1. On page xi, the author claims that “Kaffir Boy is also about how, in order to escape from the clutches of apartheid, I had to reject the tribal traditions of my ancestors.” What does he mean?
2. What is a “Kaffir”? Are there Kaffir’s in all societies?
3. Have any processes in the marketplace led to apartheid? Supported it? Contributed to its downfall?
4. The narrative on page 37 describes the horror of starvation,
plus survival tactics. Look up the life expectancy in South Africa
today and explain what is contributing to this statistic.
CIA World Factbook: http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/sf.html
5. On page 44, the author describes searching for food in the garbage dump. Have you ever realized that people do this to survive? Relate what you have read to the film “Isle of Flowers”. (We'll view this in class)
6. Much of what we learn about other countries comes from books, articles, and online sources. We assume that what is written is actually true, but is it? On page 192, Mrs. Smith admonishes her son, saying, “Everything that’s in your books is not necessarily true, especially your history books about this country.” What is she talking about?
7. On pages 274-275, Mark is asked to tell “the truth about what is going on in the townships.” Why did his version differ from what the bar patrons knew? How did this difference help in allowing apartheid to exist?
8. Mark responds that “we blacks are not in the least interested in making slaves out of you (the whites). We simply want a country where race and colour don’t determine your place in the sun. We want a South Africa where everyone – black, Coloured, white, and Indian – is equal before the law. We want to live in peace with everyone as a nation united.” Has his statement been carried out in recent years? Have marketers understood and adopted this philosophy? Look at some of the online readings that provide case examples.
9. On page 279 (bottom), Mark puts “two and two together.” What does he figure out? How can his realization help us to realistically understand statistics regarding South Africa and other similar countries? Have averages hidden the truth??
10. Finally, go to Mark’s web site and investigate what
he has done and what he is trying to do. How can learning about his life,
goals, and activities be valuable to students of International Marketing?
How can his thoughts be applied to global marketing initiatives?