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page 5 March 5, 1982 ‘Boesman and Lena’ exposes intimate violence of apartheid By Randy Gerald Vestal and Lucy Gray What he does not understand he beats. Boesman, tortured by endless op pression, explodes into blind rage and mindless violence in Athol Fugard’s drama, “Boesman and Lena,’’ N. C. Central’s first drama production of the spring semester. It hurtled the audience into apartheid South Africa and presented an in timate look at the private life of a “colored” (the Afrikaner’s term for mulatto) couple living under the oppressive rule of apartheid. Despite some minor problems, the cast met the challenge of “Boesman and Lena.” Dr. Johnny B. Alston, an assistant professor of drama, masterfully por trayed Boesman, a poor “colored” South African who has been emasculated by its rigid and inequitable apartheid policies. He comments, “We are the white man’s rubbish, he throws it away, we pick it up, we wear it, we eat it, we become it, we are it. That’s why the white man hates us so, because we are his rubbish and he can’t get rid of it.” His concerns are only the basic needs of life; food, water, shelter and wine, his only means to escape the repression. Unfortunately, Boesman often misdirects his anger by abusing his strong- willed wife Lena, excellently played by Isme McClinton-Rose, a drama stu dent from Capetown, South Africa. Lena displays her defiant thoughts and feelings against the government and against Boesman. When she grows tired of talking with herself, Lena adopts a sick and helpless old African, a black Kaffa, to converse with. The old African, well played by Thomas McDonald, an drama student from Rockingham, speaks not a word of English but only his tribal language. Although neither Lena nor the old African can communicate with each other, they are able to con vey their pain and suffering. Finally, while Boesman rants drunkenly at his wife, the old African dies quietly in Lena’s arms. Fearful of the official questions about the old man’s death, Boesman becomes enraged and mindlessly begins to beat the lifeless body. He seems to blame the old man for dying, for the old man’s death has now become the tool of apartheid oppression. After the old African dies, Boesman and Lena gather their meager possessions and continue on their seemingly unending trek across South Africa, searching for a place where the white man will leave them alone. The entire action of the play takes place in a sheet metal shop in the mud flats of the Swartkops River in South Africa. Alston, who designed the set as well as playing the starring role, created the bleak sheet metal shop with only a few props and a splash of paint. The drama department chose to present the play not in the modern, com fortable and well-equiped drama auditorium but in the bleak scene shop in the basement of the Communications Building. Risers filled with folding chairs were placed about three sides of the stage area, situated the audience only a few feet from the performers. The constant eye-to-eye contact with the actors involved them more intimately and emotionally with the characters than they would have been sitting in the large auditorium. The shared experience might have been lost in the modern auditorium. The only problems with the production were the mad scurry for extra chairs before some performances because of accidental over-bookings and some dissatisfication with the crowded and uncomfortable seating. Some New York theatre critjcs have referred to “Boesman and Lena” as a “plotless” play; well, it may be “plotless,” but its production on the NCCU campus was not “pointless.” The play served not only to entertain but to inform its audiences of the conditions of blacks in South Africa. Directed by Karen Dacons, an instructor in the drama department, “Boesman and Lena” closed on Sunday after having a full or near-full house for every performance. Apartheid horrors Continued from page 3 “The white government operates on a ‘divide and rule’ concept,” ex plained Jacobs. “They begin the process at birth when they divide us by tribe, location, and skin col or... like animals. Then they give those of the lighter hues (Asians, In dians, and coloureds) more priviledges than the darker people. By doing this the government hopes to create a hostility between the groups, in order to decrease the chance of a uflited uprising against its white administration. Therefore, by dividing us, it hopes to continue ruling us,” he added. Even though lighter skinned peo ple enjoy more priviledges than the darker Africans, they are far from reaching the political, social, and economic status of whites. “Coloureds may work the same job as a white person, in an area restricted for coloureds of course,” said Jacobs. “But they will receive only half the pay. Blacks receive on- IP4JEgT JPJ YflUR-mTURE What are your options upon graduate school? Have you thought about the job market?....about graduate school? The ATLANTA UNIVERSITY GRADUATE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION is seeking several exceptional students interested in pursuing an MBA, for scholarship and fellowship consideration. Our Executive Management Scholarship Program (EMSP) and Minority Engineers in Management Fellowship Program (MEMFP) were designed to identify and attract exceptional students to our MBA program. Our small class size, exclusive concentration on one degree, and accreditation status (AACSB) have proved to be just the environment many students are seeking. Check your options by contacting: Mr. Brent E. Johnson Atlanta University Graduate School of Business 223 Chestnut St., SW Atlanta, GA 30314 (404) 681-0251 x 393 ^'Here is what I have to say*^ James Faison speaks on “Voting and the Black Community” dur ing the the third annual John D. Lennon Speakers Forum’s “Here Is what I Have To Say” speakout. ly one-fourth the pay for working. the same job. The white government will use any tactic necessary to humiliate and break the spirit of its non-white people. By keeping the non-whites down at the bottom, the whites can enjoy the top positions on the economic ladder,” explained Jacobs. A walk down the