TITLE: Journey to Jo'burga South African Story GRADE LEVEL: 6-7 AUTHOR: Beverly Naidoo THEMES: conflict causes and escalation, and bias SYNOPSIS: Naleidi and her younger brother, Tiro, are worried about their baby sister who is very sick. They feel that the only person who can save her is their mother who worked and lived in Johannesburg more than 300 kilometers away. Their mother, Mma, worked far away due to the injustices in South Africa. Naleidi and Tiro leave their grandma and aunt to set off on a journey to Johannesburg to find Mma and bring her back. When they reach the city, they experience prejudice and see injustices against the Blacks such as "pass" raids and segregated buses. Their trip to the city makes them aware of the dangers of their country and the "painful struggle for freedom." Questions/Answers Q. What was the pass? A. The pass was a paper that Black people who were sixteen and older had to carry with them at all times. They had to carry it whenever they visited some place or wanted to change their job. If they left it at home, they were sent to a prison farm where they suffered. Q. Why can't Naledi and Tiro live and go to school in Jo'burg, the same city where their mother works? A. "The white people who make the laws don't allow it. That's how it is." If you were Black, you were not allowed to live or raise families in certain areas unless you were someone's servant. Q. Why did the bus driver and the people on the "Parktown" bus call Naledi and Tiro stupid and drive off? A. In Johannesburg, Black people could only board buses that were labeled "non-whites only" or those buses which went to the "Black" bus stops. The Black people had to cram on these "white only" buses even when the "white only" buses were half empty. Q. How did the Madam react when Mma asked for a leave of absence so she could take care of Dineo? A. The Madam raised her eyebrows and stated indignantly how mother was inconveniencing her. If mother was not back in a week, Madam threatened to fire her. Madam also would not allow mother to leave that night because she had a dinner party to attend. Also, Madam made mother send Naledi and Tiro to another place to sleep because Madam stated that the police would not like it if the children spent the night in Parktown. Q. What were some of the injustices toward Black people that Naledi and Tiro experienced or learned about in Johannesburg? A. Black people worked very hard for very little money. Often they worked over twelve hours a day. Many children and people were dying in 'Black" town due to lack of medical care and money to buy necessary food such as milk, fruits, and vegetables. The Black people had to wash themselves at taps outdoors while they cleaned all day for the whites indoors. Many school children were massacred by policemen in Soweto in 1976 during a protest march. Q. What did Naledi realize or determine after she learned about the injustices of South Africa? A. Naledi realized that she did not want to go to school to be someone's "obedient servant." She wanted to learn a skill that she could use to help her people. Naledi daydreamed about being the town doctor who saved everyone. All the injustices overwhelmed her, and she wanted to cry. However, Naledi determined that with the help and support of her people, she could make a difference and stop the South African injustices. Q. Have you ever been discriminated against? How did it feel? A. Answers will vary.   Developed by Susan McIlroy, St. Bridget School, Parma, Ohio.
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