The book launch of of A Child of Apartheid: A Memoir of a Colored Capetonian, by the Rev. Noble Scheepers, will be held at Roxbury Community College on Wednesday Dec. 6 from 12 to 2 p.m. (Student Commons Building 3, rooms 113E and 113F).
[Publicity release]: The Rev. Noble F. Scheepers was born in Cape Town, South Africa, during the height of apartheid, and lived there until he emigrated to the U.S. in 2008. His new autobiography shares the difficulties he had to endure, including the loss of his two children. In A Child of Apartheid, Scheepers details his childhood as the youngest of seven, and follows his upbringing, including going to seminary school, his marriage and the birth and eventual passing of his son and daughter.
Much of the dialog in the book is in Afrikaans, or "kitchen language" as Scheepers refers to it, to retain the authenticity and as an ode to the people of the Cape Flats area of Cape Town. "My story could be the story of tens of thousands of nonwhites, mixed race, people of color, ethnicity, culture, class and caste born and living in a world of white supremacy," said Scheepers. "I am not seeking empathy, as I have grown to embrace opportunities of privilege and leadership in the church, my career and society. This is seen through my eyes within the contexts of my growth, pain and successes before I emigrated to the USA."
Scheepers will continue to dedicate any proceeds from his book ($25) to several charities to honor the legacy of his two deceased children, Robin and Sandi. The beneficiaries will be the ministries of spiritual dancing, and junior choir at St. Timothy's Anglican Church in Factreton, Cape Town, and a scholarship fund for psychiatric students in need of financial assistance in Cape Town. "This book is meant for the eyes of the beautiful people of the Cape Flats and surrounding areas of Cape Town," said Scheepers. "My late children have been my inspiration, and this book is to become a legacy of their purpose."