized life that enabled him to leave South Africa in the first place. What he discovered along the way was his own path to self-discovery and life-long learning. I would group him with Ray Bradbury and Ta-Nehisi Coates as accomplished writers and thinkers who are not beholden to a single institution for their finishing.
This book is well-written and quite a page-turner. It certainly brings closure to the journey that had just begun in Kaffir Boy.
June 15, 2022
The first book we read from Johannes/Mark/Thanyani was kaffir boy.
That was a good book to read but this one was just a terrible disappointment. We read Kaffir boy as a part of our history homeschooling (we live in South Africa).
After reading this I we have doubts about al the information in Kaffir boy's realistic accounts of events.. (like the reason for his name changes, he remembering full dialogs at a very young age)
This book is just a self glorification of a spoiled lucky kid, it is full with none inspiring facts. Especially the numerous lists of useless names addresses, place names (to name a few, as Mark end most of summaries) there's even a list of names an places who his GP's and dentist where...
This put us off to read any other book by him to be honest.
That was a good book to read but this one was just a terrible disappointment. We read Kaffir boy as a part of our history homeschooling (we live in South Africa).
After reading this I we have doubts about al the information in Kaffir boy's realistic accounts of events.. (like the reason for his name changes, he remembering full dialogs at a very young age)
This book is just a self glorification of a spoiled lucky kid, it is full with none inspiring facts. Especially the numerous lists of useless names addresses, place names (to name a few, as Mark end most of summaries) there's even a list of names an places who his GP's and dentist where...
This put us off to read any other book by him to be honest.
June 4, 2012
Mathabane's observations about America, especially those after his first arrival in the US, about racism, sexuality, poverty, as well as US views of apartheid are interesting and offer a different perspective.
However, much of the book feels like filler, as if this was written just to fufill a follow on contract based on the success of Kaffir Boy.
I mean there is a part of a chapter about how long it took him to pass his driver's test!!
Other parts just sound like any other book about being a struggling writer--New York is cold, unforgiving and rather expensive. Its hard to make it as a writer...
Oh that and he meets Oprah.
However, much of the book feels like filler, as if this was written just to fufill a follow on contract based on the success of Kaffir Boy.
I mean there is a part of a chapter about how long it took him to pass his driver's test!!
Other parts just sound like any other book about being a struggling writer--New York is cold, unforgiving and rather expensive. Its hard to make it as a writer...
Oh that and he meets Oprah.
June 5, 2008
great book,disturbing but a "need to read" to see what life was like in South Africa during Apartheid
May 22, 2010
Very disappointing after reading his first book.
July 14, 2020
Mark Mathabane has won a tennis scholarship to a college in America where he will escape the horrors of apartheid of his native south Africa. He is headed to the land of the free where all men are created equal, and he thinks he will be in the land of opportunity. However, 1978 America doesn't live up to all his dreams. Somehow, he manages to deal with disappointment, hardship, and difficulties adjusting to the college to finally earn a degree, write and publish his best selling novel, Kaffir Boy, and marry his white sweetheart. The story of his encounters with inequality between races in America and his thoughts on race relationships make this a book for Black Lives Matter with an entirely different slant. His insights into the inequality of income in America and the conservative agenda are even more applicable in 21st Century America as they were then. I also thought, "Right on!" when he analyzed television evangelists and the conservative Christian point of view. I gave this three stars, but I also think everyone should read this!
August 25, 2017
There are many lessons to be learned from this book. Mark is a very resourceful and very resilient man. He achieved indeed the impossible.
Reading this book will give you an appreciation of what you have and hopefully make you realize that you too can achieve the impossible.
The only thing I didn't like is the way the book is written. While reading, I felt like the author was glossing over topics. Certain topics need to be deeper than they were, while others can be deemed unnecessary.
Reading this book will give you an appreciation of what you have and hopefully make you realize that you too can achieve the impossible.
The only thing I didn't like is the way the book is written. While reading, I felt like the author was glossing over topics. Certain topics need to be deeper than they were, while others can be deemed unnecessary.
July 7, 2020
An updated look into Mark Mathabane's journey after he arrives in the US from South Africa. I found the themes of the book to be parallel to the current news in 2020: racial and social unrest, inequality, and discrimination. I appreciate the author's unique point of view, even though I disagree with his narrow focus and interpretation of several topics.
