A new trek, but the same old rhetoric: A review essay of Johann van Rooyen׳s The new great trek: The story of South Africa׳s white exodus

SMC Author

Scott Schonfeldt-Aultman

SMC Affiliated Work

1

Author Role

author

Status

Faculty

School

School of Liberal Arts

Department

Communication

Document Type

Review

Publication Date

2-2009

Publication / Conference / Sponsorship

African Identities

Description/Abstract

This review essay critiques Johann van Rooyen's The new great trek: the story of South Africa's white exodus. It asserts that there are problems with the book's title, structure, and theoretical foundation. This essay contends that there is a problematic reiteration of the rhetoric of crime grounded in a racial dichotomy. It discusses the rhetorics that link whiteness with normalcy and South Africanness, as well as van Rooyen's inappropriate use of terms such as 'exiles', 'victims', and 'diaspora' for these white emigrants. It offers a further analysis of van Rooyen's extended discussion of crime in one section of the book. The essay concludes by offering brief comment on other weaknesses and strengths of the book. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keywords

crime, racism, rhetoric, victim diaspora, whiteness

DOI

10.1080/14725840802583389

Volume

7

Issue

1

First Page

113

Last Page

125

Disciplines

Communication | Social and Behavioral Sciences

Original Citation

Schonfeldt-Aultman, Scott. (2009). A new trek, but the same old rhetoric: A review essay of Johann van Rooyen׳s The new great trek: The story of South Africa׳s white exodus. African Identities, 7(1): 107-119.

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS