The rebel writer and proponent for the Black Consciousness Movement James Matthew has died at 95.
Matthew was a trailblazing South African writer, and his death marks the end of an era. He was known for his vehement criticism of the apartheid government, which led to jail time and a ban on his works.
Early in his career his writing was limited to small magazine publications; however in 1972 his first collection, Cry Rage was published. It was banned by the apartheid regime, as would also happen to his later works. The subsequent banning of his publications led him to focus even more on the subject of government criticism. He published 6 works during the apartheid government, being jailed multiple times over the years for the collections. After the apartheid regime was over his works continued, though focused on various social issues, and eventually the idea of mortality and “the end”. In his life he had 11 official publications, with uncountable more being magazine articles. His writing has always been praised as bold, moving, and undoubtedly rallying.