"She will never give up." This was one of the most striking lines to me as I watched Winnie Mandela, a major motion picture based on Anne Marie du Preez Bezrob's biography Winnie Mandela: A Life. I remember in some of our blog posts last week that the movement against apartheid was not simply led by Nelson Mandela but was also greatly contributed by other great figures, one of whom was Winnie Mandela. Although the movie didn't go in depth on many aspects of her life, it does give a very solid impression of what this women suffered through in her fight against apartheid.Her relationship with Nelson Mandela marked her as a political threat very early in their marriage, leading to police harassment, being fired from her job, banishment to a small Free State town, and even betrayal and violence within her allies. After watching both Winnie Mandela and Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, I want to read the books that inspired the two movies to learn more about the complexity of these two historical figures' lives.
But life is rarely black and white. Lindsay Johns wrote an excellent piece titled "Say It Loud, I'm Coloured and I'm Proud," which dives headfirst into the layers of identity and labels that the South African people align with. Hundreds of years of a métissage (mixing of blood) between a multitude of hertiages has produced the Coloured identity, which is distinct from being Black or White. What surprised me the most is how adept South Africans can be at identifying what to call other South Africans, whereas a foreigner (who will be me this summer) may not see the characteristics that set the groups apart. For example, Johns used Denzel Washington and Usher, two prominent black men in America, as an example of who South Africans would call Coloured. Unfortunately, the politics of apartheid and the new Afrocentric ANC Government have put Coloured people at a disadvantage. However, Johns ends on the hopeful mission to first focus on being " children of the universe and citizens of the world" before worrying about labels and races.
We have parallels in our own backyard with America not being simply black nor white. An essay titled "A Hispanic Civil Rights Movement" by Juan Williams explores the struggle of our nation's largest minority group in their own fight for equality. The movement is a great example of the power that organization of many diverse groups can have to create change. Hopefully racial tensions can be set aside in America as minorities band together in great movement for equality.
[Congrats, you made it through my long rambling! Here's a fun article as your reward:
How to Spot an American Anywhere in the World]
I agree that when we unite and become allies to each other's struggles, there is a greater movement for equality. Allyship is important for social justice and everyone's issues are just as important.
ReplyDeleteThe statement/quote "She will never give up," is very empowering and can be applied to all notable and courageous women who were a part of many powerful movements that helped gain equality and justice. I really enjoyed your blog post :)
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed your post. I found it interesting how South Africans see a distinction between black, white, and coloured. Something we can possibly talk about in class is how these three racial groups (if you can call it that) are different and what certain disadvantages they each have.
ReplyDeleteI wonder why today, women are still not appreciated and mentioned in the history of South Africa's movements?
ReplyDeleteLoved the little easter egg at the end. Us americans are weird. lol
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