It ended when we were only six, anyway.
*June 11, 2008
Riding the escalators down from our parking garage to our office building, I turned to Chad and said, "I have to confess something. I don't know what apartheid is."
I had been listening to NPR while driving to work, a segment about apartheid and Nelson Mandela and racism and all those things. Since I wasn't at a computer when I was listening, I really had no clue what they were talking about. Apparently apartheid isn't something they teach you when you go to high school in Oklahoma. And college for me was all about the literature. With history mixed in, of course, but only history relevant to a given text, and apparently there's not a great wealth of 20th century South African literature. Or maybe I just closed my ears whenever the word would come up, because it is a scary word, very military sounding, and I kind of couldn't even believe it when I typed the word into my text box just now and Firefox didn't put a red line under it. How is it possible that I know how to spell it but don't know what it is?
Whatever the case, I seem to have arrived at the age of 25 with absolutely no knowledge of a huge important chunk of history. The only thing I know about Nelson Mandela is how he dances, with his fists at his sides, shaking his wide hips, clapping occasionally. And that he did, you know, lots of good stuff that caused him to want to dance like that.
Chad nodded once, thought for a second, and asked, "Did you know that it was something in South Africa?"
"Yes. I think."
"Well, then, at least you know that."
"I guess. Do you know what it is?"
We got off the escalator and started walking toward the doors. "Isn't it the government's anti-racism policy?"
"Maybe, but I thought it was a bad thing. People are always talking about the end of apartheid. Do you think it's possible that it was the opposite? The government's racism policy?"
"Maybe."
"So you don't really know what it is, either."
"Guess not."
The second I got to work I looked it up on wikipedia, and I can say that I now know what apartheid is. And I was right. Kind of.
Sounds like the name of a monkey to me.
- Posted by Sarah | June 11, 2008 1:48 PM
I wonder why my memory is so vivid about the subject. I read a book set in South Africa to the kids when they ranged in age from about 7-1. In the book, a young black girl had a terrible accident and died on the way to the black hospital after the close-by white hospital wouldn't accept her as a patient. It fully explained the meaning of Apartheid on a child's level of understanding. Even so, the kids had a terrible time trying to understand the concept of racism. I suppose Chad let the idea fade rather than grapple with the concept at the age of 9.
- Posted by Susan | June 11, 2008 2:21 PM
I could see how apartheid might not be top-of-mind to you and your peers - you're only 5 or 6 years younger than me, but I vividly remember news of the end of apartheid, news that mandela had been released from prison. Even did a high school history project on it. Of course, that was the first time I learned how to pronounce it correctly -- apart-ate, not apart-ide.
There's actually a pretty good movie with a young Matt Damon in it, set in apartheid-era South Africa. Wish I could remember the name. I only remember his character's girlfriend gets smacked in the head and dies.
- Posted by jen | June 11, 2008 5:20 PM
Okay, I had a very vague understanding of it until about three months ago. We read Cry, the Beloved Country (a WONDERFUL book that you should definitely read), which is set at the very beginning of apartheid. My students knew nothing of it, so I spent nearly a week teaching them something that I only taught myself the week prior. Matt and I were actually redoing our bathroom at the time, so while painting I lectured to him, to make sure I knew my stuff. You're not alone. But I'm glad we have both educated ourselves now. But seriously - you should read the book, and then let me know what you think!
- Posted by Nicole | June 11, 2008 7:04 PM
The reason I know it is because it seems to be a word that frequently comes up in the game Catch Phrase. I like to be good at that game, so I research the words I don't know.
- Posted by Kathleen | June 11, 2008 7:58 PM
Spring,
I meant ages 7-11, not 7-1 in my first comment. I truly didn't read books of said subject matter to Emily at age 1 and Chad at age 3.
- Posted by Susan | June 12, 2008 5:37 AM
I second the recommendation for Cry, the Beloved Country.
And I wish that my first comment on your site would have been more original.
- Posted by anonymous | June 12, 2008 12:17 PM
Spring,
I am actually moving to South Africa in two weeks. I've been there before, but will be there for 5.5 months this time. I've always been interested in going there after seeing the movie, "The Power of One" which I recommend. I also recommend the book, Kaffir Boy.
- Posted by Jennifer | June 13, 2008 11:35 AM
Were there no Weekly Readers at your respective schools? That's how I learned everything I know about political and global events between 1987 and, roughly, 1997. There was an article when he shared the Nobel Peace Prize with that white fellow.
My mom was an fourth grade teacher. I wasn't, say, held back for three years: I borrowed her Weekly Readers.
...After some consideration, I realize my memories of these publications may be unusually strong.
- Posted by Lee Ella | June 22, 2008 1:52 AM