My children!My Africa!

Isabel differs from both Mr. M and Thami in one very significant way: she is white. She also attends Camdeboo High School, which is not just an all-girl school, but also an all-white school. She wins the debate with Thami which opens the play, develops a friendship with him and comes between teacher and student, both of whom she respects, when they enter into conflict with each other over how to deal with the political reaction to apartheid. Although Isabel seeks to bridge the gap between white and black society, she cannot. She comes from a place of privilege in a country that belongs to the oppressor.