The term ‘man’s
inhumanity to man’ has been uttered by many great people throughout history and
most recently by Barack Obama in 2008. In a public speech when he was still a
Senator - Obama said, “For most of this
country’s history we in the African-American community have been at the
receiving end of man’s inhumanity to man. All of us understand intimately the
insidious role that race still sometimes plays – on the job, in the schools, in
out health care system and in our criminal justice system”
Man’s inhumanity
to man is appalling. Single words exist that define the atrocities that have
been committed - and that continue to be committed. Holocaust, Slavery and Genocide
are such examples and to me they conjure up immediate, profound and terrible
images of the capacity of our cruelty.
The word apartheid
is another.
The term apartheid
is Afrikaans and it stems from a Dutch word that means to separate or
segregate. Its literal meaning is ‘apart-hood’ and the word became a formal
policy in South Africa that was enacted between 1948 and 1994. People were
literally kept apart based solely on the colour of their skin. People with
black skin - who were the majority of the part of Africa in which they lived - were
treated in a less-than-human fashion. They were subject to cruelty and
injustices that few of us can conceive - and they were denied liberties that most
of us take for granted.
The policy of
apartheid forced massive resettlements in South Africa. The majority black
population were involuntarily obligated to move where the white minority
population demanded them. South Africans with black skin were denied the right
to vote, they were excluded from the white education system and the land upon
which they had lived for generations was taken from them. The whole country was
segregated in a most obscene way. Beaches, parks, the transport system and even
public toilets were segregated - and severe and unjust penalties were brutally imposed
for any infractions. Black South Africans lived in a constant state of fear for
more than fourty six years.
Fourty six years.
Nelson Rolihlahla
Mandela was born in 1918. His forename ‘Rolihlahla’ translates to
‘troublemaker’ in the Xhosa language which was apt - as he was a revolutionary
and political activist for his entire adult life. He fought for justice for
people with black skin as a member and then leader of the African National Congress.
Mandela fought with words – not violence. He was arrested – not for the first
time - in 1962 and with a number of other members of the ANC he was charged with
conspiracy to overthrow the government. At his trial in 1964 Mandela used the
public attention to deliver a four hour-long speech to declare the plight of South
Africans with black skin and to demand change. It is known as the “I am prepared to die” speech – and it
is considered to be one of the greatest orations ever given.
In his speech and
referring to the liberty and equality that he wanted for South Africans with
black skin Mandela said, “During my
lifetime I have dedicated myself to this 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. That is an ideal I hope
to live for and to achieve but if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am
prepared to die”.
On the 2nd
June 1964 Mandela was found guilty by the white presiding judge and he was
sentenced to death. This was later commuted to life imprisonment. He served
twenty-seven years in jail.
Twenty-seven
years.
Mandela was
released from incarceration in February 1990 in an act of clemency by the then
President of South Africa - F W de Clerk. Thus began the slow process of
dismantlement of the apartheid system. A general election was held in April
1994 where for the first time blacks were allowed to vote. They went to the
polls in massive numbers and the African National Congress won in a landslide victory.
Mandela was elected to the Presidency of South Africa. He served but a single
term in government but under his Presidency Mandela completely removed the
apartheid minority rule to its current multicultural democracy.
Whilst this was
not a completely bloodless action there was no war or massive acts of conflict
or violence in the transition.
Mandela will be
remembered as a great leader who was gentle pacifist. To me he was a hero in
the truest sense of the word. The hardship that he endured, the sacrifices that
he made, the injustice that he lived under and the change that he introduced
for the betterment of his people were nothing short of remarkable.
Nelson Rolihlahla
Mandela died on the 5th December 2013. He was 95 years old. His loss
is greatly mourned by all of us who wish for unity and equity and peace amongst
the human race. His demise is remembered by those of us who wish to live in a
world that is devoid of conflicts that are born of hatred and greed and intolerance
of race or skin colour or religion.
His legacy is
forever written in the pages of history. He remains an inspiration.
‘Consilio et animus’ Nelson Mandela – ‘Resolute
in action, gentle in manner’
May you rest in
peace.
No comments :
Post a Comment