The Rise of an African Middle Class

Michael O. West

Description

Finalist, 2003 Herskovits Award

"Offers an extremely sophisticated, nuanced view of the social and political construction of an African middle class in colonial Zimbabwe." —Elizabeth Schmidt

Tracing their quest for social recognition from the time of Cecil Rhodes to Rhodesia's unilateral declaration of independence, Michael O. West shows how some Africans were able to avail themselves of scarce educational and social opportunities in order to achieve some degree of upward mobility in a society that was hostile to their ambitions. Though relatively few in number and not rich by colonial standards, this comparatively better class of Africans challenged individual and social barriers imposed by colonialism to become the locus of protest against European domination. This extensive and original book opens new perspective into relations between colonizers and colonized in colonial Zimbabwe.

Preliminary Table of Contents:

Acknowledgments
Abbreviations
Colonial and Postcolonial Place Names
Introduction
Part 1. The Social Construction of the African Middle Class
1. Running Against the Wind: African Social Mobility and Identity in a Settler Colonial Society
2. Courting "Miss Education": The Love Affair with Social Mobility
3. The Quest for Bourgeois Domesticity: On Homemakers and Households
4. The Best of All Homes: Housing and Security of Tenure
Part 2. The Political Construction of the African Middle Class
5. A New Beginning: The Roots of African Politics, 1914-1933
6. Found and Lost: Toward an African Political Consensus, 1934-1948
7. Back Toward the Beginning: The Pursuit of Racial Partnership, 1949-1958
8. An Aborted Coronation: In Search of the Political Kingdom, 1955-1965
Conclusion
Notes
Bibliography
Index

Sujets

• African Studies
• HISTORY
• Histoire
• África
• Sociology
• General officer
• Politics
• History of Africa
• Anthropology
• General
• Africa
• Culture

Informations

• Publié par: Indiana University Press
• Date de parution: 19 août 2002
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9780253109330
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

The Rise of an African Middle Class
 
 
The Rise of an African Middle Class
Colonial Zimbabwe, 1898–1965
Michael O. West
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
This book is a publication of
Indiana University Press 601 North Morton Street Bloomington, IN 47404-3797 USA
http://iupress.indiana.edu
Telephone orders     800-842-6796 Fax orders     812-855-7931 Orders by e-mail     [e-mail]
© 2002 by Michael O. West
All rights reserved
No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. The Association of American University Presses’ Resolution on Permissions constitutes the only exception to this prohibition.
The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of American National Standard for Information Sciences—Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI Z39.48-1984.
Manufactured in the United States of America
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
West, Michael O. (Michael Oliver)    The rise of an African middle class : colonial Zimbabwe, 1898–1965 / Michael O. West.       p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index.    ISBN 0-253-34085-3 (cloth : alk. paper) — ISBN 0-253-21524-2(pbk. : alk. paper)  1. Middle class—Zimbabwe—History. 2. Zimbabwe—Colonial influence. 3. Zimbabwe—Politics and government—1890–1965. I. Title.    HT690.Z55 W46 2002    305.5′5′096891—dc21 2001008304
1  2  3  4  5  07  06  05  04  03  02
For Gloria Martha Waite in life, and death, our shining glory
 
Contents
 
 
 
Acknowledgments
Abbreviations
Colonial and Postcolonial Place Names
Introduction
Part 1. The Social Construction of the African Middle Class
1      Running against the Wind: African Social Mobility and Identity in a Settler Colonial Society
2      Courting “Miss Education”: The Love Affair with Social Mobility
3      The Quest for Bourgeois Domesticity: On Homemakers and Households
4      The Best of All Homes: Housing and Security of Tenure
Part 2. The Political Construction of the African Middle Class
5      A New Beginning: The Roots of African Politics, 1914–1933
6      Found and Lost: Toward an African Political Consensus, 1934–1948
7      Back toward the Beginning: The Pursuit of Racial Partnership, 1949–1958
8      An Aborted Coronation: In Search of the Political Kingdom, 1955–1965
Conclusion
Notes
Bibliography
Index
 
Acknowledgments
 
 
 
 
 
