The humanity of whiteness in Sindiwe Magona’s Mother to Mother

Abstract

In this article, I will use a textual analysis of Sindiwe Magona’s Mother to Mother (1998) as a framework through which to critique and expand upon the concerns reflected in current studies of whiteness. As I will observe, the field of Whiteness Studies offers an insightful lens through which to examine the constructions of whiteness, particularly with regards to how it capitalizes on Black identities and subjectivities. Yet, it does not address the different formations of white identity that may emerge when seeking out points of empathy and connection between Black and white individuals and communities. Through a specific focus on Magona’s portrayal of the figures of the white “madam”, the white liberal activist, and the white grieving mother in Mother to Mother, I will examine how the novel demonstrates the ways in which engaging with the humanity of whiteness can potentially illuminate these different formations of white identity.