“My voice matters. “ The psychobiography of Liezille Jean Jacobs, a First-Generation Black Psychologist in Post-Apartheid South Africa

The psychobiography of Liezille Jean Jacobs

Abstract

In the book, Rocklands: On Becoming the First Generation of Black Psychologists in Post-Apartheid South Africa, Liezille Jacobs aptly titles it, Rocklands, which serves as a signifier of “a common social identity and [that gave the author] a sense of belonging”. Liezille Jacobs takes us on a psychobiography journey, merging the personal, political, cultural, and academic in one form. Liezille Jacobs’ book compels us to grapple with violence, Coloured identity, Blackness, sexism, inequality, racism, patriarchy, White supremacy, and the discipline of psychology in South Africa, albeit in different forms. More importantly, Liezille Jacobs allows us to witness how she confronts her trauma in her quest for healing and rebels against repression and silencing. This book grants Liezille Jacobs agency to rewrite this past in a restorative manner while serving as a reminder that even though she could not speak up in the past, she can prevent further silencing. It gives us, as readers, time to soak in the past and ponder its impacts on us in the present. In conclusion, this book is a great asset because it not only compels the reader to wrestle with contemporary issues in South Africa but also provides the reader with an easy-to-follow guide for producing their own psychobiography.