Reading about Nelson

Today is a great day. Why?

I finally finished reading Nelson Mandela's Autobiography, all 626 pages of it!

I hava always been interested in South African politics, but never attempted to divulge into the sad history of Apartheid. That all changed when I heard that Nelson Mandela would make an appearance, at the Soccer World Cup at age 92. I dont know why, but I was suddenly intrigued, and wanted to know more about Mandela and the 28 years he spent behind bars in the name of freedom.

Luckily, I live very close to an Indigo bookstore, so I ventured over to the biography section, where I found him sitting in between other noted figures, Yasmin Warsame, Marilyn Monroe, Bill Clinton, the whole slew.

For a person who has been reading ficton for way too long, sometimes, its hard to grasp the harsh and stark reality laying between the covers of such a great manifesto. Gritting my teeth, and turning off the the tv, I found myself far away from the pleasantries of my childhood, and turned back the clock to 1918, in Transkei, South Africa, where it all began for a troublemaker, Rolihlahla. Who is now famously and universally known as Nelson Mandela.

I cannot read page for page, although each detail is precise, eloquent and useful to understanding the simple and selfless life Mandela lived. I may barely scratch the surface, but will offer some insight into his life, hoping you will be inspired to read and experience this book aswell.

Mandela was the first child in his family to attend school. His teacher could not pronounce his African name and bestowed upon him, the English name, Nelson. Hence,from early on, Mandela was thrown into the melting pot of English colonization. His direction in life was also chosen earlier than he expected. His caretaker, wanted him to marry around twenty years of age. However, he rebelled, ran away, tried to do his own thing. He eventually stumbled upon a jewish law firm in Johannesburg, where he rubbed shoulders with the whites, and learnt of the subtle prejudices that lie between the races.

One instance of this inequality, occurred during a discussion about tea cups Mandela writes " I was greatful for her ministrations, but I knew that the "two new cups" she was so carful to mention were evidence of the color bar that she said did not exist. The secretaries might share tea with two Africans, but not the cups with which to drink it"

Despite such discrepancies, Nelson found a friend in Gaur, a poltical enthusiast, who soon planted the seeds, the ideas, the platforms of the African National Congress into Nelson's tabula rosa of african politics. Nelson Mandela was only twenty three at that time. Little did he know, that five decades later, at the ripe old age of 76, he would become the leader of this party and the president of his country.

I have tons more to tell you about Mr. Mandela, this is just the beginning to his long walk to freedom.