Nelson Mandela and South African History   Term Paper ID:44088 Click to get this paper

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Paper Abstract: This paper offers three learning modules that are based on different sections of the autobiography of Nelson Mandela, Long Walk To Freedom. The modules focus on various aspects of Mandela's liberation struggle leadership, including his years in the ANC, his trials for treason and his imprisonment for nearly three decades. Paper Introduction: Nelson Mandela and South African History A Learning Journal Module Summary These sections of Mandela\'s autobiography demonstrate that more thandiving into liberation politics the leader stumbled into freedom fighting As he explains I had no epiphany no singular revelation no moment oftruth but a steady accumulation of a thousand slights a thousandindignities a thousand unremembered moments produced in me an anger arebelliousness a desire to fight the system that imprisoned my people Mandela p Working as a lawyer with his longtime friendOliver Text of the Paper: The entire text of the paper is shown below. However, the text is somewhat scrambled. We want to give you as much information as we possibly can about our papers and essays, but we cannot give them away for free. In the text below you will find that while disordered, many of the phrases are essentially intact. From this text you will be able to get a solid sense of the writing style, the concepts addressed, and the sources used in the research paper. 283).Throughout his trial and imprisonment Mandela never loses sight of the factthat one day he will be free. As Mandela (1994) explains, blacks weredesperate for legal help at is was "a crime to walk through a Whites Onlydoor, a crime to ride a Whites Only bus, a crime to use a Whites Onlydrinking fountain, a crime to walk on a Whites Only beach, a crime to be onthe streets past eleven, a crime not to have a pass book and a crime tohave the wrong signature in that book, a crime to be unemployed" (p. Mandela figured is things went poorly;others in the organization could have labeled him as an old man whoseisolation had put him out of touch with reality. Itseemed to give him a wisdom and weight that were absent in his youth,especially with how to deal with interactions related to the liberationstruggle. At Pollsmoor he is more able to keep abreastof outside world events, including acts of violence by the ANC he justifiesas being necessary due to "the violence of the Apartheid regime" (Mandela,1994, p. Recently I have been studying thelegality of gay marriage bans and find that homosexuals are being deniedtheir constitutional guarantees of due process and the 14th Amendment. This demonstrates the kind of sacrificeliberation of a people often takes on individuals involved in the struggle. As Mandela (1994) explains of this fateful choice that wouldultimately see him sentenced to life in prison, "Henceforth, the ANC wouldbe a different kind of organization. From the Free Mandela Committee's use of the "Free Mandela"campaign to Mandela (1994) viewing the case as one representing the"aspirations of the African people," the trial put Mandela away for nearlythree decades but also helped foment unity and support for liberation amongblack South Africans as well as the international community (p. Inthis way, homosexuals are being treated like second-class citizens in theworld's greatest democracy because despite being citizens not all of theguarantees of the U.S. 447). Mandela seems to reluctantly take up his post of military leader,having little experience in such matters but knowing non-violence as ameans of resistance will not break the power of the South Africangovernment. Mandela was an intensely passionate man who could not tolerate theinjustices and suffering of his fellow blacks. By educating himself and others and by befriendinghis warders rather than making enemies of them, Mandela was able to achievethis despite 27 years in prison. Working as a lawyer with his longtime friendOliver Tambo exposed Mandela to the injustices and indignities suffered byblacks. He explains the releasefrom the chains of Apartheid for blacks in South Africa is only a beginningand comes with great responsibilities for the freed. Reflection Mandela's struggle during his trial and conviction reminds me of howwe often see the criminal justice system fail. He had no ideathese women were not legal and did not believe by hiring them he was doinganything illegal. Boston: Little, Brown and Company. It was even illegal for blacks to live incertain areas, and many blacks were evicted from the meager lands theirfamilies had worked for generations. Withfreedom Mandela is a pragmatist rather than an idealist and understandsthat it requires ongoing sacrifice. 13 ).These and other indignities and injustices were routinely visited uponblacks living under Apartheid. Hehas missed some birthdays, a few holidays, and my middle school graduation. Instead, he writes, "Forto be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a waythat respects and enhances the freedom of others. These sections also tell of Mandela's efforts to reach outto the leadership of the Apartheid government and his shock when leaderslike President De Klerk provide him with the "novel experience" oflistening to what he has to say (Mandela, 1994, p. He not only wishesto explain his journey into becoming a freedom fighter, but he also hopesto illustrate the various injustices and indignities visited upon blackAfricans in South Africa under the Apartheid System. We also see thatMandela's trial and ultimate conviction along with his life being consumedby the struggle for liberation take an enormous toll on Mandela's family.Mandela's initial prison years are dark, "Prison not only robs you of yourfreedom, it attempts to take away your identity...As a freedom fighter andas a man, one must fight against the prison's attempts to rob one of thesequalities" (p. 451). He tells us after his notguilty verdict that one of the reasons he was successful is because "therewere no examples of individuals being isolated, beaten, and tortured inorder to elicit information. Nelson Mandela and South African History: A Learning Journal Module 2 Summary These sections of Mandela's autobiography demonstrate that more thandiving into liberation politics, the leader stumbled into freedom fighting. Module 4 Summary These sections of Mandela's autobiography recount his years atRobben Island where he earned a degree, educated others, and ultimately wasable to endure the spirit-crushing existence of prison life. Mandela's depiction of racism and segregation in South Africa areeerie reminders of the past in American society, when blacks were alsoprohibited by law from using restrooms or water fountains marked "WhitesOnly." Reflection The study of law helped Mandela detect certain justices in ways thatcompare to some of my own studies. Civil Rights movement. As Mandela (1994) states, "I will still be moved bymy dislike of the race discrimination against my people when I come outfrom serving my sentence, to take up again, as best I can, the struggle forthe removal of those injustices until they are finally abolished" (p. 291). In this sense, Mandela's trial for treason only made him more convincedthat it was the South African racist government that was criminal and moredetermined he would one day see blacks liberated in his homeland. Long Walk To Freedom: The Autobiography of Nelson Mandela. The government ultimately seems to have realized it fell behind thetimes by striving to maintain a racist and separatist structure to society. Theinteraction of law and liberation politics became clearer to me fromMandela's experiences revealed in these sections. 