McCord speaks of South African lives
Campus Times
November 14, 1997
South African writer Margaret McCord spoke for the 1997 Honors Lecture
Series here at the University of La Verne on Thursday, Nov. 6. McCord is
the author of the award-winning biography, "The Calling of Katie Makanya."
Dr. Labinger wanted McCord to speak "because I read her book and
it's a marvelous book. She's a remarkable woman. She fulfilled a lifetime
promise."
She was also impressed that McCord's book has won two literary prizes
in South Africa. It was awarded the Alan Paton prize in her native country.
McCord was brought up in Durban, South Africa. Her father was an American
medical missionary who is accredited "for establishing the first hospital
for non-Europeans in Natal and the first nurses training program for Zulu
women," according to a press release from Dr. Andrea Labinger, professor
Spanish and director of the honors program.
"She was an interesting woman that has a lot of life experiences,"
said Lisa Naranjo, a junior psychology major.
The subject of McCord's biography, Katie Makanya, was a black South
African woman who "once sang for Queen Victoria and gave up a professional
singing career in Europe to work with Dr. McCord, Margaret's father, for
35 years, where she provided health care to the Zulu community," according
to Dr. Labinger's press release.
Before she died in 1955, Makanya told her story to McCord, asking McCord
to write her life story. They spent six weeks talking about everything Makanya
could remember about her life. McCord had to work out a chronological story
of Makanya's life. McCord said Makanya was like a mother to her while she
was growing up.
According to McCord, the book also talks about Makanya's grandmother
who was a major influence in her life.
"It is very difficult for the biographer to not present a life
in his or her own terms," Margaret said. While she was writing the
story, there were times McCord wanted to insert her own opinions.
More than 40 years later, McCord fulfilled her promise to Makanya with
"The Calling of Katie Makanya," published by John Wiley and Sons,
earlier this year.
"I thought it was a good speech. She sounded like she had a lot
of experience with the Zulu tribes," said Allen Jackson, a junior criminology
major.
"I think both Katie and Margaret had a profound impact on society,"
said Dr. Labinger.
