Long Walk to Freedom

A long but important book to have read, Nelson Mandela’s Long Walk to Freedom. Mandela’s autobiography on his life as well as his counterparts from the ANC (African National Congress), starts with his youth growing up in the district of Umtata, the capital of Transkei.  Mandela shares the realities of growing up in a village surrounded by poverty and little formal education.   Fortunately for him, he was chosen as one of the few young males to receive a formal education, but this meant leaving home and venturing out into Clarkbury  and then to Healdtown schools.  Mandela was early on a “trouble maker” of sorts, pushing the envelope for fairness and asking questions related to the black African plight.   Each of the chapters capture another aspect of his struggle, from receiving education (to include a law degree), working as an apprentice in a law firm, getting married twice, establishing a law firm dedicated to black Africans, and then his fight against apartheid.  Mandela’s capture after arriving in Johannesburg upon his studies, sets the stage for how he would lead in the future, advocating Ghandi’s approach of non-violent resistance, striking against the government was the response.  White Africans were outraged by this response and began their approach, arresting leaders in the ANC, whom were connected to the communist group within Africa.  Mandela was convicted for his leadership in the strike and was sentenced to five years in prison.  But during the next case against him, in the Rivonia Trial, he was charged for trying to sabotage the government.  He was found guilty, but did not get the death penalty, instead he went to jail at Robben Island with many of his ANC colleagues for 28 years.  The men on Robben Island were forced to do manual labor and many times they were sent to isolation, eating little, and being treated by force and intimidation.  As the years progressed, others continued the fight, especially pressure being placed on the South African government by outside countries to treat Black Africans as equals, giving a voice for voting and better living conditions.  Later, during his imprisonment, Mandela was given access to African government leaders, and when he was released, a highly political process, he began to work behind the scenes with South African president, de Klerk. The final chapter captures Mandela’s rise to being elected as President of South Africa, a feat no one could have ever dreamed of happening.  The book is the real-life voice of the great leader who overcame the most harrowing of challenges to change a country full of racism and hate.  A hero of our time that during these most challenging of times in the US proves that a plan of action that is consistent and on-going will prevail.  Mandela is a man for all ages and all should read this history, that unbelievably was only twenty years ago.