streets of Cape Town will reveal one of the most beautifully designed cities in the world. But as you walk, you will soon see “white only” signs plastered on the walls of white businesses. Walk farther and you will see signs stating “non-whites,” and eventually you will ruh into some stamped “for animals and Africans.” This is the kind of humiliation the non-white people must endure everyday. In addition, there is a law that re quires all coloureds and Asians to obtain a “book of life” at the age of 16. This book contains their picture, height, weight, and tribe. It must be presented to conduct any type of business or for permission to travel. Blacks are forced to obtain a passbook. This book resembles the “book of life” in content, but blacks must have it in their posses sion at all times. Jacobs has seen blacks dragged from their homes by police and ar rested for not having the passbook on their persons. Several thousands are arrested for passbook violations annually. South Africa leads the world in prison statistics. Jailed persons become non-existent. They cannot be quoted or named in the media. “Some are placed in small rooms lined with mirrors that are used for psychological torture,” Jacobs commented. Long term political prisoners are sent to Robben Island and sentenced to hard labor. “They usually die there...like Steve Biko. Nelson Muandele and Walter Fisulu, members of the African Nationalist Congress, the oldest resistance group in South Africa, were prisoners there also. When the prisoners are executed, the white police will claim it as suicide and nothing will be done about it, even thought it’s murder,” said Jacobs. The average weekly income of a non-white person in South Africa is $10. Those, whom the government grants a job in the mines, average $20 per week. Collapses in these mines occur daily and hundreds of people have been killed. “Yet, as long as they are non-whites, the government will do nothing. We are cheap labor for them and expen dable. If they can’t get rid of us one way, there are others,” said Jacobs. Jacobs also revealed that the South African government has pro posed a “Homeland Policy Act,” by which they will attempt to place the non-white people, 80 percent of the population, on 13 percent of the most, arid, dry, and worthless land in South Africa. A large amount of Africans already live on similar reservations, where they eventually die of starvation. Jacobs paints a grim picture of South African poverty. “They have only ragged clothing to protect them from the wind. Sometimes, food consists of whatever garbage can be found. Others, who have jobs in the cities, have slightly better diets. One out of three children die of starva- They ’re here! Summer School catalogues are now available in the Summer School Office, Rm. 115, Taylor Education Bldg. CORRECTIONS TO PAGE 7 OF THE CATALOGUE In-state undergraduate and graduate fees are computed at $20.50 per hour. In-state (6 hrs.) tuition: Total tuition and fees: $123.00 $148.75 Total Expense: $423.75 tion. It is common to see some parents digging graves for babies before they are even born,” he said. These are the conditions that the African National Congress is fighting to destroy. The philosophy of the black consciousness is to sabotage and crumble the govern ment’s theory of “divide and rule.” This party is working to unify the three groups of non-white people under one organization. “Apartheid brands us as un civilized, savages,” said Jacobs. “It conditions our minds to want to be like whites. The government wants us to think that only whiteness is of value. I am not interested in the straightening of my hair, but in fin ding my African culture. I beltive under a unified movement, change will come. The government will some day be unable to diffuse the resistance of the African people.” International pressure on South Africa to change its apartheid policies continues to mount. Yet, the country shows very little signs changing. Eagle Spins Grover Washington, Jr. : Come Morning Elektra/Asylum records Producer: Grover Washington, Jr. Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ Well, Grover has done it again! This album is another gem in a series of Washington treasures. Every cut on the album is done With precision and perfection. Grover’s saxaphone and the string arrangements are beautiful. There are really no stand-outs, but “Be Mine Tonight” is a dynamite cut with Grady Tate on lead vocals. I recommend this album for studying or just “coolin’ out.” Cheryl Roberts George Duke: Dream On Epic records Producer: George Duke Rating: ★ ★ ★ George Duke has been putting out quality music for quite some time. Dream On is no exception. George started out in jazz, then he moved to rhythm and blues. This album is a pleasant mixture of both. The stand out cuts are “Ride On,” “Son of Reach For It,”and “I Will Always Be Your Friend.” Buy the album and “Dream ON.” Cheryl Roberts Sister Sledge: The Sisters Cotillion/Atlantic records Producers: Sister Sledge Rating: -k-k -k it Sister Sledge is one of my favorite groups. They are noted for their past singles “He’s The Greatest Dancer” and “We Are Family.” The new album is very impressive in (ts arrangements and style. I found the album to be one of Sister Sledge’s best. The standout cuts are; “Super Bad Lady,” “My Girl,” and “Jackie’s Theme: There’s No Stopping Us.” ‘ If you like Sister Sledge then buy the album. If you don’t like them buy it anyway. Try it! You’ll like it. Kerry Johnson Irene Cara: Anyone Can See Network/Elektra/Asylum records Rating: •kick -k Irene Cara is moving up in the music world. Already and established ac tress, her unique vocal quality is making her a respected singer as well. I enjoyed the album overall. The background vocal really do a lot for the album especially on “Anyone Can See” and “Don’t Throw Your Love Away.” Some other nice cuts are: “Slow Down” and “True Love.” If you like easy listening music then this album is for you. Kerry Johnson Kerry Johnson is Senior Class president and a frequent columnist to the Echo. Cheryl Roberts is a junior from Washington D.C. and a very crazy lady!
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