In 1986, Mathabane penned his autobiography Kaffir Boy: The True Story of a Black Youth's Coming of Age in Apartheid South Africa. He later received an honorary doctorate from Wittenberg University in Springfield, OH. Petersburg, FL, and the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism in New York City. He also pursued graduate level studies at Poynter Institute in St.

Mathabane graduated cum laude from Dowling with a degree in Economics in 1983. While attending Dowling, he became the first black editor of the school magazine. After one year, he left Limestone and moved to Saint Louis University.įollowing that, Mathabane attended Quincy College in Massachusetts in 1981 and then moved to Dowling College in Oakdale, NY. Smith took Mathabane under his wing and that ultimately led to his earning a scholarship to Limestone in 1978. Wimbledon tennis star Stan Smith met Mathabane at the South African Championships in Johannesburg in 1976, the same year that he changed his name from Johannes to Mark to hide his identity from the South African government. Inspired by black American tennis player Arthur Ashe, he would go on to join a high school tennis team and participate in tournaments. Eventually, his grandmother became a gardener for a family that introduced him to books and the game of tennis. At one point, he became so miserable that he attempted suicide. Mathabane’s childhood was dominated by fear, poverty and starvation. The general public is welcome to attend, and admission is free. “An Intimate Evening With Mark Mathabane” will take place at 7 p.m. On March 3, he returns to Gaffney for a lecture on his book Kaffir Boy, which will soon be turned into a major motion picture.

Pave The Way - Limestone Brick CampaignĪ tennis scholarship to Limestone College in the 1970s helped Mark Mathabane escape from the brutality of the apartheid system in South Africa.

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Coronavirus: Limestone Health Center Recommendations, Fall 2021.

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Miriam's Song by Mark Mathabane