False power stands like a tower

Invictus
William Ernest Henley

Out of the night that covers me,

Black as the Pit from pole to pole,

I thank whatever gods may be

For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance

I have not winced nor cried aloud.

Under the bludgeonings of chance

My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears

Looms but the Hooror of the shade,

And yet the menace of the years

Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,

How charged with punishments the scroll,

I am the master of my fate:

I am the captain of my soul.

Nelson Mandela claimed that this poem helped him get through his 27 years of imprisonment.

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It's time I talk about aparthied.

Apartheid definitions:
- apartness
- the status of being apart
- (in South Africa) A policy or system of segregation or discrimination on grounds of race.

Apartheid laws in South Africa favored white supremacy and largely marginalized the non white communities. The apartheid era is famous for the oppression that was carried out on the behalf of the state against South Africa's many anti-apartheid activists. Although apartheid formally ended in the early 1990's, the legacies it left behind in Africa are still prevalent. The Dutch came and colonized South Africa in the 19th century (lured by the South Africa's natural resource, gold) and in 1941 the Dutch claimed that, "the White man now rules the nation of South Africa". Mixing amongst races in the ghettos and slums created fear in the Dutch concerning 'racial purity' and thus began apartheid.

Yesterday, I went to the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg with Daphne and Mamasi, our friend from Botshabelo. This little trip to the museum turned into a huge personal journey. I was able to take all the small pieces of what I have learned at Robben Island and through my research of Nelson Mandela and put everything together in a streamlined timeline of events. Yesterday a nation's history became clear to me.

As we walked into the apartheid museum we were separated by the entrance. Daphne and I were forced to go through the 'white only' doors and Mamasi had to go through the 'non white' doors (because she's black). It was an interesting way to introduce us to the discomfort of the apartheid era. This entrance, which is supposed to be very dramatic and self-reflective, turned into a confusing maze for Daphne. She got so concerned that Mamasi was separated from us. She was yelling, "Mamasi! Come back! How will we get to you? Where are you going?" I tried to quickly explain to Daphne that Mamasi had to go through different doors and up a different entrance so we can feel what apartheid was like. This concept was too much for Daph. Eventually a museum guide came up and was like, "Do you need help? Do you need a guide?" This was maybe the cutest thing Daph has done (almost as cute as her leper impression).

Anyways, once we were reunited and inside the museum, it quickly became clear that the apartheid museum is more than just a destination - it's a journey. We went through the temporary Nelson Mandela  exhibit and through the permanent apartheid history exhibit. We journeyed through the beginning of the political upheavals, the transition of a nation divided, and the uprising of black consciousness. The exhibits ended with images and videos displaying the release of Nelson Mandela, which led to the final negotiations for peace and the beginning of a new democracy (under which Nelson Mandela was elected president of in 1994).

You know, we all learned about Nelson Mandela sometime during our primary school years. We all knew he was a 'good man' that did 'something important in Africa' and some of us new he was 'the man who went to jail for a long time'. But he is just so much more than an important man who did something good. He paved a path of equality in South Africa. Nelson Mandela held important leadership roles in the African Nation Congress (the ANC), the opposition of the apartheid political party. The ANC is famous for wanting to kick out all the Europeans. In lamen terms, Nelson was like, "Hellllll nooooo! We are all equals! We can all live here". When he was released from prison he united all the sick-minded apartheid people and all the disenfranchised black Africans and told them that they were going to get along and live side-by-side. At one of his trials in 1961 Nelson proclaimed, "We are not anti-white, we are against white supremacy... we have condemned racialism no matter by whom it is professed". He dedicated his entire life to equality. So, of course, I bought a poster at the museum gift shop. Nelson forever, ya'll.

Ok... I feel like I am explaining apartheid and Nelson Mandela's influence on political change in the lamest way possible. I'm a little strapped for time and can't really explain South Africa's history in one little blog entry. It is undoubtedly interesting, though. I encourage everyone to do some of their own apartheid/Nelson Mandela research.

So, right now I feel like my stubborn sense of fairness and equality is making me crazy. After studying Mandela and after pouring over the political history of South Africa, I have become completely obsessed with modern philosophy on moral character. I'm not entirely sure what led me to the focus on moral character, but I suppose that apartheid seems so innately immoral (as does any form of apartheid/segregation/racism) that I have a really hard time fathoming the people and places that spawn such horrible ideals. The other night I spent hours scouring the Standford Encyclopedia of Philosophy reading and reading and reading, picking through musings on the nature of virtue. What is considered admirable moral character? How does one become virtuous? Is it taught? Are we born with it? Nature vs. nurture? Are we at all responsible for its development?

Here is a picture of Daphne, Mamasi and I. We are hanging out of a truck that was used in Soweto to control the anti-apartheid protest mobs during the uprisings in the 1970's. We are making our best 'fight for equality' faces. 

In other news, Daphne leaves this Monday. I can't write about it because I'll start crying. She will definitely be missed.  Oh, and I only have one more month to go at Botshabelo. I will be sure to post at least three more blogs before my time ends here. Check next week for updates! This next upcoming week I will be presenting a Nelson Mandela curriculum to the students at Botshabelo. I will do a two-hour lesson with every grade on South Africa's sociopolitical history. This should be interesting! I am calling my segment, Born Free: A history of South Africa. Born Free is actually an M.I.A. song and I wonder if I should include listening to the song as part of the curriculum. Ha!

Much love,

Christy