Cry Freedom By John Briley
Chapter 1 and 2: The Beginning Beginning I.
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Comprehension Questions 1.
describe the photos of the police raid on the Crossroad -there were many bulldozers driven by the white police coming to smash the house of the black. A woman holding a baby in her arms in front of her wrecked home, two policemen were beating a boy, an old man sitting in an armchair, a police with a wipe chasing a girl, and the police cruelly used the violence with the black.
2.
The police raid the black township called Crossroad -because the black were allowed to work in the white area only before 6 o’clock, so after 6 o’clock, they had to leave as fast as possible. It was against the law to bring their families with them. Also, the black needed to have a pass in order to enter or work in the white area.
3.
Describe what Donald Woods thought about black people. -he thought that the black should have been allowed to vote. He accepted the law that forced the blacks and whites to live in separate areas. But he had been trained as a lawyer, and he did not like police brutality against the black people.
4.
Why Mamphela Ramphele want Woods to go and see Steve Biko? -because Woods thought that Biko was a dangerous person, THE UGLY THREAT OF BLACK RACISM. It was not true and Woods was confusing on Biko so she wanted him to find out the truth and knew more about the reality of the black, the hardship from the white to the black and the objective of Black Consciousness. Also, Biko was banned in an area, so he could not come the meet Woods Woods in the white area.
5.
Describe what was happening in the church centre when Woods went in. -Woods was surprised that Ntsiki was friendly and warm, not as bad as he expected. Some men and women were painting the walls while the others were putting up partition. Some girls were sewing in one corner of the church; there was a library of old books and magazines in another area; two older men were making children’s toys in a third area. They were trying to create a centre where the black could meet during the day so they could learn something, get information or about jobs.
6.
What did the black used the word “System” to describe? -any white authority-police, army, and government.
7.
What was the idea that made Biko laugh aloud ?
- Biko laughed aloud when Woods said that if Biko were the one who possessed the house, the job, the Mercedes- and the white lived in the township, what Biko would do. Biko laughed because it would not happen to him or the black as now they were in the hardship, no right, no freedom, and no anything. Woods’ words were just an example which would be easily happen or even imagine. II.
Quotation Explanation 1.
Woods said, “Well, Dr. Ramphele, I’ve written against white prejudice, and if you think I’m going to ignore black prejudice, then you’re complaining to the wrong man”. page 5
-Woods meant that he was the one who wrote the newspaper to show his dissatisfaction on the white prejudice. He was always supportive the white and the black to work happily and fairly together, but he did not really like the black prejudice. He would do something in order to stop both the white and the black prejudice. He wanted to say that Dr. Ramphele was confusing on him; she should know his purpose clearly before she complained him. He wanted her to be reasonable and sensitive. 2.
“From here. From South Africa”. Mamphela was still angry. “I was one of two from my tribal area to be given a place at Natal Medical School. I am an example of your white concern for the black people of this land.” Page 5 - Memphela was one of the black who was well-educated and she was a doctor of the black. She was the lucky one among the other black; she was very proud of herself. Because of her knowledge and ability, she would be the white’s concern. She may do something against the white if the white still prolonged to do something unfairly to the black. She wanted to prove to Woods that Woods and the white should stop look down on the black because the black including her could do and work as the white did.
3.
“I know you’re not a fool, Mr. Woods, but you are uninformed. Steve Biko is one the few people who can still save South Africa.” Page 5 - Mamphela wanted to blame Woods in a peaceful way that he should get the right information before he published it to the public. Otherwise, there would have conflict or confrontation from both the white and the black. Also, the information he got was just the confusion on Biko and the black. He should be cleverer to know the truth and she meant that he was not easily cheated but just he had not yet known the facts. She wanted to tell Woods that Biko was not as bad as Woods though because Biko was one of the black leaders and their sample, their hero. Biko would save South Africa and the black to survive from the hardship and not many black could possibly do as Biko.
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4.
Woods nodded coolly. “I wonder what kind of liberal you would make, Mr. Biko, if you were the one who possessed the house, the job, the Mercedes-and the white lived in the townships.” Page 9 -Woods wanted to know what Biko would do if he was the one who possessed everything in South Africa. Woods was one of the white and had everything; it was impossible for him to give away his possession and encountered the hardship. Woods did not want to against the white because he was also white. If he did so, it sounded like he was damaging himself and his racism. Woods was hesitated to be the white liberal.
