Merrett is a journalist for a daily newspaper in South Africa, and he has written this volume to describe the link between physical recreation and sports to his country's political, social and economic history. Written for general readers as well as those interesting in international relations, this book focuses on "white sport" in the author's hometown of Pietermaritzburg and how racial tensions and protests led an anti-apartheid coalition to foment meaningful legislation. Appendices provide statistical data on sporting events, demographics and surveys of recreational provisions. Distributed in North America by ISBS. Annotation ©2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
This is a story of insiders and outsiders. Author Christopher Merrett uses physical recreation as a lens through which to view the political, social, economic, and cultural history of the South African city of Pietermaritzburg. He traces successive ideologies of imperialism, colonial segregation, and apartheid to show how sport was used to keep communities apart. Sport in Pietermaritzburg was 'white sport.' After the imposition of legislation, access to recreation facilities became a powerful cause for the city's anti-apartheid coalition. Sport provided an opportunity, one of the few in a police state, for meaningful protest. Sport, Space and Segregation provides an insight into the psychology of racism.
