The land and people of South Africa (Portraits of the nations series)

"Cry, the Beloved Country" was published in 1948 and "Too Late the Phalarope" in 1953. When J.B. Lippincott hired writers for their "The Land and People of" as part of their Portraits of the Nations series and when the discussion came to South Africa for their 1955 publication, everyone blurted out instantaneously: "Get Alan Paton." Why? Paton's name had been synonymous with South Africa for the beauty and quality of his novels and short stories set in South Africa. I don't know that Paton was hired this way, but it could have happened. He writes beautifully and honestly in describing his country, even acknowledging its blemishes. It is fascinating to read this geographic and historical "portrait" of South Africa. Let's see what is in it. He addresses early the complaints of people outside Africa who lament how "Western, Christian, technical civilization came to an unknown continent, and changed forever and forever the simplicity of its life" (11). He says to obsess over these changes does nothing constructive. An example of change is in the livelihood of its native people, roughly divided into three groups: (1) domestic servants and factory workers who live in the cities, with a growing number of teachers, doctors, nurses, policemen, and other professionals, (2) those who live on tracts and reserves and lead a tribal life (3) farm laborers who are paid in kind and basically live from hand to mouth (38). Remember, this is 1955. Because Alan Paton wrote this book, he was allowed freedom to insert many examples of editorializing, an essential and informative aspect. He wrote several pages about the influence of the United States on South Africa, and how white and even some black South African population traits are placed between England and the United States, from staid to lively. Continue reading this travelogue of place and people, as Paton speaks his mind freely: Concerning shanty towns built outside Johannesburg, "Is this terrible housing shortage completely forgivable and understandable? It is not" (59). He also rampages against big game hunting, killing a beautiful, perfect creature "for the pleasure of causing a living thing to die" (68). He takes us through Indian reserves, tribal reserves, mountain passes, and the future. The chapter in which he describes the possible effects of change in the mind of white South Africans concerning race relations is noble and magnificent. To wit: "O will change come also in the white heart and mind? Will the idea of racial domination become more and more morally intolerable to the very people who hold it in practice? Or will it be seen to be utterly impracticable? The idea of slavery lost its hold on the human mind; will the idea of racial domination lose its hold, too? Could a real crack appear in the white supremacy wall that today looks so massive and solid?" (129). Please remember, the year is 1955. This book came out of my school library, where (as the librarian) I am weeding in preparation fo