Read chapters 7-10 of Alan Paton's Cry, the Beloved Country and write/post a journal: Identify and explain one of the discoveries of Stephen Kumalo and its importance.

-- Anonymous, February 16, 2005

Answers

Stephen Kumalo has learned many things on his journeys so far in South Africa. One important discovery is the work of Dubula. This man is trying to make life better for the black race in South Africa. One thing he does is establish the bus boycott. He believes bus fare for whites should be equal to that of blacks, so he sets up a boycott that gains many participants. Another work of Dubula is the building of houses near Shanty Town. The temporary houses are only good until rain and winter set in, so Dubula is building homes that will last all year. With the discovery of Dubula's work, Stephen Kumalu is happy and proud.

-- Anonymous, February 16, 2005

   Stephen Kumalo discovers from his brother John in chapter 7 of how people close to him are averse to the tribal system that he lives by. John told him that in that system he is a nobody in comparison to the chief. But at Johannesburg, a more capitalistic way of life, he runs a business, and he is more free to do what he wants, as long as he can make ends meet. This might have an effect on Kumalo throughout the book; he may possibly begin to question the tribal system himself, as well as other things.

-- Anonymous, February 16, 2005

One thing that Kumulo discovers is the condition of his son, Absalom. When Kumulo first finds about his son, it puts him on a wild goose chase all acroll Johannesburg. Then, when he arrives at the old lady's house, he finds out, through Msimangu, that his son is a petty thief stealing from white people. This upsets Kumalo, as he is starting to see how Johannesburg has not only affected his brother, but also his son. Then, he ends up at the front door of a reformatory, where he learns that his son was well behaved and was let out early on account of the woman he got pregnant and his good behavior. He finds out that he has a paying job and is about to get married. Finally, when Kumalo arrives at the house that Absalom is supposed to be staying in, he finds that Absalom has been gone for nearly three days and there is no sign of him. This whole experience has taught Kumalo about the realities of living in the city, just as what his brother had told him.

-- Anonymous, February 16, 2005

I think the discovery of the boycott is pretty important in and of itself. Without the Africans riding the buses, the whites will eventually have to give into their demands. The eleven mile walk shows how far people are willing to go to find a voice in this new and strange society. If the boycott succeeds, then it will prove that Africans are not losing the "war" against their tribal customs, and are willing to go the extra mile (or eleven, for that matter) to say what needs to be said, and do what needs to be done, for the benifit of all of their people.

-- Anonymous, February 16, 2005

When Stephen Kumalo sees white people driving black people and helping them so openly with the prospect of going to jail, he is deeply touched. He discovers that the relations between blacks and whites aren't totally defective, and it gives him hope that the tribe will be rebuilt.

-- Anonymous, February 16, 2005

He discovers that despite all of the laws and restrictions, black people and white people are not all that different. White people are supporting the boycott openly, driving black people to work. Also, many white people took time out of their job to help them with their search. Another great example of white people helping the blacks was Dubula’s attempts to make a nice, affordable community for blacks. Unfortunately, there will always be white people that take advantage of black people. The discussion about the mines, and as they white man makes more money, he keeps t is an excellent example. Also, when John almost laughed at the idea of a white man talking to a black man over the telephone, you could see that there was still much segregation. Stephen Kumalo discovered that the relations between black and white people aren’t as bad as he had been told they were.

-- Anonymous, February 16, 2005

In my opinion, Stephen Kumalo's discovery of Shanty Town is extremely important. He sees what life is really like for some in Johannesburg, but also that there is hope for them. There are white men building houses that have roofs and are no longer just temporary. It shows Kumalo the way of life for some people in Johannesburg, the seemingly hopeless lives they live, but also that there is hope, and that it comes in the form of the white man. Another thing is that it shows him that things are not that bad yet for him.

-- Anonymous, February 16, 2005

One of Kumalo's most important discoveries is that many important people in Johannesburg seem to have fallen away from the Church. John Kumalo and Dubula especially are two people who have no use for religion anymore.

As a religious leader, Stephen Kumalo is upset and saddened by this. His brother's decision to turn away from God especially seemed to hurt him, although he and Msimangu appear to gradually become resigned to occurences such as this.

-- Anonymous, February 16, 2005

One of the most important things that Kumalo finds is when he was talking to his brother and he tells him about how the white priests make four or five times more money than he. Although the bishop is friendly to him, he still lives in a giant house while Kumalo lives in a small poor area. This has always been around Stephen, he just realizes it now. He is against violence against whites, but he sees that they have much more advantages.

-- Anonymous, February 16, 2005

In the reading of chapters 7-10 Stephen Kumalo makes many discoveries, one of which his the discovery of his son and his sons past. Throughout these chapters Mr. Kumalo finds places where his son had recently been and how he was a thief and robbed the whites of many things. When Mr. Kumalo’s journey nearly ends he finds that he is going to have a grandson and that his son had not returned from a trip.

-- Anonymous, February 16, 2005

A major discovery made by Stephen Kumalo is that Johannesburg is not all bad. He sees that there are some black people that make a difference such as Dubala and his brother. He also finds that there are some white people who care, for example those who give rides to the boycotters even when they are facing jail.

-- Anonymous, February 16, 2005

One important thing that Kumalo learns on his trip is that his brother John has fallen away from the church. John believes the church to be like the white man because the bishop lives in a large house and is paid much morethan the local parsons. He also says that the church isn't going to make any changes becase it has been speaking out against the laws for fifty years and things have only gone downhill.

-- Anonymous, February 16, 2005

I think that Stephen Kumalo finds that in his view Johannesburg is not completely horrible, but at the same time finds that it is. He sees people are trying to make the city better. The bus boycott trying to help the black community, and the aid it gets from many white people. The creation of temporary housing for those who are homeless. Although he finds that people are turning farther away from the church, which dismays him. He finds, even in his own family, what I'm sure many church-goers, including the reverend, consider immoral.

-- Anonymous, February 16, 2005

Stephen discovers that the city of Johannesburg is constantly growing and changing for the worse. From the bus boycott to lack of space in the black areas of Johannesbug, the city is changing. People are moving away from the church, the white people brought industrialization, and his own children have their problems. Johannesburg is rapidly growing with white and black people.

-- Anonymous, February 16, 2005

I thought one of kumalo's major discoveries was that of his brother. He found that there were many people opposed to the tribal system of which he was accustomed to. eben though he was astonished and flabergasted at the hurtful remarks of his brother, he still respected his opinions. With the Help of Msimungu of course, Kumalo had help to understand the ways of Johannesburg and it's many diverse opinions and ways. On one hand Kumalo saw the bad side of Johannesburg, but on the other he saw that there was also a kind and friendly side of it (the white man you drove them 11 miles down the road).

-- Anonymous, February 17, 2005

One thing that Steven Kumalo discovered is how poor the gold mining conditions are in all of South Africa. Msimangu told him of how white life in Africa is built on the backs of black labour and sweat. He told Kumalo of how the hospitals were lined with the dying bodies of black men who worked in the mines and were dying because of this. That is why this is one of the most startling discoveries that that Kumalo makes.

-- Anonymous, February 17, 2005

I think one of the biggets discoveries Kumalo makes is the discovery of what his world has become. When he comes to Jahanesburg, he learns about his brother's lost faith and his son's rowdy days (as well as his sister's dishonorable life in earlier reading). He discovers exactly what has become of his family.

-- Anonymous, February 17, 2005