|
The day that changes not only Lily's life, but that of the majority
of South Africans dramatically, is the 21th of March 1960. While
this day is historically known as the day of the Massacre of
Sharpeville, on which more than 160 blcks were killed by police
forces, while protesting against the pass-laws, Lily calls this day
"our worst day ever" and refers to it from then on
abruptly declining closeness to her best friend Caroline. Facing the
cruel events of this day, everyone in South Africa is forced to take
sides now.
In the story this process is symbolized by the different
opinions of the families of Caroline and Lily. Like many whites
tended to believe those days Caroline and her family are
convinced that the blacks intended to take over the country
and attack the whites and thus deserved to be shot. However, there
were whites in favor of the blacks and their just demand for freedom.
This smaller group is represented by Lily's family: Her father
assists helping the wounded and her mother comforts Janey, the black
maid, who has lost her little cousin. As are result of the massacre
many relations in South African society are questioned. The author describes
this process by observing the friendship of the two girls,
which has come to an end: They even have become enemies now, as
many people in the country have during the course of apartheid.
For
more information abouth the Sharpeville massacre:
http://www.anc.org.za/ancdocs/history/misc/sharplle.html
http://5x5media.com/bhp/pages/sharpeville.shtml
http://africanhistory.about.com/library/bl/blTRCFindings-Sharpeville.htm
zurück
|