March 3, 2025
This book is a compelling follow-up to Kaffir Boy, offering valuable insight into Mark Mathabane’s life after arriving in the United States. If you enjoyed Kaffir Boy and were curious about what happened next, this book provides a fascinating glimpse into his experiences up until 1990. However, an updated edition covering the decades that followed would make for an even more complete and enriching story.
August 28, 2016
Mark Mathabane grew up in South Africa. Seems pretty standard, except he was a poor, black boy living in the apartheid era of South Africa. With this form of government in place, it had a systematic oppression of black people by the white minority in charge. Kaffir Boy by Mark Mathabane tells the story of how he overcame the obstacles set before him, and his realization that people are fundamentally the same regardless of their race.
As stated prior, the story starts with Mark in a poor area in South Africa. He goes through all the hardships that come with poverty, such as hunger and lack of education. His mother wants better for him and sends him to school. From this, new opportunities open to him. He graduates primary school with a scholarship allowing him to seek a higher education. Mark takes up tennis, and is brought under the wing of a black tennis player. Mark is passionate of this sport and begins rigorously practicing. Mark writes his experiences of directly contradicting the apartheid and the government establishment it represents.
This book overall didn’t stand out to me. It was interesting to read about the political environment in South Africa during apartheid times, but I couldn’t relate to the experiences. That isn’t a bad thing whatsoever, I just haven’t experienced much prejudice living as a white guy in a middle class family. Due to this, I give the book a 3 star rating. It was an interesting read, but at some point I had to force myself to finish due to it being homework and all. If you have an interest in the historical aspect of it, check it out, or if you want to see a good old fashioned underdog story. This memoir will be sure to satisfy.
As stated prior, the story starts with Mark in a poor area in South Africa. He goes through all the hardships that come with poverty, such as hunger and lack of education. His mother wants better for him and sends him to school. From this, new opportunities open to him. He graduates primary school with a scholarship allowing him to seek a higher education. Mark takes up tennis, and is brought under the wing of a black tennis player. Mark is passionate of this sport and begins rigorously practicing. Mark writes his experiences of directly contradicting the apartheid and the government establishment it represents.
This book overall didn’t stand out to me. It was interesting to read about the political environment in South Africa during apartheid times, but I couldn’t relate to the experiences. That isn’t a bad thing whatsoever, I just haven’t experienced much prejudice living as a white guy in a middle class family. Due to this, I give the book a 3 star rating. It was an interesting read, but at some point I had to force myself to finish due to it being homework and all. If you have an interest in the historical aspect of it, check it out, or if you want to see a good old fashioned underdog story. This memoir will be sure to satisfy.
October 8, 2015
Superb memoir of a black kid growing up in apartheid, hate-infected, punishingly-severe persecution and deprivation of So. Africa. His chances of achieving anything at all were surely minus zero chance.Through the force of his illiterate mother's determination that he go to school (perhaps she saw potential in where, where others just saw another kaffir), his discovery that he loved learning, and probably most importantly that he learned to play tennis well and loved it, he earned a series of scholarships to American universities. Mathabane went on to marry, father 3 children, become a best-selling author and lecturer.
The book dragged for me at the beginning and began to feel repetitious as perhaps 150-200 pages we spent detailing the horrors of growing up in Alexandra, where 100,000 impoverished people lived in 1 sq mile with no sewage system, electricity, transportation, joblessness, laws that kept the huge black population downtrodden and sequestered.
Okay, I got it. I got the message early on.
For me, the book really picked up momentum as he reached high school and formed his impossible dream of getting out of So. Africa and into America.
He achieved more than his mother could ever have imagined. Bravo.
The book dragged for me at the beginning and began to feel repetitious as perhaps 150-200 pages we spent detailing the horrors of growing up in Alexandra, where 100,000 impoverished people lived in 1 sq mile with no sewage system, electricity, transportation, joblessness, laws that kept the huge black population downtrodden and sequestered.
Okay, I got it. I got the message early on.
For me, the book really picked up momentum as he reached high school and formed his impossible dream of getting out of So. Africa and into America.
