I have had quite the week when it comes to radio interviews that have had an impact on me. I will mention the latest one in another post but I was on my way to the airport on Tuesday morning heading to Durban for another one of the Comrades Road Show talks in Richards Bay when I happened to tune into Redi Direko’s show on Talk Radio 702 and she was interviewing McIntosh Polela. I have always been impressed with McIntosh every time I had heard a radio or TV interview with him. He always made sense and seemed to be the voice of reason. I had also heard that he had written a book but didn’t think too much of it. Until Monday that is.
McIntosh Polela - My Father My Monster
I was amazed to hear him speak to Redi about his background and of the difficult time he had growing up. I am a sucker for rags to riches stories and bought the book as soon as I arrived at OR Tambo. I managed to sink my teeth into it on the flight to Durban and haven’t been able to put it down since. The book is a very honest and at times heart breaking look back at his life. The thing that has affected me most reading this work is that I think McIntosh and I are almost the same age (I may be a year or two older than him) and I am battling to wrap my head around the fact that stories like McIntosh’ was playing out around me while I was growing up and I was totally oblivious to it. It saddens me to think that there were children the same age as me that went to bed cold and hungry while I had anything and everything my heart desired growing up but many times I still didn’t think it was enough. I didn’t grow up in an extremely wealthy home but we never really wanted for anything. There was always enough food on the table. There was always a roof over our head. We got to buy new clothes when we needed them. Life was good for me growing up in early post apartheid South Africa. I never had to worry about how my school fees were going to be paid. I now know I took a lot of things for granted. My Father My Monster has opened my eyes and my mind to what many South Africans have had to endure to succeed. I challenge every middle to upper class South African that went to high school and perhaps university in the 1990’s to get this book and submerge yourself in it and realise how lucky you (I) were(was) to grow up the way we (I) did. He has overcome unbelievable odds to end up where he is today. My hat goes off to McIntosh and I wish him all the luck in the world. Once you’ve read the would I would love to know your thoughts on it, feel free to comment below.
