UFS Law student and human rights activist, Ntshala Mahase has just finished his debut novel, titled Life out of the ordinary.
The book is about a boy who finds out how privileged he is, and dedicates his life to helping those who are not as privileged as he is. Growing up in the deep suburbs of Hyde Park, Tom knew little about white privilege, marginalisation, and the under-privileged. He knew less about the other side of society where grass is certainly far less green. All it took was a special trip to school to set his eyes into the impoverished conditions other people live in.
After realising he enjoyed privileges that most non-white people did not, he went on a transformational journey, filled with nothing else but self-loathing and self-dejection. He took refuge by creating his own fairy-tale imaginary world – a world in which all people are equal, and none have unearned privileges accruing to them, based on their race or gender or sexual orientation.
Unfortunately for the young boy, his life becomes more of a horror when most of the truths became visible. Being fed up by injustices suffered by those who are marginalised and under-privileged, especially the non-whites, he suffers a great deal of emotional anxiety and depression, ultimately attempting to commit suicide on numerous occasions. Finally, he finds peace in the real world after realising that nothing can be done to change the past, but that something can be done to change the future. He starts becoming involved in activists’ causes in trying to give something back for what he has enjoyed at other people's expense.
“As an activist, I’ve always wanted to write about justice and equality,” says Mahase. “I met a white guy last year, and he shared his life story of how he is, and has always been, privileged, and how he wants to do everything possible to do something in return .
“I then decided to write his story in a fictitious way. But before I wrote the book, I had to do further research about the topic of white privilege. I was overwhelmed by great stories of financially privileged white people, who are doing their bit to help the disadvantaged and under-privileged.”
The book will be launched on 24 July 2015 at the CR Swart Auditorium, UFS Bloemfontein Campus.
The readers can get a copy directly from Mahase at ntshalam@ymail.com or 076 535 8264. It can also be ordered from Megadigital online bookstore or from Amazon.com for an e-book copy.
Mahase runs a non-governmental organisation called Cause of Action, and is currently living in Bloemfontein while studying at the UFS.