He achieved more than his mother could ever have imagined. Bravo.
August 24, 2016
It starts with Mark Mathabane, scared out of his mind, people breaking into his home. The officers are tearing it apart, screaming at his mother, and bashing their things. You must be asking why, right? Well there really is no reason why, they just had to face the fact that they lived in a society with racism and stereotypes. What I loved about Kaffir Boy is that the story was so inspiring. Mark faced so many disappointments, especially from white people. But, because he was so willing to let people prove themselves, he was able to support beyond his community. His hard-work and determination gave him the chance to escape the apartheid regime and fulfil his dreams of being a well-known tennis player. Now, I must be honest, not every part of this book is as thrilling as others. A couple chapters I was just trying to get through without falling asleep. But, because of the story of Mark's journey, this novel is definitely one to remember. His story gives people the motivation to face problems and turn them into something much greater. I recommend you to read this book if you are into adventure, but also slow heart felt moments.
February 25, 2008
I liked most of Mathabane's books better than this one. But it was very interesting to learn how he acclimated to the U.S. and American culture. I would definitely recommend many of his other books, especially African Women. This book kind of jumped around a lot and had too much about his philosophical ideas and opinions. But he definitely is a good writer and has a passion for so many things. If you really like Kaffir Boy, this is a must-read.
August 7, 2010
Like everyone else, I was curious to find out what happened after the last chapter of Kaffir Boy, when the author boarded a plane in South Africa that was bound for the U.S. He had a really rough time adjusting to life in America, and he was plunged right into another form of apartheid in the South in the late 1970s. Thank goodness for his wonderful friend, tennis pro Stan Smith of Hilton Head, SC.
July 18, 2015
Whew! I finished. The book did get better after Mark quit graduate school. That's about the time the book sales of Kaffir Boy improve and the family members in South Africa reenter the story. The family ultimately visits the U.S. and the Oprah Show. Several family members stay to attend school and the financial situation improves for the remaining family in South Africa. I'm glad I read the book, but I'd recommend readers stop after Kaffir Boy and Google the rest of the story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 28, 2008
The continuing saga of a person's search for life and love in a foreign country. His triumphs and setbacks in fine prose. They are lessons, we can all empathize and learn from. America still offers so much to the recent immigrants as well as citizens of this country, if we only find the courage and sacrifice to make them happen.
October 28, 2010
This book was recommended by my friend who grew up in South Africa. I couldn't put this book down. The fact that it's a true story is so unbelieveable because you read it and think, this can't possibly be true. Never has a book made me appreciate what my parents did to provide for me AND to protect me. A must read.
January 18, 2012
Just fascinating. Well, and humbling and thought-provoking.
To read: George Orwell's "Politics and the English Language."
p. 214-5: "In South Africa spontaneously helping those in need was considered a necessary part of one's humanity."
To read: George Orwell's "Politics and the English Language."
p. 214-5: "In South Africa spontaneously helping those in need was considered a necessary part of one's humanity."
December 26, 2012
I enjoyed the first book better, but was still glad that I read this one. It's worth it if you can get past his political opinions and wordy storytelling. Worth reading if you have read the first one.
February 1, 2016
Remarkable biography that will utterly shock your perspective. Mark's story will give you a new appreciation for your home, surroundings, family, security, freedom and education. I cannot praise this book highly enough. It is a must read. Left me totally inspired and full of gratitude.
May 2, 2017
I think everyone should read this book. It does an amazing job highlighting the struggles of an immigrant to America. This book helps give insight into outsiders perspectives on what the USA is like, and then shows the reality of what life is really like.
December 28, 2016
Mathabane offers great perspective on American materialism, apathy, and racism. I also like when he compared the black experience in South Africa to the black experience in America. I find his writing style to be clear and easy to follow.
Read
August 7, 2019Shocking. Excellent book, gives a pretty good idea of life in the poorest townships in apartheid era South Africa.
March 10, 2009
This is a silly, boring, name dropping book. Apparently, I'm supposed to care that he's good friends with Oprah.
September 12, 2010
A bit of truth. A bit of reality to something invisible for so long. I say I liked" it but really, it just made the pain catch in my throat and try to prevent me from swallowing.
November 19, 2010
I'm not sure when I read this
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews