Children of today are still caught up in an “intergenerational race-based trauma” I with its roots in apartheid, says Athlone author Bernadatte Nyman.
She was at Mount View Secondary School in Hanover Park last Wednesday to hand over a copy of her book, Life’s Soiled Red Earth, published by Austin Macauley Publishers and launched at Athlone library in May (“’We need to feel proud of our origin,’ says debut author,” Athlone News, May 24,)
The book is about three children torn away from their home during apartheid. They end up in a place far from home, struggling to come to terms with their new surroundings. One of them, Marlene, faces bullying and rejection.
Ms Nyman was born in Claremont in 1961 but grew up in Bokmakierie. She matriculated from Mount View Senior Secondary in 1979.
She did several courses in creative writing, copy editing and proofreading in 2017 and decided to write the book when she realised that many were still struggling to find their identity and felt lost.
Speaking to Grade 11 pupils in the school hall, Ms Nyman said she had decided to give a copy of her book to the high school because pupils could learn from it as she felt families continued to be torn apart today, not by apartheid laws but by crime that had its roots in the damage caused by those unjust laws.
Referring to a lingering trauma from apartheid, she said: “It often carries on from one generation to the next, and children develop a low self-esteem falling into drugs and crime. They lose their identity and struggle to understand where they belong. There are many children who have many problems in their lives including crime surrounding them all the time.”
During the event, two former pupils also spoke about their experiences at the school during the 1976 Soweto uprising and its aftermath that sent political shock waves through apartheid South Africa.
One of those speakers, Lois Petersen, said the riots in the wake of the Soweto uprising had left them with no roofs on their classrooms or no classrooms at all.
She encouraged the pupils to focus on their education.
“When you choose your career, think hard about the subjects you must choose at school to make it to that field. Research which subjects you must do at school instead of realising it only when you apply for a specific degree at university,” she said.
“I studied to be a nurse, but I didn’t only work as a nurse, I explored all avenues of the career, and travelled abroad with my qualification. Take all the opportunities that come your way. Go pursue all of them. If you don’t like it, try something else. I am, however, not oblivious to your challenges out there. Be kind to yourself. Pray every day when you wake up. With God on your side, anything is possible. Believe in yourselves. Pursue your goals, the world is your oyster.”
Principal Glynnis Abrahams-Meyer said that the school was honoured to receive the book.
“The story that she shared about how she grew up resonates with many of our learners. I hope that they will read the book. Our book club is very excited to have the book at our school,” she said.