Blame Me on History

Blame Me on History is the 1963 autobiography of Bloke Modisane, a South African writer, actor, and journalist. The book is a powerful account of the oppression and degradation faced by Black individuals under apartheid in South Africa.1

Modisane was educated in Johannesburg and was part of the editorial staff of Drum magazine in the 1950s, a publication that served as a platform for many African writers. He also gained recognition for his satirical short stories, such as "The Dignity of Begging". After his home in Sophiatown was demolished by the government in 1958, Modisane left South Africa and settled in England. In London, he continued to write and act, often focusing on the realities of life under apartheid.1