On the night of his electoral victory, following the first democratic election in South
Africa after years of racist oligarchy, Nelson Mandela began his victory address in a conventional style: “My fellow South Africans – the people of South Africa” (Guardian
3 May 1994 cited in Billig 1997:97). He went on to describe the new South Africa , “the type of South Africa we can build”. From his message it was clear that the country he spoke of had a unique, identifiable and addressable people: “The speech appealed to ‘us’, the people, the country, the nation.
South Africa is called the ‘Rainbow Nation’. This is because of its multicultural diversity, after different groups came here in previous centuries. We are called the Rainbow nation because this means unity of multi-culturalism and the coming-together of people of many different races. Within South African indigenous cultures, the rainbow is associated with hope and a bright future (as in Xhosa culture). The colours are simply said to symbolise the diversity of South Africa's usually unspecified cultural, ethnic or racial groups. Whether you are pink, yellow, black, blue or white we are all equal and stand to have a good future ahead of us. This term was also found by the Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town, Desmond Tutu, later Nelson Mandela elaborated this by saying: "Each of us is as intimately attached to the soil of this beautiful country as are the famous jacaranda trees of Pretoria and the mimosa trees of the bushveld - a rainbow nation at peace with itself and the world" (Guardian 11 May 1994 cited in Billig 1997:97).
Following from this, the aim of this assay is to explore the construction and representation of ‘Rainbow Nation” in the local soap opera series, Generations....
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... what is told and retold in national histories, literatures, the media and popular culture. These provide a set of stories, images, landscapes, scenario, historical events, national symbols and rituals which stand for, or represent shared experience, sorrows, and triumphs and disasters which give meaning to the nation. As members of such an ‘imagined community’, we see ourselves in our mind’s eye, sharing this narrative. Investing in this kind of identity lends significance and importance to our existence, connecting our everyday lives with a national destiny that pre-existed us and will outlive us. Thus the narrative of Generations plays an important role in giving meaning to what constitutes the South African generation as we move into the 21st century, as well as shaping how members of a
South African nation imagine the broader community of South African people
He opens his speech with “I greet you all in the name of peace, democracy and freedom for all.” (Mandela)
Nelson Mandela’s commitment to politics and the ANC grew stronger after the 1948 election victory of the Afrikaner dominated National Party, which formed a formal system of racial classification and segregation “apartheid” which restricted non whites basic rights and barred them from government.
Before viewing the National Geographic Documentary “Apartheid’s Children”, I did not realize that even after the government was black majority ruled, numerous blacks are still living in deficiency. Subsequent to watching this short but evocative documentary, I now understand the immense gap between several blacks and how events in their lives have entirely changed their circumstances, and how this associates with creating their identity.
Barack Obama has made no secret that over the past three decades Nelson Mandela has been the greatest influence in his life. Coming from an African ancestry, Obama drew inspiration from Mandela’s life and influenced Obama to take himself upon a journey of self-discovery and find his own voice (Obama, 2004). The repercussions of Mandela’s inspirational work caused Obama to become a part of an anti-apartheid divestment movement in college and to shift to focusing on law and politics (Epstein, 2013). Now that Barack Obama has become President of the United States of America, he has consistently quoted Mandela in all his keynote speeches speaking of freedom and equality and his actions and words are inspired by the desire to emulate Mandela’s powerful actions and movements and the examples that he set, in the 21st century (Killough, 2013). Even within the tribute to Mandela, Obama (2013) says “You can make his life’s work your own…It stirred something ...
University of Pennsylvania-African studies center. Inaugural speech, Pretoria (Mandela)- 5/10/94 in Nelson Mandela’s inaugural speech-Pretoria ,May 10 from ancdip@WN.APC.ORG
APARTHEID IN SOUTH AFRICA- NELSON MANDELA Fisayo Benson Nelson Mandela brought an end to apartheid in South Africa after spending 27 years in jail for his actions against apartheid. He fought for the rights of blacks using non-violent protests and eventually brought about reconciliation to the racially divided country. He played an important role as the leader of the struggle against apartheid with the use of the military wing ANC along with protests, strikes and negotiations with the white governments in order to bring about an end to apartheid in South Africa. Apartheid was a policy of racial segregation practiced in South Africa that involved the discrimination of blacks which forced them to live separately from whites, restricted contact between both races, restricted blacks to certain types of jobs and decreased their political powers. Racial segregation and supremacy of whites had been taking place in South Africa long before apartheid started.
