Mohamed Adhikari. Not White Enough, Not Black Enough: Racial Identity in the South African Coloured Community. Athens: Ohio University Press, 2005. xv + 252 pp. Notes. Select Bibliography. Index. $24.00. Paper. - James Muzondidya. Walking a Tightrope: Towards a Social History of the Coloured Community of Zimbabwe. Trenton, N.J.: Africa World Press, 2005. xvii + 323 pp. Tables. Photographs. Notes.

Abstract

Mohamed Adhikari. Not White Enough, Not Black Enough: Racial Identity in South African Coloured Community. Athens: Ohio University Press, 2005. xv + 252 pp. Notes. Select Bibliography. Index. $24.00. Paper. James Muzondidya. Walking a Tightrope: Towards a Social History of Coloured Community of Zimbabwe. Trenton, N.J.: Africa World Press, 2005. xvii + 323 pp. Tables. Photographs. Notes. References. Index. $29.95. Paper. The titles Not White Enough, Not Black Enough and Walking a Tightrope encapsulate central arguments made by authors Mohamed Adhikari and James Muzondidya, respectively, that Coloured identities have been marked by their marginality and precariousness. Not White Enough, Not Black Enough argues that Coloured identities in South Africa remained relatively stable during era of white domination, while Walking a Tightrope argues that Coloured identities in Zimbabwe went through major transformations between post-World War II era and period of political turmoil in 1980s. Yet both authors proceed from foundational premise that Coloured identity is primarily... a product of its bearers (Adhikari xiii). The two texts agree on historical forces that affected formation of Coloured identities: that ideology of assmilationism, intermediate status of Coloured group, impact of negative stereotyping on Coloured peoples' self-concept, and political marginality have all played key roles in shaping of Coloured identities. Adhikari sees these four elements as having meshed to reproduce and stabilize [Coloured] identity through twentieth century (32). Adhikari uses a series of chronologically arranged case studies, drawn from African Political Organization and Educational Journal between 1909 and 1940; Torch newspaper (produced by Non-European Unity Movement) and Alex La Guma's novella A Walk in Night between 1946 and 1963; and Black Consciousness poetry of James Matthews and newspapers South and Grassroots produced between 1970 and 1994. These case studies are subjected to rigorous scrutiny, and Adhikari comes to highly insightful conclusions. Instead of simply rehearsing received wisdom that activist movements, by their nature, upset status quo or radically question and depart from dominant ideologies, his analysis shows that even such renegades as Non-European Unity Movement and newspaper Torch did not always embrace nonracism. Rather than condemning movements, however, he carefully documents and explains what he calls very considerable concessions organizations made to various forms of racial thinking (101). Through his perceptive explication of factors that contributed to Coloured radicals' continuing adherence to conventional perceptions and attitudes toward Coloured identity, he provides a credible explanation for why it is that the postapartheid period has witnessed significant and swift changes in way Coloured identity manifests itself (162). Adhikari notes that end of apartheid increased both political clout and personal liberty and freedom of association experienced by Coloured people. Coupled with their interstitial position within a transforming South African racial hierarchy, these changes have led to rapid transformations in expressions of Coloured identity. The true strength of Adhikari's text lies in fact that he is unafraid to discuss-sensitively and perceptively-such uncomfortable issues as antiAfrican racism among Coloured people, and African chauvinism. Rather than simply trying to evade historical roots of these racist sentiments or explain them away, he investigates them and provides an analysis of structural changes that accompany such a shift in attitudes. Likewise, James Muzondidya's Walking a Tightrope seeks to unpack how structural changes in economy and society, coupled with individual action, led Coloured people in Zimbabwe to develop ideologies and strategies to secure their economic and social position. …