239). Mandela's education and significant rhetorical skills serve him wellduring his trial which is more about fighting for the freedom of blacksthan it is about fighting for his own freedom. Mandela also seems intenton illustrating that the struggle for freedom is never one that is wonwithout sacrifice or a struggle that ever ends. We were embarking on a new and moredangerous path, path or organized violence, the results of which we did notand could not know" (p. 83). 544). 29 ). 485). While I understand his sacrifices were for our family, I can relate to thepain of Mandela's daughters barely knowing their dad or the impact of hissustained absence on Winnie and his sons.ReferenceMandela, N. When he is defending himself at his trial,he explains to the judge that he will still fight against racism and forfreedom when released. 458-459). Mandela's account showsblacks were not only discriminated against but often had no legal recourseand were not permitted to vote. A friend I know has afather who had hired immigrants to do work at his home. Mandela (1994) alsoshares that his commitment to the struggle left him little to no room forfamily, what he labels his "greatest regret" and the "most painful aspect"of the choices he made (p. Purpose The main purpose of this section of Mandela's story seems toillustrate how he successfully navigated prison and ultimately adopted therole of leader of the ANC in his liaisons with South African governmentleaders. Module 3 Summary These sections of Mandela's struggle to free blacks living underApartheid in South Africa cover the period where he became the leader ofthe ANC's military arm, Umkhoto we Sizwe, and then faced a trial fortreason that resulted in a life sentence with Mandela being sent to Robbenisland. Constitution are being extended to this group. Mandela believes the transfer is to undermine Robben Island ofits ANC leadership mystique. He also seems intent on showing it is his leadership and naturalleadership abilities that made him take the initiative to launch talks withgovernment officials. However, he was branded a "white slave trader" by thepress when the charges came out, because the girls contended that they wereforced to live in poor conditions on the property and were only paid infood and other necessities while they worked for the man. Reading Thoughts Mandela seems to believe that South African blacks could not beliberated through nonviolent means because they did not have a foreignadversary like Gandhi nor did they have protection of the legal system likeblacks during the U.S. Mandela was a great man to have sacrificed his family and the bestyears of his life in jail to help other blacks achieve liberation. All of those things became commonplaceshortly thereafter" (Mandela, 1994, p. During the trial it seems evident that the South African governmentwas a corrupt body that was intent on getting rid of Mandela from theliberation struggle because he was an effective leader. My father had to sacrifice a lotto provide for my family and he is typically away on work assignments. 227). He isultimately transferred to what he refers to as the prison's "penthouse," anicer, more expansive prison quarters at Pollsmoor Prison (Mandela, 1994,p. Time and again heexplains the numerous injustices blacks faced living in country whereracism and discrimination were official policy. Practicing in Johannesburg, he met Walter Sisulu and othernationalists who also provided him with greater insight into the sufferingof fellow blacks. When the ANC's "FreedomCharter," a document that the South African government viewed as a threatto power, was released, Mandela was ultimately tried for "High Treason"(Mandela, 1994, p. Reading Thoughts Mandela's years in prison seem to have made him more calm andstately than the impassioned and angry young man he was in his youth. Mandela became a committed African nationalist andmember of the African National Congress (ANC). As he explains, "I had no epiphany, no singular revelation, no moment oftruth, but a steady accumulation of a thousand slights, a thousandindignities, a thousand unremembered moments, produced in me an anger, arebelliousness, a desire to fight the system that imprisoned my people"(Mandela, 1994, p. During Mandela's trial for treason, we seemany cases of ethical misconduct by those trying him. When De Klerklifts the bans on the ANC, PAC and other political organizations Mandela iselated. Purpose Mandela's purpose in these sections seems clear. In this sense, he claims the ANC leadership andleadership of the liberation struggle. 182; 173). The true test ofdevotion to freedom is just beginning" (Mandela, 1994, p. Reflection The experiences of Mandela in prison are ones I really relate towith respect to the impact on his family. As Mandela (1994) writes of hisfeelings about not discussing his proposal with colleagues or others in theorganization, "There are times when a leader must move out ahead of theflock, go off in a new direction, confident that he is leading his peoplethe right way" (pp. 523). After finding no evidence the FreedomCharter envisioned a Communist state or that the ANC was a Communistorganization, Mandela was found not guilty and released. (1994). Ultimately, freed from prison, Mandela does not believe theliberation of his people makes them truly free. Reading Thoughts The practice of law put Mandela in an excellent position to be awareof how to lead the struggle for liberation to make the laws more just forblacks. Purpose Other than his attempts to explain why violence was justified by theANC and his desire to demonstrate how a strong-willed man with moralconvictions can survive imprisonment, Mandela (1994) seems to have the mainpurpose of showing the impact on him and the liberation struggle due to histreason trial. This was untruebut it tainted the man's business image for years. While he stumbles intofreedom fighting, he has a vision of liberation and democracy that is asstrong as that held by Martin Luther King, Jr. If this paper is not what you are looking for, you can search again: Search for: or Click here to request an essay written just for you.