III.
Discussion Questions 1.
It was mentioned in Chapter1 that the Daily Dispatch was against the South African Government. However, Woods wrote an article in the editorial on Biko, BANTU STEPHEN BIKO-THE UGLY THREAT OF BLACK RACISM, which was against the black. What do you think about this contrary? From editorial, what do you think about Wood’s opinion towards Biko and the black? -this contrary means that Biko was one of the most dangerous people who leaded the black to have the concept of black racism. Woods’ opinion towards Biko and the black was that the black had black racism; they thought that nothing as good as the black. the black preferred to work independently and did not want to work with the whit. That’s why the white and the black were separated in the different area. Anyways, Biko was the one who convinced the others to believe the concept of the black racism and may be the cause that made the police beat the other black.
2.
What are the exploitations of the white over the black that you learn from this chapter? Do you think it is justifiable for the white to do such things over the illegal black? -the black had encountered the hardship for many years. They had no right, no freedom, no anything, but were under-control of the black. The police used physical and emotional abuse to the black. The black had to work illegally in the white area, and they had to leave before 6 o’clock. Otherwise they would be beat and sent to prison. They needed to have passes in order to enter the white area. The white gained a lot benefits form the illegal black workers. The black had to work hard but could not get much salary and sometimes was cheated by their boss. It was completely unjustified to the black because they were humans as the white.
3.
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Why do you think Biko was banned to live in certain area in the white town?
-because Woods was one of the black leaders. He was dangerous for the white, and he could save the black from the control of the white; if he was banned in an area in the white town, the white could keep their eyes on Biko every second. Then Biko could not keep in touch with others in order to do revolution or something spoil the white. 4.
What are the different views of Biko and Woods towards the term, “liberal”? Why did they have such differences, do you think? - Biko was right to the black liberal because the black were treated unfairly and they needed their right, their freedom as the black. However, Woods hesitated to be the white liberal because he was white who possessed everything already; he did not need to demand more. They both wanted the black and the white to have the same right and freedom, but their perceptions were a bit different. They had such differences because Woods wanted the white and the black to work together as a family, while Biko wanted the black to work independently without aid from the white as the white was looking down on them.
5.
At the end of the Chapter2, it was mentioned that Woods held out his own hand and took Biko’s. It was the beginning. What was the beginning of? -the beginning of involve with the black and understanding the black more. Woods started to know the truth about the black. He could be the one who changed the world’s belief because he was the editor of the Daily Dispatch. His writing could influence the world a lot. He could be the one who saved the black if he knew the hardship and unfair treatment of the black and also be the one who damaged the black if the black did something bad.
Cry Freedom By John Briley
Chapter 3, 4 and 5: Education of a Liberal Comprehension Questions
IV. 1.
Describe the trips Woods had with Biko. a. Visiting Zanempilo -Woods saw the clinic run by the black. All the patients and the workers there were the black. Biko told that this was the evidence to prove the Black Consciousness’s objective. b.
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The black township
-Woods and other 8 people travelled by the black’s taxi to the black township. The taxi was old and contained as much as passengers could squash. Woods saw the living condition of the black and how they worked. There were not enough electricity and water. Eating with black family -Woods had meal with the black for the first and it was a big family. They talked to each other a lot, but it was the controversial topic of the white and the black. the black said that although they had to live with many people in a home, but they were happy. They usually had solidarity and kept together tightly different from the white. They talked about the black’s songs which were usually the group songs whilst the white usually sang alone. c.
2.
What was Woods’ belief about South Africa and his perception of Biko’s belief? -Woods believed that South Africa needed the black and the white should be hand-in-hand to work together while Biko’s belief was that the black should do something by their own without aid from the white.
3.
Describe Biko’s achievement in creating his Black Consciousness.
- Biko could prove that the black could do whatever the white could do without any help from the white, and clinic at Zanempilo was one of his evidence. There were only black patients, black doctors and black workers. They successfully create their own organization. 4.
What happened to Biko and Woods if he got caught? -if he got caught outside of the banning area, Biko would be sent to prison and Wood would only have to write a letter of explanation to the Board of his newspaper.