M ANY INDIVIDUALS and institutions have contributed to this project. As the footnotes bear witness, it is based on sources located in archives and libraries in Zimbabwe, South Africa, Great Britain, and the United States. I am greatly indebted to the staffs and custodians of these institutions for their generosity, patience, and forbearance. A number of other institutions—including Harvard University, Macalester College, Northwestern University, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill—offered space, fellowships, grants, and employment along the way.
Various scholars have generously given of themselves and their time, sharing knowledge and expertise—even though I may have failed, in whole or in part, to absorb the lessons and instructions provided. Foremost among such teachers and instructors is the late Hazen Leroy Vail, under whose supervision (as a doctoral advisor) the initial draft of this book was written. Martin Kilson, contrarious intellectual, sui generis, has been a mentor and source of inspiration for some two decades.
With exemplary timeliness, the readers for the press, John Higginson and Elizabeth Schmidt, offered very constructive comments and helpful suggestions. My editor at Indiana, Dee Mortensen, also gave wise counsel, even as she rendered the process of production smooth and seamless. Other members of the press’s ¤ne staff, including Jane Lyle, played their part. Kathryn Gohl provided sharp-eyed copy-editing. Leslie Bessant and Allison Shutt have been generous friends and colleagues over the years. I am thankful, too, to Gerald Horne, Barbara Moss, Sheila Ndlovu, Godfrey Mpofu, Sam Njovana, Terence Ranger, George Shepperson, Kenneth Vickery, and Luise White.
For encouragement and support, spiritual and material, over many moons I am indebted to Tajudeen Abdul-Raheem, Sara Abraham, Kwame Alford, Barbara Ballard, Dawn Callender, James I. Clark, Veronica Colon, Afua Cooper, Jacques Depelchin, Curline Dorham, Karen Fields, Beverly Grier, Sheila Harding, Mae Henderson, Catherine Higgs, Winston James, Catherine John, Wilma Jones, Vasant Kaiwar, Haile Larebo, Sakui Malapka, Sucheta Mazumdar, Micere Mugo, Tiffany Patterson, Minoca Pinto, Peter Rachleff, Brian Thomas, Chandra Thomas, Juliet Walker, Bobby West, Komozi Woodard, and Assata Zerai.
At the very lowest moment of my life, Jeanne Penvenne demonstrated that generosity of spirit for which she is so well known, and deservedly so. Amid those same dreary clouds, Judi By¤eld supplied music that helped to soothe the soul. Ann Dunbar, Julius Nyang’oro, Bereket Selassie, Debby Crowder, Robin Vander, and other members of the Carolina crew have been enormously kind and generous. Carla DiScala and Al Cramer helped to anchor the Boston end, providing hospitality, conviviality, and humor. Jim Hijiya, in Dartmouth, Massachusetts, played his part with much dedication. Grace Waite Jones kindly offered her services at a particularly crucial moment, while Paul Waite made a number of equally critical interventions. Mike Mcethe and Betty Mcethe have been ¤rm in their support.
Ibrahim Abdullah has excelled as friend, co-worker, and role model, teaching by both precept and example. Fanon Wilkins, a promising laborer of whom much is expected, has been a source of strength, personal and intellectual. I thank Marcus Rediker for his friendship as well as for his advocation and practice of historical reconstructing from below. Horace Campbell has been a true keeper of the flame. His unrelenting and infectious optimism, together with his liberality and giving spirit, anchor many of our hopes and aspirations. I have bene¤ted from Makini Roy-Campbell’s hospitality and learned from her ¤erce, if quiet, determination.
I thank Keletso Atkins for friendship and intellectual commerce, both of which have enriched my life and work. Al Kagan, faithful friend and principled comrade, has gone through many a storm with me. Joye Bowman has been a great blessing to me and mine, and I deeply appreciate her wise counsel and hospitality. Three cheers for John Higginson for lending his broad shoulders and for being a fount in so many ways, not least in making gumbo for Gloria. Merle Bowens’s thoughtful and considerate ways, her caring and loving spirit, have helped to sustain me in ways great and small. Carol Thomas, too, has been a willing worker, assuming many of¤ces—brother, counsel, spiritual advisor, among others—all of them with love, sensitivity, and panache.
I am enormously grateful to Sandra Jackson-Opoku, whose friendship, affection, and encouragement have been consistent and unceasing over the years. Selinah Aisam has been a most caring friend and wonderful resource, and I am very pleased to acknowledge her support of this project.
David Johnson has withstood the test of time and circumstances, proving himself a steadfast and unfaltering soulmate, as solid as the Rock of Gibraltar—an analogy I trust he will allow me to make. Bill Martin, an indefatigable laborer if ever there was one, certainly makes his home on the rock. As a friend, comrade, and co-worker, Bill is simply unrivaled; his willingness to give of himself seemingly knowing no bounds. Then there is rock-steady Savi Home. If, in fact, there is a better friend and ally than Savi, she has yet to appear in the flesh.
Marjorie (Brenda) Thomas constitutes a rock unto herself. Consistent and dependable, sure-footed and steady-handed, Brenda is a sister by both consanguinity and choice, blood and bond. Which brings me to the mother of all rocks—my mother, Avis West, whose succor and support, it is sufficient to say, have been unwavering and unceasing. It is my earnest hope and fervent supplication that Shannon Mariama Houston will, in the fullness of time, plant her feet on the rock.
I have saved the best for last: Gloria Martha Waite. Stripped, quite literally, of her robe of flesh by the rapacious forces of breast cancer, Gloria now makes her stand on the rock of ages, having retreated from this life on July 29, 2000. While she walked among us, Gloria chose to assume a good many roles—wife, mother, sister, friend, confidant, scholar, teacher, and partisan—all of which she fulfilled with characteristic determination, conviction, and gusto. Her aversion to declamation and commitment to action will forever