Summary of Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom
Long Walk to Freedom is the autobiography of Nelson Mandela, who was the former South African President. This article is for Nelson Mandela Long Walk to Freedom Summary. This chapter is the extracts from the “Long Walk to Freedom” book. It includes the description of the inauguration ceremony and citations from his speech and about his journey to being a freedom fighter. It tells about the other countless people who fought for their freedom. In South Africa, a brutal practice named “apartheid” was very popular in those days. It referred to the discrimination between people on the basis of their race and colour. It was one of the most brutal societies in which dark-skinned people were deprived of their basic rights. This lesson gives us an overview of the struggles of Mandela for making the society with no discrimination on the basis of their colour, caste, race, age or gender.
“A Long to Freedom”, by Nelson Mandela is all about the struggle of freedom of South-Africa. On May 10, 1994, Nelson Mandela took a vow as the first black president of South Africa. And therefore it was becoming a new-born democratic country. Nelson Mandela took an oath as the first black president.
Many dignitaries from different countries had come to be part of the most significant day. In his speech, Mandela thanked all those dignitaries. Mandela assured his countrymen that his country would never experience the same suppression of one by another. Democracy had been established in South Africa and as a result, a government of no discrimination was established.
The people of South Africa sang two National Anthems as a symbol of that day. Mandela recalled that the reason for this movement was that Black-skinned people were exploited by the White people. He said that this type of suppression of people of South Africa was the origin of many stars. People must learn to hate first, because if they hate then they can be taught to love, as love comes from the opposite circumstances. He also says that a brave man is not he who does not feel afraid but it is he who conquers it.
In life, a man has two major obligations. First, towards his family, to his parents, to his wife and to his children and second, the obligation towards his country, people and the community. Everyone fulfils his duty as per his inclination and interest. But it was very tough to fulfil in a country like South Africa. When Mandela became an adult, he understood that his freedom was only an illusion. In fact, he was the slave of exploitation. He also understood that not only he was a slave but his other family members were also.
According to him, Freedom is also mandatory for those who were suppressing others in the past. They also have the right to have it because the snatcher of other’s freedom is a prisoner of the same. Thus, the oppressor is as much a prisoner as the oppressed. The oppressor too is not free.
Conclusion of Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom
The brave man is not the one who does not feel afraid, but he is the one who conquers that fear. Mandela said that every man has his duties towards his country and community too.
Question-answers
Q1)Why did such a large number of international leaders attend the inauguration? What did it signify the triumph of ?
A-A large number of international leaders attended the inauguration to show their support for the emancipation of the South African blacks after long years of fight against apartheid. It signified the triumph of tolerance over discrimination, justice over oppression and humanity over barbarity.
Q2)What does Mandela mean when he says he is “simply the sum of all those African patriots” who had gone before him ?
A-Mandela allows us a glimpse into his character formation as he reveals that he is built by the combination of courage, wisdom and generosity possessed by his African patriots who sacrificed their lives to see the light of freedom. He wants to pay tributes to his inspirations who with their efforts and struggles made the road to freedom easier for Mandela. Those heroes of yester years are the reason that Mandela could learn the true meaning of courage and win the support of the people of South Africa.
Q3)Would you agree that the “depths of oppression” create “heights of character”? How does Mandela illustrate this? Can you add your own examples to this argument?
A-Yes, I agree that the “ depths of oppression” create “heights of character”. Mandela vividly paints a picture of his countrymen suffering decades of humilation, brutality, oppression at the hands of the white supremacy which gave rise to brave, resilient , wise leaders of the likes of the Oliver Tambos, the Walter Sisulus, the Chief Luthulis, the Yusuf Dadoos, the Bram Fischers, the Robert Sobukwes of their time. The cruelty and struggles encouraged his countrymen to stand up and risk their lives for their belief, their freedom. I believe that adversity shapes a man. To quote some popular examples are fine statesmen like Abraham Lincoln, Mahatma Gandhi, Winston Churchill and so on.
Q4)How did Mandela’s understanding of freedom change with age and experience?
A-As a child, Mandela considered himself to be born free as long as he followed his father’s orders and lived by the rules of his clan. As a student, he craved for freedom which he considered important for himself like staying out at night, reading what it pleases him and so on. However, as young man in Johannesburg, he yearned for the freedom to lead a basic, dignified life. Slowly, he realized that not only his freedom was restricted but everyone in his community was barred from leading a normal, lawful life. That is when his hunger for his own freedom transformed into the greater hunger for the freedom of his people.
Q5)How did Mandela’s ‘hunger for freedom’ change his life ?
A-As Mandela grew into adulthood, it dawned upon him that his restricted freedom was common across his entire community. This ‘hunger for freedom’ that arose in Mandela for a basic, dignified life transformed him from a weak, immature youth to a bold man, from a family loving person to the man who sacrificed his every personal desire for the greater good of his people. He joined the African National Congress and his life was changed forever.
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