OR#3 Kaffir Boy by Mark Mathabane

How is this novel similar to other pieces of literature (poems, novels, films) that we have studied in class?

In the novel Kaffir Boy, the relationship between the defenseless black subjects of South Africa and the overbearing power of the white government, shares similarities between the citizens and the powerful mob in the film On the Water Front.
In the film On the Water Front, the mob ruthlessly kills their enemies and go unpunished. There is absolutely nothing anyone else can do about it because if they speak up, they are killed by the mob before they even have the chance to testify in court. Almost everyone chooses to keep their mouths shut and preserve their lives rather than speak and put themselves in mortal danger. The citizens are defenseless against the mob, because it has gained so much power. Everyone knows who is responsible for the killings, but nobody can do anything about it. obviously this system is unfair because the mob can basically kill whoever they want to, whenever they want to and nobody will do anything about it.
Similarly, the citizens of South Africa during the aparthied are defensless against the white government. If anyone tries to rebel, full permission is given to the police to kill them. They are forced to live in crappy broken down shacks while white people live in large extravagent homes, just like the mobsters live rich, lavish lives without lifting a finger, while the workers on the waterfront work all day for a peeny. The blacks in South Africa shut their mouths and accept apartheid because there are not enough of them who have the means or the guts to say anything. In Kaffir Boy, as a child Mathabane spoke to his mother about building a big house when he grows up and makes alot of money, but she enlightens him that the law states that black people cannot own houses, but live in poorly made shacks (93). Mathabane is unable to grasp the reason why black people cannot own houses when white people can because it's not fair, but his mother simply tells him to accept it and stop asking questions. Laws like these are so unbelieveable unfair that a mere child can point it out. Unfortunately, when he does point it out, he is told to shut his mouth because nothing can be done. This leads him to understand the connection between the entirely different but connected worlds of blacks and whites, and their "dependancey like master and slave" (94).
In the novel Kaffir Boy, the white government controls everything having to do with the lives of the blacks. They prevent them from getting good jobs with good pay, from owning houses and prevents some from even seeing their families. In the film On the Water Front, the mob controls who lives and who dies and large businesses where they can promote their friends and family to higher positions. The power of these two institutions is immeasurable and it's victims are powerless to protect themselves.