A Human Being Died That Night: A South African Woman Confronts the Legacy of Apartheid

by Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela

Book Overview

An acutely nuanced and original study of a state-sanctioned mass murderer, A Human Being Died That Night explores what it means to be human--both the good and the evil within us.

Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela, a psychologist who grew up in a black South African township, reflects on her interviews with Eugene de Kock, the commanding officer of state-sanctioned death squads under apartheid.

Gobodo-Madikizela met with de Kock in Pretoria's...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0618446591
• ISBN13: 9780618446599
• Release Date: April 2004
• Publisher: Mariner Books Classics
• Length: 193 Pages
• Weight: 0.52 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.5" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

Excellent

This book is not only a great reference for studying forgiveness and conflict resolution, as other reviewers have suggested, but also for anyone looking for an understanding of apartheid and post-apartheid in South Africa. I purchased this book as a student of human rights law, and found it incredibly helpful in detailing background and implementation of such law in South Africa. A good choice for a student or for entertainment.

read this book

This is one of the most powerful books I've read on the power of forgiveness and what it means to be human. I highly, highly recommend it.

A Profound Reflection on our capacity for Reconciation

Pumla Gobodo-Madikezela reflects on central human issues such as the nature of individual and social evil, the possibility of social reconciliation, the individual's ability to move from participation in violent evil to remorse, and the capacity to meet one another with forgiveness. As urgent at these issues are, her narrative makes compelling reading -- both her accounts of her face-to-face meetings with de Kock and her reflections on her personal story. She raises important questions. How are we to achieve reconciliation in an environment of domonization and divisiveness? Is the Nuremburg model of seeking justice for crimes against humanity actually a way of moving towards reconciliation? While she does not come to clear and definitive conclusions, her experiences and reflections raise some of the most urgent questions facing us as a human community.

we could all learn ....

It's a pity more of our current political leaders aren't reading books such as this one. Forgiveness, open hearts, the space to grow - how can this be anything but good? I heard Gobodo-Madikizela on NPR, inspiring me to read her book. It's amazing. I'd recommend it highly.

An essential text

Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela's encounter with Eugene De Kock, known as South Africa's "Prime Evil" of the apartheid system-- tested her boundaries for forgiveness and compassion. It is an essential text for anyone interested in learning how--after traumatic events--it is possible to transcend feelings of revenge and move on.