Nour Ellisy 3/11/14 English 10H Ms.Metrakos Annotated Bibliography Entries. Annotated Bibliography Entry Source #1 Nelson Mandela taught us that the humanity all of us share can help us transcend the sins some of us commit. There is no better example of the transformative power of tolerance and reconciliation than Nelson Mandela and his inspiring work in overthrowing the apartheid government in South Africa. He understood the power of words to change minds and the power of peaceful deeds to open hearts. His life reminds us that justice and tolerance can overcome even the greatest cruelty.
The Kwaito Generation : Inside Out :: A production of 90.9 WBUR Boston, MA. (n.d.). Inside Out Documentaries: A Production of WBUR. Retrieved February 19, 2011, from http://www.insideout.org/documentaries/kwaito/apartheid.asp
Since 2010, the world has been celebrating Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela every July 18th, the day known as Nelson Mandela Day. With all of the police brutality that has been publicized lately, in addition to Donald Trump’s current presidency mandate (which shows how racism and violence is still present in developed countries), it is important to have be reminded by inspiring figures such as Mandela how important it is to fight for peace and equality. Accordingly, Nelson Mandela’s courage brought justice to his country and greatly improved South Africa overall.
Our human compassion binds us the one to the other - not in pity or patronizing, but as human beings who have learnt how to turn our common suffering into hope for the future” (Nelson Mandela). Nelson Mandela, the recently passed president of South Africa, declares truly extraordinary success will not be found by yourself. No matter the amount of people, success thrives through group effort. Therefore, if South Africa is to ever have a restoration process their broken country needs to come together. In order to sustain the ability to come together, the people need to decide on their own that they truly want and will really work hard for.
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was born on July 18, 1918 as youngest son of Nonqaphi Nosekeni and Nkosi Mphakanyiswa Gadla Mandela, who had 13 children. He was a privileged child and belonged to a respected family where he was well-prepared to follow his father’s footsteps. As his father died when he was just nine years old, he experienced the value of culture, traditions, customs to people, as well as the value of the community early on as he had to take over huge responsibilities (Mazinter, 2013).
from where we derive our aspirations. Some of the challenges facing us in contemporary society - more specifically, in South Africa.
“The time comes in the life of any nation when there remain only two choices: submit or fight” (“Nelson Mandela”). Nelson Mandela took the chance and fought for his rights and freedom. Mandela has gone through many troubles in his life since the day he was born. A young man that had no shoes till he approached the age of sixteen, and then transformed into a great political leader of his country. Mandela’s life is an impressing story to be told!
Nelson Mandela 's inaugural speech given in Pretoria addressed South African citizens and royalty as well as significant political figures. Mandela 's speech covered unity for the people and implied the future was going to embody equality amongst all. His speech covers the darkness and struggle of the past and goes in depth really connecting himself to the audience. His message is clear and easily understood. Mandela addresses the long struggle for democracy in South Africa and his beliefs about humanity. The purpose behind his speech was to acknowledge that the black and white audience should move away from the taunting past and reconcile so they would be able to unify in the future. "We must therefore act together as a united people, for
Worse, barriers to communication, “obstacles that interrupt the flow of conveying and receiving messages,” had arisen due to the division between the whites and blacks (P.380). Because of this, the future of South Africa was not only misunderstood by South Africans, but by the international community as well. In order to promote his vision, Mandela understood that he would need to actively communicate, “the…transmitting [of] information, thoughts, and processes through various channels,” to make his intentions known, and to create motivation, “drive to complete a task,” throughout the country (P.