Introduction
WHY WAS NELSON MANDELA AT CATALYST FOR CHANGE?
Background Information on Apartheid in South Africa (1948-1994)
The voting system for the black South Africans weren't at all beneficial; because their vote didn't really matter. It was all depended on the white minority government.
The black South Africans often lead riots, which lead into bloody riots. Mandela; himself as a catalyst changed these tactics because he noticed that the white minoity government wasn't taking them seriously but merely as a group of people attacking for no reason.
Mandela, not only did he fight for black South African men rights but also for women as well. He involved all, because the more reunited they were whether they were a male or female; the more justice they could serve. By including women, Mandela, created a strong group of protests; which later led to the benefits of overthrowing the apartheid and the white minority government.
South Africa in 1948 to 1994 was best known as the apartheid of South Africa. Within these years, most Africans in Africa were forced to live off of very low income and in homes that were were not stable at all. The black South Africans were not allowed to own any property and were not allowed to live in the same neighborhodd as a white South Africa. They were also not allowed to call themselves citizens of South Africa due to the color of their skin, which stopped them from having the right to own their own property; even if its been in their family name for many years. The education system for an average black South African consisted of only subjects that would benefit them into the "labor" jobs that they would have when they are older. This lead to many africans going for lower like jobs instead of jobs that will include the government, political parties, and doctors or lawyers; the list goes on. Black africans had it the hardest which caused many years of struggle. brutatlity, and discrimination because many black africans disagreed with these harsh laws and the horrific treatment. Also many of these black South Africans were unemployed and segregation was a major problem in this time period as well. It messed with people's ability to function in the government or in any type of political job. Very rarely, will an Black african get trained but when they do, they go through impossible procedures in order to be actually considered to hear from. The apartheid in South Africa was horrible but things changed very drastically.
In-depth information about apartheid
In the 1950s, the government had banned marriage laws between all blacks and whites and started to create acts that would give 80% of South African land to the white minority. There are over 1 million white South Africans however there are over 8.3 million black South Africans which meant a loss of land to more than a quarter to the black South Africans. The black South Africans were forced to move to small pieces of land, in which had horrible water systems and crops that were very poor maned. On top of that, black South Africans were not able to join the official government, they were only allowed to speak within their own little organization depending on the color of ones skin; applied to Indians and black Africans. The government also forced and removed black South Africans from rural areas which were now designated as “white” to the homelands, and sold their land at low prices to white farmers. From the years 1961 to 1994, more than 3.5 million people were forcibly removed from their homes and deposited in the Bantustans, where they were plunged into poverty and hopelessness.
1960s- Important Year for Nelson Mandela
The 1960's in many countries was the year for justice and equality. In America, it was when the Civil Rights Movement began to form and in India, the indians were done with the british. In South Africa, people were sick of the horrible apartheid and the segregation. Nelson Mandela was in the ANC which is also known as the African National Congress; where he was now president. He made a huge impact in the early 50's by starting rallies and getting arrested multiple times for standing up to the government. Mandela and his group started to use tactics that were non-violent which help tremendously because before his tactics were based off of violence if the whites attacked; which got him into loads of trouble. However Mandela did some traveling which lead him into doing more research on his ways and figured out that in order to solve the solution, he must agree or come to some sort of agreement with the perpertraitor. In this case, it was the white minority government; that had all power. By the time, Mandela was ready to practice this, he was charged for treason and sent to prison along with many of his collages however he was treated differently. Many of the black South Africans saw this and decided to reach out by protesting and following along with his tactics. Meanwhile Nelson who was in prison decided to follow his own tactics of civil disobedience by fasting and protesting due to the discrimination that he, himself was facing in South Africa.
In the article above, it gives us a gist of the social and political issues during the apartheid in South Africa. In the beginning we are told that South Africa had many issues with its acts and the government which often lead to discrimination and racism. Many groups were targeted, specifically those who were black. The social issues often played a role with the political issues because the two were evolved around each other. In South Africa, the political party consisted of only whites and no blacks were involved at all which connected to the social issues that the government had issues. The many acts that were given out by the white minority government affected many black South Africans therefore, leaving many of the social and political issues in the same position.
Mandela's Long Fight
watch from 0:50- 1:47
Nelson Mandela's Charastictestic leading up to being a Catalyst for Change
As explained in the beginning, Nelson Mandela was a man who was raised in a small place where he wasn't as exposed to the urban city life. He didn't live in a place where segregation was a problem and was often raised and brought up to two ideals to follow by. Those ideals included the teachings of his own tribe leaders and the law; which was what he was taught at school. With these values in mind, as he grew older he didn't let his unawareness of the reality of the apartheid affect him. In fact, due to his teachings of both, he had the goal of equality and unification of his people far before he had begun. He also had the teachings he was taught at school which would help him with the strategies needed for the strength of him joining the African National Congress (ANC). The organization was very weak and often lead violence which will lead the white minority organization further and further away but due Mandela's own teachings in schools and his education he was able to use tactics and strategies that would be beneficial in helping to end the apartheid plus the all white minority government. He enforced the idea of trying to negotiate with the government, to start of slow because if there is a starting point; it will lead to an ending point. So by negotiation with them , if things work out; then they may barter until both sides are equally treated fairly. He was arrestes however but his tactics and the way he approached the rallies, and spoke; he was inspiring to many individuals especially when he got arrested.
watch 4:30-5:10
Mandela was sent to Jail in the 1960s, however refused to plead because of his own barter with the organization. He was sentenced to life in prision, however Mandelas own political acts didn't end when he got arrested. In jail, he noticed that he and other cell mates that were black were treated very harshly which lead to the questionmion and eventually the acts of rebeliion. He protested by fasting the meals and refusing to leave the jail cell; and other mates watched and followed Mandela, because they realized that no matter what they did to him, he stood firm. He eventually got correct food and the clothing that he had requested. Mandela even in jail or prision, never stopped working on campogns or the political world of South Africa. He would listen to roadcasts to inform him about the outside world and eventually when he was free; he went staright into working for the African National Congress. There he decided to talk about the problems in which the country was facing allowing it to be heard by all, including the government itsself. Keep in mind, Mandela was locked up for 27 years; but his passion lead him into the strong mindset of making South Africa the country, it should be.
Nelson Mandela- from 1964-1997 went to prison due to his part taking in the rallies againist the government.
CRY ME A RIVER: Above shows us a video of white people who lived in South Africa during the apartheid mourning over the death of Nelson Mandela, yet don't seem to practice what he preached and why? Because if they do then they lose their homes and jobs however keep in mind, they took the Africans property that they had lived in for more than 200 years but I mean to them its history so why care? This is who you would call a "snake". Their pulling a show for what? For television of course and the whole world to see. They all preach about equality to all in South Africa, yet live in a white minority neighborhood where they have access to the best food and water, lets not forget the housing that they have. If anything, there's not not much to say about the changes in South Africa; I mean sure, you can marry anyone and can do other things but there still is racism but you know its everywhere. till. Oh then there's the f'd up government which does nothing; resulting in its corrupted society. This just goes to show how hypocritical South African whites are. How can one do something but do the complete opposite. They are crying over a guy that they look up to yet but don't even practice what he preached. BUT I MEAN ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Credits:
Created with images by South Africa The Good News - "Nelson Mandela" • dbking - "The Washington Star Building" • the_moment - "smile"