How to Dismantle Systems of Power and Violence: A Review of the political memoir, A Blow to the Head by Andries du Toit

Title: A Blow to the Head: a history of violence

Author: Andries du Toit

Publisher: Modjaji Books

ISBN & Price: 9781991240255, $31.50

Buy here.

A Blow to the Head: A History of Violence by Andries Du Toit is an essay-style memoir, divided into parts, that explores the author’s personal encounters with violence and racism. It charts his descent into a deeper inquiry about the roots of ongoing racial violence in South Africa and the uncomfortable question of his own role within it. The memoir explores themes that expand beyond racial violence but no doubt feed into it, such as white privilege, white positionality, student protests, capitalism, and systemic injustice. It is a hard-hitting, deeply researched, and philosophically rich examination of the systems that sustain cycles of violence, inequality, and division.

The book opens with powerful quotes by Sister Đẳng Nghiêm, Joshua M. Schrei, and Báyò

Akómoláfé, setting a reflective tone of healing that contrasts the memoir’s exploration of dark and challenging themes. The first quote by Sister Đẳng Nghiêm reads, “We are fractal structures of our society. We do not heal in isolation; our healing is collective.” The notion of collective healing offers the readers a glimpse of hope before they are forced to confront systems that can seem overpowering and overwhelming.

Du Toit begins the memoir by detailing a seemingly minor incident at his local fitness club,

where he confronted a white man for directing microaggressions toward a Black waitress. However, this situation escalates into something far more sinister when Du Toit ends up being attacked in a parking lot by a notorious gangster. What follows is a frenetic and introspective race to connect the dots between these two incidents–not just as isolated acts of violence, but as part of an entire system built upon racial hierarchy and the lingering effects of colonialism and apartheid.

The memoir follows a unique structure, divided into eight parts, each introduced by a

black-and-white symbolic image. These visuals–ranging from a stop sign with an open hand, a tree, a screwdriver head, a caution sign, a punching fist, to a lotus and various hexagrams–serve as thematic entry points for each section. Each symbol reflects the emotional or conceptual undercurrent of the part it precedes. The final image, a hexagram accompanied by the quote "working on what has been spoiled," alludes to the struggle against systemic decay and the ongoing journey of repair and restoration.

Du Toit writes intellectually, mirroring more closely a political or philosophical essay than a

narrative memoir. The particular audience for this work would be academics and activists who share a mutual interest and understanding in postcolonial theory, structural racism, and South African politics. While all readers can glean nuggets of insight from Du Toit, the dense philosophical sections and heavy logistical detail (e.g. exact street names, room numbers) may make it difficult for some to connect. Although there are moments that zoom in on personal experiences, the memoir as a whole requires a high level of engagement to fully grasp the concepts being explored. The personal narratives and human stories help ground the theory and draw the reader back to something relatable, but there are too few of these moments to keep the reader consistently anchored.

In all, A Blow to the Head: A History of Violence is a compelling deep dive into the harmful

structures that persist in society–and the roles we play, whether consciously or unconsciously, in enabling and reinforcing them. Du Toit raises urgent questions about what it will take to dismantle these systems, drawing on the work of prominent academics and professionals to build a sense of the “collective”–a necessary force to tear down what has been and imagine something new. As Du Toit reflects, “I still thought that the point of the whole story was not simply the casual racism that I had witnessed but the almost psychotic response my challenge had evoked,” (p. 78), emphasizing how entrenched and violently defended these structures can be when confronted.

Review by Britain Powers