Why didn’t Biko and his friends approve of the aims of white liberals? -Because the white had already had enough right and freedom. They possessed everything, so that should be enough for them. However, the black was t he ones who had no right, no freedom, no voice, and nothing. Thus, the black should be the ones who demanded for right and freedom. 5.
What did Tenjy believe black society could teach other societies? -She said that the white had given the world industry and medicine, but the black could help the world to teach other societies to live together. She meant that the white had a lot of things, but the white was lack of one thing which was living happily together. The white usually did a lot of things no matter it was bad or good, but just to please themselves and their family rather than thought of their racial benefits while the black kept together tight and thought that everyone was their relatives. 6.
Quotation Explanation
V. 1.
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“This is it.” Biko replied. “A clinic for black people, with black workers, and a black doctor.” Page 10
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- Biko wanted to show Woods about the black’s achievement and the view of Black Consciousness. The black could do whatever the white could do without help from the white. We can imply that Biko hoped that Woods and the other white stopped looking down on the black as the black was not as weak or stupid as the white used to think, but because the black were not given chance to show their abilities in the society. 2.
“You see, we know how you live. We cook your food, clear your rubbish, cut your grass.” He said quietly. “Would you like to see how we live?” page 12
-Biko meant that the black knew clearly how the white lived, but the white never noticed how the black lived. The living condition between the black and the white was completely different. The white had well-paid job while the black had to work under the control of the white and sometimes the black took risk to work illegally in order to survive from poverty. The black usually were the blue-collars such as servants working in the white’s house, manufacturers and so on, while the white were the blue-collar working in the office, in high rank position, and belonged to everything. Biko wanted Woods to know living condition was one of the things that could undoubtedly proved how unfair the white treated to the black.
3.
Biko smiled. “The education of a white liberal? It is a duty.” Page 14
- Biko meant that it was a duty for him to educate the white about the black’s living and hardship the black encountered. Woods was one of the white liberal who was not stupid but was thoughtful and he could judge who was right and who was wrong. Woods came from the Daily Dispatch, so he could be one of the black’s hopes if he knew the truth about the black. Woods may change his concept towards the black so he could be the one who helped the black both directly and indirectly as he was one of the white and could tell the world how the black was governed pitifully. However, it may be risky to educate the white, but Biko had to do in case there may have a miracle for the black. 4.
“But if you do survive in a township and you get the education the white man gives you, then you go to work in their city-you see their houses, their street, and their cars. And you begin to feel there is something not quite tight about you. Something to do with your blackness. Because no matter how stupid or clever a white child is, he is born into his white world. But you, the black child, clever or stupid, are born into this…and, clever or stupid, you will die in it…” page 17
-Biko wanted to show that the living condition between the black and the white were completely different from each other. The white lived in the happiness and possessed everything whilst the black could possess nothing. No matter the white was stupid or clever; they had everything already while the black could not have those things as the white did. If the black had abilities to do something, they were not able to use or show their abilities widely as they were not allowed to give much chance. Then, because of these concepts and working in the white area, the black started to believe that they just did nothing as they could not use it in the society or though they tried, nothing much would change. Then, they 6
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just waited for the luck to fall down for them. We also can imply that the white discriminated to the black strongly and the black was taught to believe that South Africa was belonged to the white, but not the black.
5.
“And even to stay in a legal township like this one, the white boss must sign your pass every month, the white governments tell you which house to live in and what the rent is. You can never own land or pass everything on to your children. The land belongs to the white man…and you, all you have got to give your children is this…” page 17
-Biko meant that the black could do anything freely as they were under-controlled of the white although the black stayed in the legal township. The white ordered them to do everything even house to live and rent, so the black had to right to do anything. It sounded like the black also was belonged to the white. Thus, the black could not possess anything especially the land. The black had nothing to give to their children or their next generation, but only the way the white treated to the black’s parents or previous generation. 6.
“Homelands are not home to us, and the land is no good; that’s why the government wants us to go and live there.” Page 18
-Biko wanted to tell that South Africa was not belonged to the black, but the white government. The fertile and beneficial land was the white’s, so the infertile was the black’s. The black had no right to choose or complain about where we chosen to live. If the infertile land they lived became fertile, the land would belong to the white without any reasons, but the black had to move to other infertile land. The government could get what they wanted without getting permission from the black. 7.
