Racism

The author begins this story in the middle-late 20th century, when holding racist attitudes was common in all people, even educated ones. Nombeko has two strikes against her for being both black, and a woman, and in her day and in her country that also meant poor. The reader can see the poverty cycle clearly in Nombeko's origins- born to a poor, young black woman, who not only couldn't find a way to work, but spent any money she had on drugs. Nombeko's mother, who saw no way for her child to climb out of their place on the ladder, chose suicide.

Nombeko is exceptional and finds a way to make money and educate herself, and by the end of the story the reader sees her exalted to a place in which she truly deserves to be. However, in her early years she was ignored, discarded...