Mark Mathabane

Mathabane's latest work of fiction, The Proud Liberal, was published in 2010. The Proud Liberal is a modern-day thriller, which deals with controversial issues such as terrorism, racism, and intolerance in America.

In 2000, Mathabane established a non-profit organisation which he named after his mother Magdalene. As stated on Mathabane's website, the fund's mission is to: "create hope in an impoverished, bleak part of the world by providing scholarships, books, uniforms and school supplies for needy children attending Bovet Primary School in Alexandra Township, South Africa."

Miriam's Song was published in 2000, and was nominated for the Alan Paton Award. Miriam's Song is a true account of the struggles of Mathabane's sister Miriam in apartheid South Africa.

In 1999, Mathabane wrote his first novel Ubuntu. Ubuntu is a fictional thriller of a human rights lawyer in post-apartheid South Africa.

African Women: Three Generations was Mathabane's fourth book, published in 1994. African Women tells the true story of the struggles of Mathabane's grandmother, mother, and sister in South Africa.

Mathabane had his first visit to the White House in 1993 after being invited by President Bill Clinton, who had read Kaffir Boy. From 1992–1993, Mathabane served as a White House Fellow under US President Bill Clinton, and assisted him with his educational policies. Mathabane has written articles for some print sources. He has also been a guest on several different TV and radio shows, and is also a well-known speaker. Mathabane and his wife, Gail (née Ernsberger), their three children (Bianca, b. 1989, Nathan b. 1991 and Stanley b. 1994), and his extended family lived in North Carolina. They relocated to Portland, Oregon in 2004, where he was formerly director of multicultural education at Catlin Gabel School.

In 1992, Mathabane coauthored his third book, Love in Black and White: The Triumph of Love over Prejudice and Taboo, with his wife Gail. Love in Black and White examined Mark and Gail's interracial relationship, and the obstacles that they faced.

Mathabane's second book Kaffir Boy in America: An Encounter with Apartheid was also his second autobiography, and was published in 1989. Kaffir Boy in America picked up where Kaffir Boy had left off and followed Mathabane's early life in America.

Mathabane wrote his autobiography, Kaffir Boy, in 1986. Kaffir Boy illustrated his prior life in apartheid South Africa, and became a national best-seller. After reading Kaffir Boy, Oprah Winfrey invited Mathabane to appear on her show. Mathabane went on to write several other literary works. (See LITERARY WORKS section.)

Mathabane's first book was Kaffir Boy: the True Story of a Black Youth's Coming of Age in Apartheid South Africa, which was published in 1986, is an autobiography of his early life in apartheid South Africa. This book was listed as number one on the Washington Post's best-sellers list, and as number three on the New York Times best-seller list. Kaffir Boy has also won a Christopher Award, has been translated into several different languages, and is also used in many American classrooms.

While attending Dowling College Mathabane became the first Black editor of the school magazine. He graduated Dowling College cum laude with a degree in Economics in 1983. Mathabane also pursued graduate level studies at Poynter Institute and the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism.

Mathabane was faced with a whole new world in America. Even though he had escaped apartheid from South Africa, racial discrimination and prejudice still existed in America. Mathabane attended Limestone College in 1978 and then moved to Saint Louis University in 1979. Following that, Mathabane attended Quincy College in 1981 and then moved to Dowling College.

1972 Wimbledon tennis star Stan Smith, was a key element in helping Mathabane obtain a tennis scholarship to the United States. Mathabane met Smith in 1977 at the South African Championship tennis tournament in Johannesburg. In 1978, with the aid of Smith, Mathabane moved to the United States and started attending Limestone College in South Carolina.

Mark Mathabane (born Johannes Mathabane, 18 October 1960) is a South African author, lecturer, and a former collegiate tennis player and college professor.