“We don’t want to be put into your society,” Biko said forcefully. “I am going to be me - as I am- and you can put me into prison, or even kill me, but I’m not going to be what you want me to be.” Page 20
- Biko wanted to show his determination to Woods. Biko would not do anything that betrayed his consciousness and the black. He would be himself always no matter what would happen to him; nothing could change him. He preferred to be put in the prison or die to be under control of the bad government. Biko did not like the society now as it was unfair and bad for the black, so if the white suffered him first, he could be against them. Biko meant that the white could not bribe him and he was loyal with the nation everlasting. 8.
“But we want to march our own time.” Mapetla declared bitterly. “The best you want for us is to sit at your table with your knives and forks; and if we learn to do it right, you will kindly let us stay. We want to wipe the table clean. It is an African table. We are going to sit at it in our own right.” Page 21
-Mepetla wanted to show that he wanted the equality between the white and the black because South Africa was not just the home for the white only, but also the black. The black 7
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wanted their freedom to do what they wanted without any aid from the white. In fact, the black could do whatever the white could, but the black was not treated fairly as the white. Also, the white wanted the black to be under control of them sincerely. If the black listened to them and did what the white ordered, the black would get benefits from the white and got special treat compared to the others.
9.
“In your white world, everything white is normal- the way the world should be- and everything black is wrong, or some kind of mistakes…And your real achievement is that for years you’ve convinced most of us of that idea, too” Page 22 - Biko meant that the white possessed everything in South Africa. This idea was right and normal for them. The white always were right though they did something wrong while the black was always wrong though they were right. The big mistake for the black was being born as the black. The most achievement of the white was that they could convince the black to believe that South Africa belonged to the white; the black should not do anything against with the white. No matter the black tried to get what they wanted, they still got because everything was belonged to the white. Thus, the black should bear with their fate.
Cry Freedom By John Briley
Chapter 6, 7 , 8 and 9: Confrontation Comprehension Questions
VI. 1.
How did the workers at Daily Dispatch react when seeing Tenjy and Mapetla? Why do you think they had such reaction?
-the workers there stopped working a moment and starred at them. One journalist spilt coffee all over her desk and did not notice until the little procession had entered Woods’ office. I think they had such reaction because Tenjy and Mapetla were the first black workers who came to the Daily Dispatch. The black and the white were separated in the different area but this time they had to work together. This idea made the workers there surprised so much as the black usually worked as white-collars. 2.
Who were the main speakers at the black stadium? What were the main points of their speech?
-they were Biko and Mzimbi. The main points of them: Biko: he was not going to change the South Africa alone, but he needed to be hand-in-hand with the other black. He wanted the black to keep tight together. The more solidarity the black had, the winning chance they started to have. The ●
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3.
black should not completely depend on the white and should prove the white about what the black could also do. Biko wanted to make revolution in the peaceful way by killing the idea of the white to the black. Biko wanted the other black to teach their children as well as the next generation to know as much as possible about how much hardship the black encountered. Mzimbi: he wanted the black to stand up and fought back to the white as the white had done many bad things to the black. He rose as example of 400 students killed by the white in order to show his serious compliant and hatred towards the white. Thus, now it was the time for the black to revenge the white. However, before the black could do that, the black must stop fighting among themselves. Thus, solidarity was needed so much.
What happened to Biko after giving speech at the stadium? -he was caught to Captain De Wet’s office. He was hit by De Wet but then Biko hit De Wet back because of De Wet’s disrespect words.
4.
How did the State Prosecutor attempt to trap Biko in the court? How did Biko respond? -by accusing him for going out of the banning area and talking to the crowd. Biko responded by saying that the evidence of an informer in a box was unbelievable. Everyone knew that an informer would say anything and he or she could be bribed by the white. Thus, there should have at least 3 informers.
5.
What was the main concept that Biko tried to convince the participants in the court? -was to influence the government by ides but not violence. The Government should listen to the black and stopped judging untruly about the Black Consciousness.
