Compares and contrasts Ousmane Sembene's and NelsonMandela's visions of a postcolonial Africa and argues that Mandela's vision is more realistic and realizable.
650 words (approx. 2.6 pages), 2 sources, 2002, $ 26.95
Abstract Ousmane Sembene and NelsonMandela offer two visions of postcolonial Africa. Mandela envisions the future as promising and sees the possibility of cooperation between former oppressors and victims. He sees the struggle through the lens of the individual and envisions humanity as frail and yet filled with courage. He is optimistic and forgiving. Sembene is not as forgiving and his vision is one more of protest. He does not see the possibility of cooperation and envisions the struggle through the lens of the collective, rather than through the individual. Overall, Mandela has the more realizable vision, because it is more tuned into the real world and understanding of human nature. There cannot be perfection and a society must ultimately try to reconcile its differences.
Abstract This paper examines the life and history of Winnie Mandela of South Africa. According to this paper, as much as Winnie Mandela gained power, she ultimately remained powerless. Her biggest boost, was her marriage to political icon, NelsonMandela.
From the Paper "Mandela is an interesting study, in that she gained tremendous power within a society that specifically aimed to disempower all black people. She was in fact doubly disempowered, as the system was also very sexist. On the one hand she gained power in a manner often utilized by women: through marriage to a powerful and influential man, Nelson Mandela. On the other hand, she forged her own path, to the point that Nelson Mandela eventually divorced her in 1996, on the grounds of adultery ("Winnie Mandela Faces," 2002). The very mention of the name of Winnie Mandela still has the power to evoke enormous hatred or passionate defense."
Abstract The paper focuses on NelsonMandela's fight for freedom for blacks in South Africa, from the 1950 through his release from prison and election to the office of President.
From the paper:
"NelsonMandela would spend the remaining years of apartheid in prison (Mandela 328). However, others still carried on his work. In 1974 there appeared to be a breakthrough. South Africa's ambassador to the United Nations, R.F "Pik" Both announced that South Africa was breaking down the system of apartheid. By now, South Africa's struggle had caught International attention, and the world watched ? and waited."
Tags: anc, united, nations, africa, apartheid, civil, jr, king, luther, mandela, martin, nelson, non, protest, rights, south, violent
This paper reviews NelsonMandela's autobiography, "Long Walk to Freedom", in which he explains why he resisted the apartheid government and the methods of resistance he employed.
Abstract This paper discusses that NelsonMandela, as the leader of the ANC, led the opposition against the government through nonviolent tactics such as boycotts, strikes, and non-cooperation. The author believes that his principles of peaceful resistance are the key to his success. The paper states that if Mandela had taken a different approach, he would not have been as successful because the ruthless apartheid government, which ruled South Africa, would have punished him much more harshly than just imprisoning him.
From the Paper "Nelson Mandela chooses to resist peacefully the Apartheid government through the ANC. He and his supports incorporate strikes, protests, boycotts and non-co-operation into their peaceful resistance. Mandela starts a movement based on his beliefs and those of the ANC. He ?creates a powerful national liberation movement based on under the banner of African national is and lead by ?African's themselves.?? (Mandela 112) The key idea that that makes Mandel success is Africans lead by Africans. This radical proposed change is the exact government the African people desire. Mandela and the ANC ?advocate the redivision of land on an equitable basis; the abolition of color bars prohibiting Africans from doing skilled work; and the need for free and compulsory education.? "
Tags: boycott, nonviolent, liberation, africa, color
Abstract This paper provides a detailed discussion of NelsonMandela, through a review of his autobiography, "Long Walk to Freedom". The paper discusses his early years, his rural village beginnings and his education - both formal and informal. His emergence as a political activist is examined. The paper guides the reader through his unjust political imprisonment, eventual release, subsequent winning of the Nobel Peace Prize, and election as President of a South Africa existing without apartheid.
From the Paper "Freedom is often taken for granted by those who have never encountered oppression. In the same turn, the intoxication of self-determination is a fairy tale to those who are oppressed. The subjugated will remain in such a condition until a visionary arises to bridge the disparity between the two groups. A true visionary assigns rectification of the situation not only to those in the position of power but to the "powerless" as well; illustrating that both parties are to be assigned blame for the perpetuation of the system. For the people of Twentieth Century South Africa the man of enlightenment came in the form of Nelson Mandela. Through his tireless devotion to the cause of the downtrodden, and the education of the tormentors, the hateful system of apartheid was brought to its knees."
Abstract The paper discusses the life history of NelsonMandela, his struggle against apartheid and racial discrimination, the developments in South Africa after his release from prison, and his personal achievements for the country.
From the Paper "The improvements that South Africa has seen since his release from prison in the early '90s are overwhelming. The institutionalized apartheid regime was dismantled, a constitution was ratified in 1996, and a change in popular mentality has definitely occurred. In addition, Mandela and his party, the African National Congress have militated for improving the quality of life among black citizens, and have established the Committee for Truth and Reconciliation whose aim was to investigate the crimes of the apartheid. Mandela's term in office ended in 1999 but the fact that he is no longer President of South Africa does not mean he is no longer involved in the affairs of his country. He decided not to run for a second term, and in 2004 retired from public life mostly because of health problems."
