Stacy Suckerman - Early life

The basics:

Growing up, Stacy's roots were placed in Johannesburg, South Africa, which she proudly called her home. Stacy not only considered the area her geographical home, but an emotional residency with her early memories and upbringing. She also lived close to many members of her family, creating a strong sense of family who were an integral party of Stacy's life. As for schooling, Stacy attended Jewish day school throughout elementary, middle and high school, intertwining her educational path with the values and traditions of her Jewish heritage.

“we grew up with our family close by, we would see our grandparents all the time and cousins and aunts and uncles so we were a very close family”

Johannesburg, South Africa

Experience with Apartheid as a Child

During the time Stacy attended school, Apartheid was the law in South Africa. Blacks and whites for forced to go to different schools and live in different areas.
"When I was younger I did not understand what the Apartheid was"
When she was younger there were many uprisings against the government to push for Blacks and whites to have equal rights
As Stacy grew up, she understood the Apartheid more and disagreed with it

Post grade school:

Stacy's educational journey took her to the University of Witwatersrand, where she pursued a course of study in occupational therapy. During this period, segregation had casted a shadow over South Africa. Fortunetely, the university allowed races to be in the same school system and classes.

After University, Stacy worked at Natalspruit hospital for four years.

"I have many memories in college of the black students protesting on campus and the police spraying them within water and rubber bullets". - Stacy

Natalspruit Hospital is in Vosloorus, South Africa, right outside of the Johannesburg area. At the time it was mainly occupied with Black patients.

More about Apartheid (From Stacy's View):

1993/1994

Apartheid was abolished in 1993 due to internal and expernal pressures
Mandela was released in 1994 and was voted South Africa's First Black president
What was once the African National Congress became South Africa's Government
After the election, everyone was equal but there was an economic gap between races, leading to crime

Lives at home

White people employed Black people to work for them in their yards
Families that had Black people work for them had maid quarters right outside their houses where the workers lived full time, only to see their children on vacations
Black people that did not work in these maid quarters mainly lived at tribes in rural areas that had mud huts, tribe leaders and witch doctors