What happened to the church and Biko’s house after the court? -everything was smashed and broken by De Wet and his guards, but they were seen by Dilima. . 7. Who did Woods seek for help concerning the smash-up at the church? What was the result? ● Woods sought Kruger for help concerning the smash-up at the church. Kruger agreed to meet him at his home outside Pretoria on Saturday. He responded to Woods, and talked as he would help Woods everything. 6.
VII.
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Quotation Explanation
1.
“Where are we going” Ken demanded. “Should I have let my family know I might not be back?” ( page 24)
-Ken didn’t know where to go with Woods so he seemed to want to know more detail about that place. What is more, he asked Woods this last question so that he could prepare something for his family and himself. -Thus, I can learn that this place may be a dangerous one as he needed to inform his family before going. That showed that he loved his family very much, and wanted his family to prepare their heart previously in case something bad and unexpected happened. Also, it may be a black area, but he was white so he would not be safe to enter to the black’s place. To sum up, Ken must be told to go to an important place and do serious obligation.
2.
“Why does the white man stir up trouble to us?”Because when we fight among ourselves, he can convince our friends overseas that it is right to tell us where to live, and how to live.” ( page 25)
-Mzimbi wanted the black to stop fighting with each other and started to keep together tightly. If the black still did not have solidarity and peace among them, it could be the main reason which the white used in order to convince the other countries that the black should have been under control of the white. Then, the white could do whatever they wanted to the black. -Thus, I could learn that the white had caused numerous of problems to the black. Moreover, in order to control the black, the white needed to be agreed by other countries; otherwise, there would be confrontation from those countries.
3.
“If the only way we can get the message to him is to make sure he can never sleep his white bed in his big white house and know he is safe - then that is how it must be!” ( page 26)
-Mzimbi wanted the white to know the hardship the black given and wanted the white to encounter the way he treated to the black. Moreover, if the white still had no mercy on the black, the black would do everything or even kill in order to get what they lost especially their freedom and lands.
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-Therefore, I can possible learn that Mzimbi was leading the black to have violence revolution. He seemed to hate the white so much and wanted to revenge the white. Also, this quotation showed that the white was a lot wealthier compared to the black.
4.
“Then,” Biko declared forcefully, “then we will stand up to him in any way he chooses. Confrontation if he likes, but an open hand, too - to say that we can both build a South Africa worth living in. A South Africa for equal men - black or white. A South Africa as beautiful as this land is, as beautiful as we are!” ( page 27)
- Biko wanted to stop the concept of white racism and black racism, so the black and the white should have started to live and work together as a family. However, before they could do that, the black should have stood up in order to do something against the white. It could be the confrontation if there was no choice at all, but it must be in the peaceful way. Also, Biko hoped that the white and the black would be together so South Africa would be truly beautiful as it was named. -Finally, I can learn that Biko did not hate the white so much. What he had wanted was the equality, peace and solidarity between the white and the black.
5.
“Come on, don’t be afraid. Once you try, you’ll see that there’s nothing to be afraid of. We just as weak and human as you are.” ( page 30)
- Biko mocked De Wet that the white could continue what they did to the black, they then would see what would happen from the black to the white. -Hence, I can learn that one day the black would revenge the white if the white still suffered the black. The white and the black were human the same, so nobody was better than and whatever the white could do, the black also could do.
6.
“That’s right. We will not accept society as it exists in South Africa. We demand confrontation. “…”You and I are now in confrontation, but I see no violence.” ( page 33)
- Biko was unhappy with the unfair society in South Africa. Doing nothing, the black got nothing, so there may be changed if there was confrontation. However, it did not
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mean having confrontation was having violence. The way Biko confronted with the judge, Regter, could clearly that there was no violence this confrontation. -Therefore, I can learn that Biko wanted to change the black’s society and found peace for them. He preferred the peaceful revolution to the violence revolution.
7.
“We are telling them to stop accepting those problems, to confront them. Black society has hope in itself, it feels defeated. We believe that black people must not give in; they must find ways-even in this situation - to develop hope. Hope for themselves, hope for this country. That is the whole point of Black Consciousness- to build within ourselves as a sense of our own humanity, our proper place in the world…”( page 34-35)
-Biko wanted the black to stop putting up with the white, and stood up together to confront the white peacefully because the black had been suffered a lot by the white. The black society was unfairly treated by the white, so BLACK CONSCIOUSNESS was the hope for the black. The black should first have made its objective become successfully, so that the white would not be able to look down on the black. Then, the black could live in a proper place and lived comfortably. -Thus, I can learn that the white caused a lot of problems to the black so now it was the time for the black to get what they lost. The most important thing the black wanted was peace and equality. They did not want the white to look down on them because the black was not stupid but they did not have chance to show their intelligence as the white.
