cover image Lives of Courage: Women for a New South Africa

Lives of Courage: Women for a New South Africa

Diana E. H. Russell. Basic Books, $22.95 (375pp) ISBN 978-0-465-04139-8

Apartheid, argues Russell ( The Politics of Rape) , sociology professor at Mills College in California, is intended to divide not only blacks from whites but all groups and families from each other. Raised in a white, English-speaking South African family, the author, who left at age 20, returned in 1987 to record these 24 moving oral histories of white and black women activist leaders of diverse ages, backgrounds and occupations in their struggles against oppression by the regime and by men. In addition to torture, sexual terrorism and degradation endured during prison terms, many of these women sacrificed motherhood to activism. Such famous leaders as Winnie Mandela, Albertina Sisula and Helen Joseph, among others included here, expect a revolution and stress the need for international pressure. Among those interviewed are members of the banned African National Congress, trade unions and groups primarily concerned with sexism and other feminist issues. These are tales of notable valor. Photos. (Sept.)