The South African: True Colours

By: T. Dench Patel

Narrated by: T. Patel

Saesha is being raised as a Hindu girl in a patriarchal society during apartheid in the outskirts of Johannesburg, South Africa. She has no idea that apartheid even exists. Where do black South Africans live at night? Why does her dad take them through a separate entrance when they enter theme parks and picnic spots? These are just split second wonders that enter her mind when faced with it in the present.

Saesha likes to do things that boys do and enjoys watching her brothers and their friends do stunts and tricks while skateboarding. She's frustrated with the pressures of becoming a perfect upper-caste Gujarati girl. She learns about the struggle each race has been through during apartheid and digs into Indian people's history in South Africa.

Their struggles increase her awareness of her parent's lives. There are moments where Saesha is lost about who she wants to be, who she's meant to be, who she's expected to be, yet along that road, there are also cultural barriers. She faces unique challenges, and at times, she has to face what most adolescents have to face around the world. The question is: Who is she destined to be?

©2018 T. Dench Patel (P)2018 T. Dench Patel

Insightful, transparent and inspiring!

T. Dench Patel took me into a journey of discovery, conflict, gratitude and resolution.
Addressing gender and racial issues that seem antiquated but still prevalent in today’s
world, Patel’s story evoked anger, fear, sadness and joy. The author’s simple but descriptive use of language brought this story to live, and I thoroughly enjoyed it from beginning to end.