Summary

Thandi was born as apartheid was easing in South Africa and multiculturalism was taking form. Her mother's family are well-to-do "coloureds--mixed raced, not black" (7). Though her family was not politically active, Thandi's mother was part of the anti-apartheid movement, and while on a trip to Botswana, met Thandi's father, an African-American academic from Pennsylvania. Their relationship grew from there, as Thandi's mother insisted on coming to America to live with her future husband. Thandi remarks that her mother was known for her aggressive relationships, which often stood the test of time. She was close with the black nurses she worked with and other South-African expats in the vicinity. Thandi's mother was eventually promoted to head nurse at her hospital, while her father, a mathematics professor, became department head. Growing up, Thandi was terrified of Johannesburg and the insecurity of the city...