Baines, Gary F.

Dr. Gary Baines is Senior Lecturer in the History Department, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Cape Town. His areas of research include South African urban history and culture. Dr. Baines has published numerous articles.

History of New Brighton Port Elizabeth, South Africa, 1903-1953

2002 0-7734-6957-5
This is the history of the first fifty years of Port Elizabeth’s ‘shadow’ and oldest existing township, New Brighton. Part One outlines the economic, demographic and political context for understanding the City Council’s policies toward its African population. Part Two examines the establishment, financing, administration and control of New Brighton by local officialdom. Part Three fleshes out the social, cultural and political history of the New Brighton community, exploring social identities and practices, including church involvement and sports and leisure activities. It examines the high levels of political activism in the community, and accounts for the increase in violent behavior. The study is based on documentary as well as oral evidence. It moves beyond the political economy paradigm to incorporate insights from anthropology, cultural studies, and discourse analysis. With illustrations.