Wednesday 12th August,
Dear Jeremy,
Alan Paton had written his book ‘Cry the Beloved Country’. It was widely read and had galvanised the country into re-thinking the situation of the African people who were generally referred to as ‘the blacks’. We met Alan Paton down on the South Coast of Natal at a place called Anerley while visiting Averil’s parents. I was large and pregnant with Christopher. My memory is of a slightly built shy man. I don’t think Michael discussed more than saying how much he had liked his book. I think we felt quite in awe of him.
Later at university we met his son who was chairman of the Liberal Party at Natal University. I don’t know when the Liberal Party was formed – perhaps you might be able to look it up for me[1]. We became members.
When we arrived at Lovedale we joined the local group of the party which was quite strong in Alice. I think I am correct in saying it appealed to the intellectuals and there were many at Fort Hare.
Yesterday I heard a programme on the radio hosted by Matthew Parris in which David Milliband chose Joe Slovo as his famous person to be discussed. Joe Slovo was a very active leader of the Communist Party in South Africa. His daughter also took part in the discussion and one of her remarks prompted me to send you these few lines I wrote in 1950. His daughter said that the Communist party was the only party that included African people as members and at meetings.
This is what I wrote in 1950 but I don’t think it was ever published but possibly the ideas were discussed……
‘I would like to suggest to the Liberal Party that they declare a practical socialist programme which will quite naturally include the non-Europeans. At this unco-operative stage of Race Relations no good can be done by well-intentioned people gallantly making propaganda and collecting money if they are not prepared to go the whole hog and put into practise their voiced ideals.
Liberals naturally say that the European electorate must be ‘won over’ first but what good will that do if the party has not the support of the non-Europeans largely on whose behalf this party has been formed. (Not sure if that was true.) It is not enough to be satisfied with the old Black die-hards who have always been liberal and will always remain so regardless of any cataclysmic changes in politics. It is the young people who are rearing families who are the concern of the party. These families will be the future voters, they are the sheep which must be stolen from fanatical groups which must naturally flourish under oppression as fanatical groups always do under such regimes. (Sorry not a good sentence)
I cannot see that a monthly meeting in the European Town Hall in the European city attracting the Black Greybeards who live the history of the old Cape tradition is going to get the Liberal Party anywhere. I suggest the party go to the people, hold their meetings in the African villages in the African halls and canvas, like any politician must do, amongst these people and not in a high-handed, condescending way and say: “ We are open to you, you can come and join us now” and expect them all to come rushing.
The African is not interested in joining the white man and enjoying social privileges as he is in practical politics which will show him in some real sense how he can improve his lot and how he can look forward to advancement and how he can have hope for the future of his children.'
Well a lot of water has flowed under the bridge since then. The Nationalist Party won the election and the future was in jeopardy for so many black and white. I need not elucidate that period of history. It is well known.
I will return to life at Lovedale and Alice next time.
Love you, Mum
[1] May 1953. cjs