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Miriam's Song - A Memoir

Miriam Mathabane as told to Mark Mathabane.

A letter to Miriam

Dear Miriam

Thank you for sharing your life with me. From your childhood to the point you were poised to soar to the States - this book is your song for freedom.

Despite living in squalid poverty and under apartheid in South Africa, you persevered and kept toiling on, endured daily beatings in school which was part of the school policy, in pursuit of education.

Nevermind that you were repeatedly disrupted from your studies by the race riots, surmountable circumstances, obstacles a surprise pregnancy and role as a young but responsible mother.

Nevermind that you were taught under the national Bantu education which was designed to keep the black people in their place so that 'natives will be taught from childhood to realize that equality with Europeans is not for them'.

Nevermind that your supposed husband locked you at home on the day of your final exams and you had to repeat grade for the next year.

You kept the goal of studying in the States ever before you and I applauded and whooped with joy when you did.

I thank God for the people around you who have been instrumental in your flight to freedom - your mother who despite being illiterate knew that education is the path out of the vicious circle of poverty, your principal Mrs Jones who strongly believed that without education, there would be no leaders and to your brother Mark, who had the foresight, being the first to travel to the States to study and raise the awareness of apartheid there, blazing the way for you and your siblings to the US for a better life.

I saw through your eyes the evils of apartheid, the crushing of an entire race based solely on their colour. I am heartened that things are vastly different now in South Africa and know now that without education, a heightening and stimulation of the intellectual consciousness of the oppressed race, freedom can never truly come.

Thank you Miriam. I salute your courage.

Yours truly,
Claudine