"Role Reversal" by Patricia Smith

A few months ago, South African double-amputee runner Oscar Pistorius was put on trial for the killing of his girlfriend, model Reeva Steenkamp. In South Africa, jury trials do not exist. The judge alone determines the fate of the person on trial. Judge Thokozile Matilda Masipa was designated to judge Pistorius. He was found guilty of culpable homicide and could face up to 15 years in prison. In the article "Role Reversal" by Patricia Smith, it is described how far South Africa has come after the repeal of apartheid, a system of racial segregation. Under apartheid, a black woman judging a white man was unheard of. In the Pistorius trial, the roles were most definitely reversed.

Many specific craft moves are used throughout the article. Most importantly, Smith uses the Pistorius trial to point out how the repeal of apartheid completely changed South Africa. The fact that a black woman judged a black man shows how far the country has come. In the article, it is stated that "A black woman judging a white man would have been unthinkable under apartheid." The word "unthinkable" is used to strongly portray the severity of segregation under apartheid. The perspective of only one person other than the author is included, race is not specified. The perspective of blacks/whites is missing. The author uses many craft moves to communicate her message to the reader.

I realized after reading this article that South Africa has come a long way since the repeal of apartheid, but racial tensions still reside. After all, apartheid wasn't repealed until 1991, and only because of international pressure. This was nearly 30 years after the civil rights movement of the 1960's in the United States. Despite this, it only took 3 years for the nation to elect a black president (Nelson Mandela). In a country with a black majority, whites ruled. I think that it's very strange that South Africa has only been equal for 23 years. I find it even more strange that it took the nation so long to recognize equal rights for all races. Also, I must wonder how a minority ruled a large nation for so long. In conclusion, the Pistorius trial is a reminder of the effects of the repeal of apartheid and the lingering racial tensions.