8.
“Let me tell you, Mr. Woods, any Afrikaner family could show you the same thing. We build this country. Do you think we are going to give all this way? This is what Mr. Biko wants. This is a black country, he says. Gott! What is here was made by Afrikaner work and struggle and blood. The blacks come to us for work - remember that. We did not force them to work.” ( page 39)
- Kruger meant that the black tried to show Woods how pity they were, but it was just their trick in order to convince and gained benefits from Woods. The black especially Biko wanted to show Woods that what the white was doing to the black was completely unfair and wrong. Kruger also meant South Africa was built by the white, but not by the black. This country the white tried hard to build and work for 12
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until it was good as today. Moreover, Kruger meant the white should be the ones who helped the black because they provided work for the black. The white never forced the black to work for them, but the black themselves asked for work. -Lastly, I can learn that Kruger looked down the black badly. The white including Kruger were belonging everything in this country, so they could not possible to give away their possession. He reminded Woods that Woods should not believe in Biko and other black people as everything the black told was just a lie.
9.
“We know we must find a way to work and live together. We are trying to find away. Maybe it’s a little too slow for some of them but Mr. Biko is giving them false hope. We are not just going to roll over and give all this away.” ( page 40)
-Kruger meant the white should have found the way to live and work with the black, but it sounded impossible for him. They just acted for the others to see that they were not bad to the black, but in fact, they were finding ways to suffer the black. Kruger wanted to show that the way Biko was doing now was not right and would not be able to rescue the black, as Biko was not allowed to go out of the banning area. Also, Kruger meant that it would never happen that the white would never live in the way the black lived, while the black lived in the way the white lived. -Thus, I can learn that Kruger and other white besides Woods were very selfish. They would not share harmony with the black though they knew the black’s hardship. Also the black should not have hoped to have a chance to possess what the white were having because the white especially Kruger would not let that situation happen.
10. “Report to whoever you like. Our orders come from the very top.” ( page 43)
- Lemick was not afraid of anyone as his partner and he had special network. His boss must be a person who was in the high rank position and had a very strong power to control everything. Lemick did not tell exactly who that person was because if there was something bad happened because of knowing that top order, he could protect himself by not saying out exact name.
Furthermore, Lemick mocked
Woods that Woods could go to anyone for help especially the white government, but Woods would get nothing. He threatened Woods so that Woods may be afraid and told the witness’s name. 13
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-Finally, I can learn that probably Kruger was Lemick’s boss because Kruger was the Minister of Police, and Lemick was a policeman. Kruger did not help and betrayed Woods and knew exactly that Woods knew who the witness was.
11. “A rotten policeman is a rotten policeman. He breaks heads for the same
reasons.” (Page 45)
-Biko meant the white police was bad, though he acted as good. He caused a lot trouble to the black for just the same reasons which were all to control the black and get what they waned. The police would not allow anyone to fight against government no matter you were black or white because at that time Woods helped the black. If anyone did what was banned, the police would do anything as bad as they wanted in order to protect their white government. -Thus, I can learn that the white police had suffered the black a lot. They were ruthless and unreasonable. They had never thought about the other feeling because what they knew was to protect themselves, to protect their power and to continue their control on the black.
Cry Freedom By John Briley
The System Fight Back and Escape form South Africa VIII. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 14
Comprehension Questions
What happened to Woods’ house after his trial was. Describe the situation. What happened to Mapetla and Tenjy? What happened to Biko after returning from the meeting of the black students? Describe how seriously injured Biko was when the doctor examined him. Which hospital did they take Biko to? What are the reactions of the black after Biko died? What was the reason for Biko’s death provided by the police? What did Woods attempt to do to Biko’s death? What are the possible reasons that Woods was banned? What happened to him during the banning? Describe Woods’ plan to escape South Africa?
