We were blind to the fact that one way of life cannot absorb another easily unless there are great similarities between them. We were blind to the fact that we were destroying the tribal culture. But even in them, old tribal decencies were still rooted deep.īut the decay of decency had begun. Or sometimes came back to visit and smoked and swaggered through the kraals and daughters flaunted a new and alien, terrifying sexuality. This second and more important cause I take to be the disintegration of a native society beyond the safety point.įor many years it has been plain that the impact of our Western civilization was breaking native society into pieces, not only in the towns, but even in the very reserves set aside for its preservation.įor a long time the full dangers were not seen, but fathers and sons and daughters went to work and sometimes never came back. If we dismiss our present outbreak as a postwar phenomenon, it may prevent us from seeking and finding a second and much more important cause. Little is known about postwar outbreaks of crime, and, indeed, according to some of the theories, South Africa might expect to be relatively unaffected.
I do not think for one moment that we should derive any comfort from the fact that there is a world-wide epidemic of serious crime. Indeed, I do not see any good reason for hiding any of the facts about crime, except perhaps from children. There is no hiding this fact, and I do not see how any newspaper could possibly hide it. The criminals who commit these serious crimes are for the most part natives. The father represents the traditional view and the son the more liberal view.The crime situation is very serious. The Harrisons The father and the son represent two opposing views concerning the racial problem.
James Jarvis A wealthy landowner whose son is murdered by Absalom and who comes to the realization of the guilt of the whites in such crimes.Īrthur Jarvis James Jarvis' son, who does not appear in the novel but whose racial views are highly significant and influential. Lithebe The native landlady with whom Stephen stays while in Johannesburg. John Kumalo Stephen's brother who denies the tribal validity and who becomes a spokesman for the new movement in the city. Msimangu A parish priest in the city who unselfishly helps Stephen find his sister and son.įather Vincent The priest from England who helps Stephen in his troubles. Gertrude Kumalo The young sister of Stephen who becomes a prostitute in the large city and leads a dissolute life. Stephen Kumalo A native priest who attempts to reconstruct the disintegrating tribe and his own family.Ībsalom Kumalo Stephen's son who left home for the large city and who commits a murder.
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