Abstract This paper compares and contrasts the styles and themes fround in Martin Luther King Jr.'s "Letter from Birmingham Jail" and NelsonMandela's ?I am Prepared to Die.? Some of the topics discussed include prejudice, white supremacist attitudes, the use of non-violence to achieve your goals and that freedom will not be given unless it is demanded by those who are oppressed. The paper points out that although the messages are similar, they were written for different reasons. King's was written to explain his mission and his message, to the white clergy to chastise them for their neglect and condemnation of his actions, while Mandela's was written to defend the charges brought against him before a court of law and to explain his actions. According to the paper, these two men have become symbolic with the fight for freedom and equal rights.
From the Paper "Although, the message is the same in each work, they are written to different audiences and from different reference of perspective. King's letter is written to his fellow clergymen, directing his remarks to the white clerical population, Christian and Jewish communities. It was written to explain his mission and his message, as well as a chastisement for not only their neglect, but for their condemnation of King's actions. Mandela's work was addressed to the court as a legal defense case. It was written to defend the charges brought against him before a court of law and to explain his actions. King's work is cited with biblical references, such as, ?just as the Apostle Paul left his village of Tarsus and carried the gospel of Jesus Christ to the far corners of the Greco-Roman world, so am I compelled to carry the gospel of freedom beyond my own home town."
Abstract This paper compares two speeches by political leaders NelsonMandela and Margaret Thatcher. The paper discusses differences in styles of thinking and perceiving the world. The paper also provides brief details about the lives of Thatcher and Mandela and then examines the political rhetoric of each speech.
From the Paper "Mandela and Thatcher. Comparing speeches by Nelson Mandela and Margaret Thatcher is an interesting exercise in discriminating not just political rhetoric but two contrasting styles of thinking and perceiving the world. Mandela became the President of South Africa after enduring decades of imprisonment for his armed struggle against the apartheid racism imposed on black South Africans by the Africans-speaking white minority."
Abstract This paper follows the life of Winnie Mandela, born into an affluent black family in South Africa. The paper traces her education and her growing awareness of the injustice of the apartheid system in her work as a social worker in one of Johannesburg's poorest hospitals. The paper follows her career as an activist in the African National Congress, her arrests as a political prisoner, and the formation of the ANC's Women's League. The paper ends with the reasons for Winnie Mandela's downfall in the Stompie case where she was accused of the murder of a fourteen year old boy and her banishment from the South African political arena.
From the Paper "While many of her followers turned on her in light of these new revelations, there were others who understood how she came to condone and order murder. They point to the fact that she spent year being afraid and paranoid because of the various government and political factions that wanted her dead. She had to constantly hide, and when she was in public she was forced to present a face of defiance so that her followers would remain strong and calm in the fight against apartheid. If she displayed fear or weakness then the followers may have believed they had no hope of winning. After years of having to hold her head up while being handcuffed and jailed, years of being away from her children in the name of equality and years of hearing rumors that there were plans to kill her and stop her leadership for good she had to develop a hard shell of protection. This caused her to be able to rationalize to herself that whatever actions were needed to further the cause of freedom were actions well worth taking."
Abstract This paper examines how regardless of the differing perspectives from Gandhi, Zedong and Mandela, each share a connectedness. It looks at how the development of Gandhi's pacifist methods, Mandela's use of non-violence, and Zedong usage of military force has all furthered their causes successfully.
From the Paper "Gandhi's beliefs spread like wildfire throughout the newly formed independent India. Gandhi gained millions upon millions of followers. They all followed Gandhi's nonviolent ways. English courts, as well as many other government establishments, were boycotted; Indian children were withdrawn from government schools. His followers would not even rise when being beaten, filling the streets in their meditation position. At this point Gandhi made the change. He changed his name to Mahatma, a Sanskrit word meaning great soul, a title reserved only for the greatest wise person."
Tags: india, china, south, africa, violence, pacifism, apartheid
Abstract This paper discusses the difficulties associated with introducing changes for a general in the military. It describes how often times a leader (whether a politician or an officer) who attempts to institute changes is challenged by those who are entrenched at their positions. The paper looks at the leadership shown through the film "Twelve O'Clock High" with Gregory Peck and the leadership abilities of British Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson, who led British ships into battle in the late 1700s.
From the Paper "Meanwhile, the development of leaders - according to Be-Know-Do-Learn (BKDL) - requires a certain set of strategies that are very important and date back to the foundations of the Army. BKDL is a description that affirms the Army values of "...loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and personal courage." All of those values can be linked to Peck's character in Twelve O'Clock High. He certainly showed courage by flying in the lead B-17 bomber day after day (until he finally broke down towards the end of the film). He expected loyalty from his troops and once they settled into his style of management and leadership, he got that loyalty. "Honor" and "integrity" are things he demanded of his men, along with a sense of duty. It took Savage awhile to achieve the respect he wanted and needed, but he got that done too."
