Love in Black and White: The Triumph of Love Over Prejudice and Taboo

In a stirring interracial love story, black author Mark Mathabane ( Kaffir Boy ), born in a South African ghetto, and his white American wife, Gail, recall in alternating chapters their meeting as journalism students; stormy courtship and marriage, initially opposed by their families; and decision to have children. They attribute the success of their relationship to ``mutual trust and respect for each other's individuality.'' Gail describes feeling overwhelmed by the unreserved, at times invasive love of her husband's family; Mark asserts that a subtle kind of American racism can be more insidious than South Africa's brutal apartheid, and notes that on his book tours blacks--especially women--react angrily to his having a white wife. Many mixed couples both in the U.S. and in South Africa, the authors find, keep their relationship secret for fear of alienating both communities. Author tour. (Feb.)