My mother was a member of the Cape Coloured community. 'Coloured' is the South African word for the half-caste community that was a by-product of the early contact between black and white. Peter Abrahams africanblackcape Change image and share on social
In East, South and Central Africa, the minority manipulated the majority into believing the minority was the majority, that there were more whites in the world than blacks; instilled in the blacks a sense of inferiority, inadequacy, worthlessness. Peter Abrahams africabelieveblack share on social
Must simplicity and humanity go under in the interest of progress? What is the most important component of civilization - is it human or mechanical? Must thought processes become involved and insincere? Must the class-struggle warp those who are involved in it? Peter Abrahams civilizationclasscomponent share on social
We do not ask the right questions when we are young, so we miss the important answers. Now it is too late to ask, too late for the illuminating answers, and the unanswered questions haunt us for a lifetime. Peter Abrahams answerhauntilluminate share on social
To have the ability to destroy all and not to do it was one of the hard tests humanity passed - but only just - in the middle of the twentieth century. Peter Abrahams abilitycenturydestroy Change image and share on social
The racism of the Nazis threatened to make whatever we had experienced look like child's play. If they could be so brutal to the Jews, what would they do to the blacks? So large numbers of black young men and women rallied to the defence of the empire. Peter Abrahams blackbrutalchild share on social
To get where you want to go you can't only do what you like. Peter Abrahams Change image and share on social
I attended school regularly for three years. I learned to read and write. 'Lamb's Tales' from Shakespeare was my favourite reading matter. I stole, by finding, Palgrave's 'Golden Treasury.' These two books, and the 'Everyman' edition of John Keats, were my proudest and dearest possessions, my greatest wealth. Peter Abrahams attendbookdear share on social
Many have changed so much that they have lost the magic of the dream that carried them on their own bootstraps. Peter Abrahams bootstrapcarrychange Change image and share on social
All my life had been dominated by a sign, often invisible but no less real for that, which said: 'Reserved for Europeans Only.' Peter Abrahams dominateeuropeaninvisible Change image and share on social