Abstract This paper asserts that in order to understand the reasons and roots of apartheid, one must first understand the history of South Africa. The author therefore provides a detailed historical account of South Africa from the fifteenth century until today, including colonization, slavery, industrial development and the leadership of Hendrik French Verwoerd, the prime minister responsible for introducing apartheid. The second half of the paper is devoted to a study of the anti-apartheid movement, culminating in the election of NelsonMandela.
From the Paper "Until the fifteenth century tribes in South Africa remained isolated from the rest of the world. However, late in the fifteenth century the Portuguese began to explore the western coastline of South Africa in search of an easier route to Asia. By1497, five years after Christopher Columbus had crossed the Atlantic under Portuguese patronage, Vasco da Gama led a Portuguese expedition that rounded the tip of South Africa, sailed along the east African coastline, and then crossed the Indian Ocean reaching Calicut, India."
Abstract This paper summarizes and analyzes the life of NelsonMandela through his biography "Higher Than Hope", written by Fatima Meer. Meer's work is discussed on a per part basis with analysis covering each part, including his relationship with his first wife Evelyn, his second wife Winnie, his imprisonment, and the policies and laws of South Africa.
Outline:
Summary
Exposition and Exploration
Evaluation and Conclusion
From the Paper "Within Part II of Higher Than Hope, entitled THE STRUGGLE, a slightly older Nelson Mandela becomes entrenched in the world of South African politics. The book discusses ways in which the Nationalist party is repressing the majority of the South Africans and the subject of Mandela's divorce with his first wife Evelyn is discussed as well as the affect it had on Mandela, Evelyn, and their children. The book describes the arrest of Nelson Mandela for treason as a result of his participation in the Congress of the People and the subsequent trial and Mandela being released on bail. Involved heavily in the political proceedings of the trial were the Pan African Congress, a group that Mandela became involved with, as well as the African National Congress."
Abstract This is an in-depth paper of what the country of South Africa went through during the years of Dutch and British colonization. Discusses issues such as segregation, apartheid and freedom fighting. It begins with the Dutch colonization in 1652 and how this impacted the life of the African and Khoi Khoi natives. It examines how these early relationships gave rise to the hundreds of years of oppression and discrimination of the ruling white colonialist over the black natives. Studies these complex relationships until the time of the release of NelsonMandela.
From the Paper "Colonization is defined by Webster's Dictionary as an act or instance of colonizing. To South Africa and the South African people colonization has a much deeper and much more complex meaning. Colonization began in South Africa with the entrance of the Dutch in1652 and again with the British in 1806. The colonization by the Dutch was brought on by the need for a supply port to help ships sailing around the southern tip of the African continent. The Dutch's philosophy regarding the indigenous African people was one of separation and isolation. The Dutch urged their colonist to stay away from the native people and try to have little or no contact or interaction with them. One of the first conflicts between African and Dutch interest occurred between the Dutch and the KhoiKhoi. This conflict began when the indigenous KhoiKhoi realized that the Dutch settlers were in South Africa to stay. The KhoiKhoi believed that the Dutch intended to continue encroaching on the farmlands of their people. This tension between the Dutch and Africans broke out into a war, which last four years. The KhoiKhoi resistance was stopped by the Dutch due to the superior tactics and superior weapons used by the Dutch army. This conflict was one of many in which the native Africans attempted to take back their homelands, but fell short of their goals. In 1806 the British seized control of the South African colony in order to utilize its location and natural resources. "
Abstract This paper discusses the Xhosa people, who are Black Africans who live in the Republic of South Africa, mainly in Ciskei and Transkei in the Eastern Cape areas. It looks at the history of the people and the political situation they find themselves in, particularly the suffering that was brought on them by the apartheid system. The paper also briefly looks at Nelson and Winnie Mandela and their roles among the people. Finally, the paper discusses the culture and cultural practices of the Xhosa people.
Table of Contents:
History
Political Situation
The National Suicide of the Xhosa People
Culture
Identity
Language
Customs
Clothing
Marriage
Religion
Christianity Among the Xhosa
Cultural Practices
Cooperative Labor and Beer-Drinking
Creativity in Ceramics
Beadwork
Singing
Conclusion
From the Paper "The Xhosa people were a historically oppressed race by the apartheid system. The inhumane-ness of the system was graphically demonstrated by the struggles and extreme miseries of its heroic leaders Nelson and Winnie Mandela and the people themselves duped into starvation in 1856. Yet they are a people with their own distinct and rich culture. The Xhosa people cherish their own identity as a race, language, customs, clothing, religion, marriage observances and cultural practices. These cultural practices reveal that identity, the experience of oppression and aspirations, which cannot and should not be ignored. Their value of work includes rewarding themselves for their labor through beer parties, a form of socialization. The wounds of oppression and misery find their way into art forms, such as ceramics, beadwork and song. A race, which produced heroes like Nelson and Winnie Mandela, and turns out excellent and deeply meaningful art works, deserves recognition and appreciation from the rest of the world. Their creative talents should be strongly encouraged in achieving their own aspirations as a distinct and valued people."
