Royal University of Phnom Penh

Institute of Foreign Languages

08)
Department of English

Subject: LS 202
Semester 2 (07
Lecturer: CAC

Name: ROS Vutha

Class: M 2.7

The Change of
Woods Attitude
Cry Freedom, by John Briley, involves many characters. Of all these actors, it
is Donald Woodsthe editor of the Daily Dispatchwhose behavior towards South
Africa completely changed. In actual fact, this essay carries out how Woods attitude
altered from supporting apartheid to opposing it during the novel.
To begin with and before the appointment between Steve Biko and Donald
Woods, it was clear that Woodseven though he was liberalapproved of apartheid,
which refers to a political system in South Africa in which only whites had more full
political rights than did blacks. According to chapter 1, page 3, Woods was not in
agreement that black citizens should be allowed to vote; he also accepted the law that
forced blacks and whites to live in separate areas. Moreover, Woods did not concur
with Bikos ideaBlack Consciousness. For example, this white liberal wrote an
editorial attacking this black leader and his organization. Based on page 6, chapter 2,
Woods was of the opinion that Biko needed watching because he aimed to create
black movements which Woods thought were dangerous.
However, having known Biko more clearly, not only did Woods understand
black peoples point of viewor at least Bikos point of viewbut he was also willing
to help South Africa kill a mindset of apartheid. An example is that Woods went to a
black township and had dinner with a black family, talking about what black people
wanted. After that, this white editor, by convincing himself, employed two black

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Royal University of Phnom Penh

Institute of Foreign Languages
08)
Department of English

Subject: LS 202
Semester 2 (07
Lecturer: CAC

journalists who were Tenjy Mtintso and Maphetla Mohapi so that they could cover
every single piece of black news. As a result, his newspaper would be able to make
black voice heard. Later on, Woods attended a black football match where in fact an
illegal black meeting led by Mzimbi and Biko was held. Biko having finished his
speech that black people had to kill the belief that blacks were inferior to whites,
Woods stood up clapping with everyone else. This precisely means he supported such
a nonviolent revolution.
After Biko had passed away, Woods loved Biko and committed himself to
making such a leaders view become a reality even much more than before. Page 62,
chapter 12 shows Woods spent hours phoning friends outside South Africa in order
that the story of Bikos death would be known in every corner of the globe. Apart
from this, to keep what Biko believed alive, Woods wrote a book about it and took the
plunge to go to England so as to have the book published. Luckily enough, Woods
managed to run away from his birth country; however, he still remembered how Biko
and other people had sacrificed their lives to change South Africa.
Taking everything into consideration, I believe the alteration of Woods
manner was on the right track. This was because, at least at that time, such an action
could imply a white person who understood how South Africa governed its beautiful
country and how misery the black people were put great efforts in fighting against
apartheid. Were I him, I would also do the same thing for the sake of human beings
equality. That is to say, I am convinced that no one is either inferior or superior.

Reference:
Briley, John. Cry Freedom. Oxford University Press. 1992

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