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1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
“She is a woman, not a female Bantu!”Woods shouted, pointing the gun to the white policeman. Why do you think Woods had such a reaction to the police? What are the possible reasons that the police arrested Mapetla and Tenjy? Why did Biko try to join the meeting of black students, despite the dangerous situation of being caught? Why didn’t the police send Biko to the nearest hospital, despite the demand of the doctor and his serious injury? What are the reactions of the black after Biko died? Describe Woods’ attempt to spread the news of Biko’s death. Do you think it is right that Woods risked his whole family’s life to escape from South Africa to get his book published?
Chapter 15 and 16 1.
Who made plan for Woods and Wendy to escape from South Africa? Describe the plan in general. -Bruce McCullough and Father Kani made the plan for Woods and Wendy to escape from South Africa. ●
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2.
Woods: first, Bruce gave Woods a passport of Father David Curren. Woods escaped on the 31 st of December and disguised himself as Father Curren. Then he hitchhiked to get up north of Queenstown. Later on, Father Kani took Woods to the Lesotho border (the river Telle). He crossed the river Telle into Lesotho at night and Bruce would be waiting to drive him to Maseru, the capital of Lesotho. Wendy: she pretended to go to the beach the next morning, 1 st January, but in fact, she would drive the two hundred kilometers north-east to her parents in Umtata. She would wait there until ten o’clock for Woods to phone from Lesotho. Then she would drive on to the Lesotho border before the police realized what had happened.
When did they think is the best time for their escape? Why? the 31 st December was the best day, because everyone will be having parties and drinking on their New Year’s Eve, and the police won’t be so careful. -
As whom did Woods disguise himself? 15 | Page 3.
- He disguised as Father David Curren. 4.
How did Woods disguise himself?
-Woods dyed his grey hair black and dressed in a black suit with a priest’s white collar. He took off his glasses, as the final part of his disguise, because Father Curren did not wear glasses. 5.
Why couldn’t the Woods family say goodbye? -because they were afraid that the police would find out about their secret plan. So only his two children knew about this plan.
6.
How did Woods get out of his house? -Woods got into the Mercedes back door and stretched out on the floor. Wendy threw a blanket over him. Then she shut the door and drove him out of the house.
7.
Why was Woods unable to cross the river Telle into Lesotho? - Because the river was too fast and too wide for him to walk across. The rain had spoiled the plan.
8.
How did Woods get to Telle bridge? -Father Kani told Woods to go to the nearby village where black people lived to get help. Then Woods agreed that he went to Tami Vundla and showed him the manuscript of Steve Biko. Then Tami agreed to drive Woods to the Telle Bridge.
9.
When did Wendy and the children leave the house? Where did the watching policeman think they were going to? -Wendy and the children left the house early in the morning of 1 st January. The watching policeman thought that they were going to the beach because the police saw the beach things in the car.
10. What is the relationship between Lesotho and South Africa like?
-Lesotho is a small country which was dependent on South Africa. 11. Who do you think Jonh Monyane is? Why does Moffat ask him to come and see
Woods? -John Monyane might be someone who worked for Chief Jonathan, Prime Minister of Lesotho. The reason that Moffat ask him to come and see Woods was because Moffat thought that he would be sympathetic to a liberal white South African, and helped his Woods and his family. 12. Why does Monyane think that Woods and his family can’t stay in Lesotho? Why is he worried that they can’t fly out of Lesotho either? -Because Bruce thought that the South African Government often sent their police into Lesotho.
-Because in order to make the fly anywhere out of Lesotho, people had to fly five hundred kilometers over South Africa. And the South African Government demanded that all planes leaving Lesotho land in South Africa before going on. But if they insisted to fly out, the South African would force the plan down. 16
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13. How do Wendy and the children get to the Telle Bridge?
-Wendy’s parents drove them the two hundred kilometers north through the hills in their van. 14. How does Wendy make South African frontier police let her family cross the border
into Lesotho without any suspicion? -She told the passport official that she was taking the children over on a little holiday with pretence of confidence. 15. Who meets Wendy and the children at the Lesotho border?
-A young man with two soldiers from Lesotho Government. 16. How does the Woods family finally able to fly out of Lesotho and escape South Africa?
-Chief Jonathan arranged United Nations passports for Woods and his family, and he also decided to let Monyane accompanied them to Botswana.
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