Mark Mathabane facts for kids

Mark Mathabane (born Johannes Mathabane, 18 October 1960) is a famous author and speaker from South Africa. He also used to play college tennis and was a professor.

Early Life in South Africa

Mark Mathabane was born in Alexandra, South Africa. This area is part of Johannesburg, a big city. He grew up in a very poor family during a time called apartheid. Apartheid was a system in South Africa where people were separated and treated unfairly based on their race.

His father, Jackson Mathabane, worked hard but earned very little money. Mark's mother, Magdalene Mathabane, was sold to his father as a wife when she was only fifteen. Mark was the oldest of their seven children.

Living in the Ghetto

Mark and his family lived in a crowded area called a ghetto. Over 200,000 people lived in this small space. There were no paved roads, no electricity, and no sewer systems. Food was hard to find, and homes were simple shacks. Mark did not even own his first pair of shoes until he was fourteen years old. Life under apartheid was very difficult for him. He once said that "living in apartheid was like living in Hell."

Mark's Mother's Support

Mark Mathabane gives a lot of credit to his mother for helping him. Even though she could not read or write, she always encouraged him to do well in school. She wanted him to escape the difficult life of apartheid South Africa. She always showed him love and support, even when her own life was tough.

When Mark was seven, his mother took a job so he could go to school. This was a big challenge because his father did not think education was important.

First Steps to Freedom

Mark's grandmother worked as a gardener. One day, Mark went to work with her. The family his grandmother worked for gave him his first English book, Treasure Island. Reading this book made Mark dream of a different life, away from apartheid. That family also gave him his first tennis racket. He taught himself how to play tennis, which later became very important for his escape from South Africa.

Changing His Name

When Mark started playing tennis at Ellis Park, he met his first white friend. Around this time, he began to call himself Mark instead of Johannes.

Life in America

Tennis and Moving to the U.S.

A famous tennis player, Stan Smith, and his wife, Marjory Gengler, helped Mark a lot. Mark met Stan Smith in 1977 at a tennis tournament in Johannesburg. In 1978, with Stan Smith's help, Mark moved to the United States. He started college at Limestone College in South Carolina.

College Experiences

Life in America was very different for Mark. Even though he had left apartheid behind, he still faced unfair treatment because of his race. Mark attended several colleges. He went to Limestone College in 1978, then Saint Louis University in 1979. After that, he went to Quincy College in 1981 and then Dowling College.

At Dowling College, Mark became the first Black editor of the school magazine. He graduated from Dowling College in 1983 with a degree in Economics. He earned high honors for his studies. Later in his life, he received a special honorary doctorate from Wittenberg University.

Early Success as an Author

In 1986, Mark Mathabane wrote his autobiography called Kaffir Boy. This book told the story of his difficult life in apartheid South Africa. It became a national best-seller, meaning many people bought and read it. After reading Kaffir Boy, Oprah Winfrey invited Mark to be on her TV show. Mark went on to write several other books. You can find out more about them in the #Literary Works section.

Recent Life and Work

In 1993, Mark Mathabane visited the White House after President Bill Clinton invited him. President Clinton had read Kaffir Boy. From 1992 to 1993, Mark worked with President Clinton as a White House Fellow. He helped with ideas for education policies. Mark has also written articles for newspapers and magazines. He has been a guest on many TV and radio shows, and he is a well-known speaker.

Mark lives with his wife, Gail, and their three children: Bianca (born 1989), Nathan (born 1991), and Stanley (born 1994). His extended family also lives with them. They used to live in North Carolina but moved to Portland, Oregon, in 2004.

Magdalene Scholarship Fund

In 2000, Mark Mathabane started a non-profit organization. He named it after his mother, Magdalene. The fund helps children in a poor part of the world. It provides scholarships, books, uniforms, and school supplies for children at Bovet Primary School in Alexandra Township, South Africa. This helps give hope to children who need it most.

Literary Works

Kaffir Boy: The True Story of a Black Youth's Coming of Age in Apartheid South Africa

Mark Mathabane's first book, Kaffir Boy: the True Story of a Black Youth's Coming of Age in Apartheid South Africa, was published in 1986. It is his life story about growing up in apartheid South Africa. The book was a best-seller and won a Christopher Award. It has been translated into many languages and is used in classrooms across America.

Kaffir Boy in America: An Encounter with Apartheid

His second book, Kaffir Boy in America: An Encounter with Apartheid, was published in 1989. This book continues his story from Kaffir Boy. It talks about his early experiences living in America.

Love in Black and White: The Triumph of Love over Prejudice and Taboo

In 1992, Mark wrote his third book with his wife, Gail. It is called Love in Black and White: The Triumph of Love over Prejudice and Taboo. This book explores Mark and Gail's marriage, which is between people of different races. It talks about the challenges they faced.

African Women: Three Generations

African Women: Three Generations was Mark's fourth book, published in 1994. This book shares the true stories of the struggles faced by Mark's grandmother, mother, and sister in South Africa.

Ubuntu

In 1999, Mark Mathabane wrote his first novel, Ubuntu. This is a fictional thriller about a human rights lawyer in South Africa after apartheid ended.

Miriam's Song

Miriam's Song was published in 2000. It was nominated for the Alan Paton Award. This book tells the true story of Mark's sister, Miriam, and her struggles during apartheid in South Africa.

The Proud Liberal

Mark Mathabane's most recent fiction book is The Proud Liberal, published in 2010. It is a modern thriller that deals with important topics like racism and intolerance in America.

See also

• Alexandra
• Apartheid
• Ghetto
• Johannesburg
• Kaffir (ethnic slur)