The Backgrounds of Thami and Mr. M

My Children! My Africa! Essay
Gabe Fisher
The backgrounds that Thami and Mr. M come from significantly influence their perspectives about freedom and change, as their experiences have shaped their viewpoints of how to bring about change in their lives.
Thami has lived through a very difficult time period in South Africa. He has experienced apartheid at its worst. Growing up attending the school, Thami is accustomed to the Bantu education. He realizes that the white government controls what is taught. The level of education for the blacks is not very high, and throughout his years, Thami admits, “things have changed.” As a young individual, Thami was not able to see how his education was so structured and influenced by the government. However, as time progresses, Thami cannot appreciate the education, for the people that control what is taught in the schools also force him to live through the horrendous conditions of apartheid. He admits that his education is a political reality in his life. At the end of the novel, Thami is faced with a very difficult decision. He ultimately decides to escape the nation because he knows he cannot join the mob and the violence of the people that killed Mr. M. Thami wants change in South Africa. He realizes that the best way to accomplish this goal is to start over in a new place. Standing around in the same township accomplishes nothing, and Thami realizes this is not the proper method to bringing about change. Mr. M has suppressed Thami in a tiny environment for all these years, and he finally feels the need to break out and let his voice be heard.
Mr. M grew up in a time where apartheid was not present. He had basic freedoms and he was not treated so harshly as the coloreds are treated in the apartheid period. Mr. M turns a blind eye to the problems that are present in South Africa. He still believes that modern day South Africa is the same as it was many years ago. It is hard for Mr. M to fathom the struggle of the colored people in South Africa because everything was integrated when he was a child. This makes it very difficult for Mr. M, for over a short period of time he was stripped of his basic freedoms. Mr. M believes that true change lies in the hands of the children, for they are the ones that have a future possibility of sparking change in society. Contrary to Thami’s belief that education is a politically based system, Mr. M sees education as a chance to transform his students into fighters. He wants to give his students inspiration and motive to rebel and question the system of apartheid. Mr. M also favors education because he is lonely and depressed. Mr. M deeply values the relationships that he creates with Isabel and Thami. It does not seem as if Mr. M has a significant other in his life. It is strange that he holds such a personal bond with Isabel and Thami, and he continues to push them to be active members of the team so he can spend time with them. He turns Thami into the authorities in hopes that it will cause him to return to school. Mr. M loves Thami like a son, and it is extremely difficult for him to see how Thami has no desire to attend his class anymore. Through the act of fear of loving someone he loves, Mr. M attempts to draw Thami back to the school.
Thami and Mr. M’s conflicting ideas about how to bring about change ultimately result in the death of Mr. M. In the end, Thami is completely against the education system and refuses to go to school while Mr. M continues to back the system, turning in to the authorities those who boycott. Thami’s experiences with apartheid and Mr. M’s struggles with loneliness further influence their ideas and actions regarding change.