When people talk about the civil rights movements, the name that usually comes foremost is that of Martin Luther King. But there is another famous crusader who is not remembered so often, whose contribution is as great, if not greater, than MLK and done in a more harsher condition under a very cruel regime. He had spent 27 years in prison, many of which had been in an isolated island, off the continent. His name is Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela. He was born in 1918 and became the first non-white President of the Republic of South Africa, to be elected in a fully representative democratic election, serving the office from 1994-99.
The government in South Africa was run by the white race only and they introduced the policy of ‘apartheid’ to segregate the black and other colored people. The non-whites were required to carry passes. The African National Congress(ANC) of the black people decided to launch a campaign of protests against the pass laws. This led to the “Sharpeville Massacre” on March 21, 1960, when South African police began shooting on a crowd of Black protestors. The police continued firing even when the crowd had turned to run and the majority of those killed and wounded were shot in the back. There was no evidence that any of the crowd were armed.
Since 1994, 21 March has been commemorated as ‘Human Rights Day’ in South Africa.
The uproar among blacks was immediate and the following week saw demonstrations, protest marches, strikes, and riots around the country. On March 30 1960, the government declared a state of emergency, detaining more than 18,000 people. A storm of international protests followed, including condemnation by the United Nations. It proved to be the turning point in South Africa’s history and the country found itself increasingly isolated in the international community. The event also played a role in South Africa’s departure from the Commonwealth of Nations in 1961.
In 1961, Mandela became leader of the ANC’s armed wing, Umkhonto we Sizwe (translated as Spear of the Nation). He coordinated sabotage campaigns against military and government targets and planned for a possible guerrilla war if the sabotage failed to end apartheid. Mandela described the move to armed struggle as a last resort to end the repressive policy of apartheid. He was convinced that non-violent protest against apartheid could not achieve any progress. On 5 August 1962, Mandela was arrested and imprisoned in the Johannesburg Fort. The arrest was made possible because the U.S Central Intelligence Agency(CIA) tipped off the security police as to Mandela’s whereabouts and disguise.
At the Rivonia Trial, Mandela and other leaders of ANC were charged with the capital crimes of sabotage (which Mandela admitted) and crimes which were equivalent to treason. In his statement from the dock at the opening of his defence, he revealed how the ANC had used peaceful means to resist apartheid for years until the Sharpeville massacre, which proved that their only choice was to resist through acts of sabotage. He closed his statement with these words:
“During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to the struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.”
He was imprisoned in Robben Island and had to perform hard labor in a lime quarry. While in prison, Mandela undertook study with the University of London by correspondence and received the degree of Bachelor of Law. In 1969 a plot was made by the South African Intelligence to allow Mandela to ‘escape’, so that they could shoot him during recapture. The plot was foiled by British Intelligence.
Until July 2008, Mandela and ANC party members were barred from entering USA, except the United Nations headquarters in Manhattan, without special permission from the Secretary of State, because of their South African apartheid regime era designation as terrorists!
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Comments: 18
In the world, hands down, Nelson Mandela.
Guess one would have to live through the Aparteid and continue to live there to understand.
I didn't mean any disrespect in my response. It was a great article.
Just offering a view from someone who has lived it.
Second, every country in the world that was artificially created by colonial powers, had its indigenous peoples lumped together (even when they were tribal enemies of many generations), denied those same people education, opportunity and the right to form any REAL society, has had terrible troubles since the colonial masters released them from the cages of their tyranny.
The truly sad thing is, no one can effectively govern a country in the modern world if that govenment is based on skin color and carried out at citizen interface level by un- and under-educated and venal people. And that ALWAYS happens in a post colonial country.
Taking apart one governmental system and replacing another will ALWAYS cause problems and disrupt the whole country. Look at what happened in the American South when slavery was abolished. We are still feeling the ramifications, and some would rather go back to that kind of system.
A system that is based on inequalities will always be better for some. It just depends who you listen to and what your priorities are.
Thank you for sharing
May the Lord Bless you & keep you and your family & there family close to his heart!!! In the name of Jesus!!! "
Thank you, Geogiana, its good to learn about your father.
Thank you, Angela.