This chapter is an extract from the autobiography of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, titled "Long Walk to Freedom". It describes the historic inauguration of South Africa's first democratic, non-racial government and Mandela's reflections on the struggle against apartheid.
Apartheid is a political system that separates people according to their race. Under this system, the black majority in South Africa was subjected to extreme discrimination, oppression, and deprivation of basic human rights by the white-skinned minority rule for over three centuries.
The historic inauguration took place on a bright and clear autumn day in Pretoria, symbolizing a new dawn of freedom and equality.
A spectacular array of South African jets, helicopters, and troop carriers roared in perfect formation over the Union Buildings. This was not just a display of military precision, but a demonstration of the military's loyalty to democracy and the newly elected government. High military and police generals, whose chests were bedecked with ribbons, saluted Mandela—generals who, not many years before, would have arrested him.
Mandela reflected that in the first decade of the twentieth century (after the bitter Anglo-Boer War and before his birth), the white-skinned peoples of South Africa erected a system of racial domination against the dark-skinned peoples. This structure formed the basis of one of the harshest, most inhumane societies the world had ever known.
The freedom achieved was the result of the unimaginable sacrifices of thousands of South African patriots. Mandela paid tribute to freedom fighters who went before him, such as Oliver Tambo, Walter Sisulu, Chief Luthuli, Yusuf Dadoo, Bram Fischer, and Robert Sobukwe. He described them as men of extraordinary courage, wisdom, and generosity, noting that "it requires such depths of oppression to create such heights of character."
Mandela learned the meaning of courage from his comrades in the struggle: "Courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it." The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.
Mandela asserted that no one is born hating another person because of their skin color, background, or religion. "People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite." Even in the grimmest times in prison, a glimmer of humanity in a guard was enough to reassure him that man's goodness is a flame that can be hidden but never extinguished.
Mandela explained that every man has twin obligations in life:
In an apartheid-dominated South Africa, it was virtually impossible for a dark-skinned man to fulfill both obligations. Anyone who attempted to live as a human being was punished, isolated, and ripped away from their family.
Mandela concluded that the oppressor must be liberated just as surely as the oppressed. "A man who takes away another man’s freedom is a prisoner of hatred; he is locked behind the bars of prejudice and narrow-mindedness." Both the oppressed and the oppressor are equally robbed of their humanity.
Many nouns in the text are formed by adding suffixes like -tion, -ation, or -ment to verbs:
Generally, the definite article 'the' is not used before proper nouns. However, when used in the plural or with 'the' (e.g., "the Oliver Tambos of our time"), it carries a special meaning: "many other men like" or "men of their type or kind" whose names represent a standard of excellence or character.
This poem contrasts a majestic tiger confined within the artificial cage of a zoo with its natural, free life in the wild jungle.
Stanza 1: Captivity
He stalks in his vivid stripes
The few steps of his cage,
On pads of velvet quiet,
In his quiet rage.
Analysis: The tiger is confined to a small cage. His movements are restricted ("few steps"). His paws are soft like velvet, and he suppresses his anger ("quiet rage").
Stanza 2: The Wild (Imagined)
He should be lurking in shadow,
Sliding through long grass
Near the water hole
Where plump deer pass.
Analysis: In his natural habitat, the tiger would hide in shadows and slide through tall grass near water sources to hunt deer.
Stanza 3: Natural Instincts
He should be snarling around houses
At the jungle’s edge,
Baring his white fangs, his claws,
Terrorising the village!
Analysis: Free, he would show his wild nature at the forest boundaries, growling and showing his fangs to terrorize nearby villages as a natural predator.
Stanza 4: Helplessness in Captivity
But he’s locked in a concrete cell,
His strength behind bars,
Stalking the length of his cage,
Ignoring visitors.
Analysis: Instead, he is locked in a strong concrete cell. His immense power is useless behind bars. He ignores the visitors, finding them uninteresting and irrelevant to his plight.
Stanza 5: Constant Confinement
He hears the last voice at night,
The patrolling cars,
And stares with his brilliant eyes
At the brilliant stars.
Analysis: At night, the only sounds he hears are the patrolling cars of the zoo keepers. He stares longingly at the free, brilliant stars, reflecting his own trapped brilliance.