CBS News Highlights Headmaster's Story

CBS expressed interest in Mr. Maqubela after learning about Groton’s annual New York City reception, which this year was held at the American Museum of Natural History to celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of the Maqubelas’ arrival in the United States. The Groton headmaster’s very first job in the U.S. was at the museum, where he was a coat checker and cashier.

 

A CBS crew first filmed the Maqubelas at the September reception and in the coat check area of the museum. The following morning, they accompanied the Maqubelas to the first two places where they lived after arriving in New York—a homeless shelter on 28^th Street in Manhattan and an apartment in public housing in the Bronx. 

The Maqubelas stood in front of the 28^th Street building—still a shelter today—and recalled their experiences. In the Bronx, they grew nostalgic thinking of their former neighbors; despite crime in the area, they felt safe compared to when they were constantly followed by the South African police—largely because neighbors in the Bronx building watched out for one another.

 

With work complete in New York, cameramen next visited the Circle to film a typical day for Mr. Maqubela, starting at the Headmaster’s House, proceeding to Chapel, Roll Call, and class. Throughout the process, CBS reporter Ines Novacic conducted interviews with the Maqubelas; she also interviewed several students on campus and alumnus Stephen Hill ’80 in New York.  

 

The invitations to Groton’s New York reception had called the evening "Celebrating Opportunity." The event celebrated opportunity for the Maqubelas, as well as for Groton students and those who deserve to attend Groton. The CBS segment celebrated opportunity as well, providing an inspirational story well-suited to a day of Thanksgiving. 

Read the CBS story and watch the video.