The Black Sash: Women for Justice and Peace by Mary Ingouville Burton, published by Jacana Media was released to coincide with activities around Women’s Day on 9 August.
Fifty years after joining the Black Sash, Mary Burton, a former president of the Black Sash, remembers the origins of the organisation.
So who were these hundreds of women who formed the Black Sash over 40 years? They were educationists and teachers, poets and writers, artists and musicians, respected academics, lawyers and doctors, elected public representatives, counsellors and councillors, activists and campaigners. Some were brave and forthright, some “the timidest titmouse”. Some were highly intelligent and politically sophisticated. Some were artistic and creative, some deeply spiritual. Some were moved by anger, some by pity, some by guilt. All shared a profound awareness of the injustice of their society.
We recognised the ambivalent place of white women in apartheid society, from which we could not help deriving some benefits, but yet chose to oppose the system. We understood that we could use our very privilege and protection to exert pressure for change. Far from being unwitting tools in the hands of the liberation movements, as some of our critics claimed, we were fully aware that although our contribution was limited, it was still a part of the whole. We were realistic about what we might be able to achieve and we had the ability to laugh at ourselves, but without abandoning our right to a voice and a role. All of us had a willingness to learn, to engage, to participate in debate and the ability to grow, to change our minds if presented with good arguments, to find new ways of existing in a complex, changing society.
This is an edited extract from Mary Burton’s book, The Black Sash, published by Jacana Media.
For full report see Mail & Guardian
Jacana Media would like to invite you to the launch of The Black Sash: Women for Justice and Peace by Mary Ingouville Burton.
The event will take place at The Book Lounge on Tuesday, 18 August, at 5:30 for 6 PM.
