Q&A Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom © 2013

Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom © 2013
Answers to discussion questions adapted from the Nelson Mandela Foundation

PART I

1. In the film, Nelson Mandela is portrayed as being reluctant to join the African National Congress when first approached. The film presents a series of incidents involving the death of his friend Dlada Jackson, tensions with his first wife, Evelyn, and the bus boycott in Johannesburg, as reasons for joining the ANC. In reality, Mandela willingly joined the ANC because he was inspired by its leadership and their willingness to address the injustices he saw. Why do you think the film makers chose to tell the story in a way that depicted Nelson Mandela as hesitant to join the organization?

• The organization may still be perceived by some as negative and they wanted to depict Mandela in a positive light
• Political Reasons- The South African Government and the ANC need to have a good relationship
• The film makers didn’t want to depict Mandela as a terrorist
• There has been controversy over corrupt members taking bribes and the film makers did not want to associate Mandela with corruption
• The recent complaints that the ANC does not represent the interest of the poor anymore—“No Land! No House! No Vote! Campaign. This is the opposite of what Mandela stood for. He believed in sacrificing for his people and spent 27 years in prison to end apartheid.
• The ANC has been criticized for wasteful spending of taxpayers’ money on luxury vehicles, hotels, and fast food.
• Archbishop Desmond Tutu announced that he cannot support and vote for the ANC because it is no longer the party that he and Mandela fought for
• It would always have to be always a conflicted decision to some degree.  If life is too comfortable as is, it is hard to give that up.  Probably an aggregate of others who got involved.  Even if the need is clear and the moral mandate compelling, almost none of us get involved for completely selfless reasons.
• Was he portrayed in this aspect as an aggregate character, representative of others who joined?
• His mother’s concerns
• Possible repercussions
• We are a Disney culture.  We don’t like flawed or imperfect leaders.

2. Discuss the ANC decision to conduct sabotage on government facilities. Why do you think the ANC, which had been committed to a policy of nonviolence for decades, felt it needed to make this move? Does the level of oppression South African blacks were facing at that time justify such a strategy by the ANC?

• It was obvious nothing of substance was changing, nor was there an indication that change would come
• Bus boycotts and other non-violent actions not bringing change
• Similar to Malcolm X “by any means necessary” vs. MLK’s position
• I’d always believe a non-violent option is right, but I can’t judge what it was like to be black in South Africa in the 1950’s and 1960’s; I’ve never been forced to live under such oppression.

3. During the Rivonia trial, Nelson Mandela and two of his co-accused chose to make a statement rather than remain silent or give evidence which opened him to cross-examination. Why do you think they made this decision? What effect do you think it had on the judge in the courtroom? What effect do you think it had on those outside South Africa who were observing this trial? How does this speech redefine the characterization of Nelson Mandela as a criminal?

• Both internal and external audiences needed a clear message
• Mandela had a keen understanding of perception and images (like requesting long pants in prison).  He also knew this was a rare platform from which the ANC could get a fair international hearing.
• Mandela wanted his people to know, and continue fighting against apartheid, to increase resistance and resilience

4. After Nelson Mandela rejected President Botha’s proposal to renounce violence in exchange for freedom, Mandela proposed he talk with government officials alone and not with members of the ANC. Why did he agree to enter into these talks, even when his fellow inmates voted that he not talk to the government alone? Why do you think Mandela felt he alone needed to talk to the government and had the confidence to do it?

• Mandela concluded, and his actions clearly showed that personal relationships that would build trust—even with the oppressor—would be essential to make change and avoid perpetual mayhem.
• It seems he didn’t think it would be possible by involving his group—they’d never all agree and that building those one-on-one relationships would not work in the group dynamic.
• Willing to play chess patiently; a group approach less likely to be patient
• By himself, he was less threatening
• He had the confidence because he had nothing to lose.

5. As his time in prison passed, Nelson Mandela began to look at what South Africa should become after Africans were given their freedom and political power. He knew that many black Africans would want revenge against the white population. What were his feelings on getting revenge and why do you think he held this view?

• Mandela, “ I love peace more than hating the oppressor.”
• Mandela understood that once you unleash vengeance violently, it won’t be limited to just your current oppressor—it will get redirected to others and ignite out of control.
• Issues of power, snitches/informants led to black on black violence and killing
• He was convinced his oppressed people would one day be free and come to power because they are the majority. Mandela felt that taking the approach off revenge would be taking them back multiple steps because he knew then they would be the oppressor. And they have fought their entire lives to break oppression.
• Revenge was not the solution. The solution was living equally and sharing power in a democratic state.

6. Discuss the bittersweet irony of Nelson Mandela’s victory in ending apartheid and being elected president. What had he gained and what had he lost? Do you think it was worth the effort? Why or why not?

• He lost two marriages and decades with his own children.
• In particular, he and Winnie parted very publicly, disagreeing on tactics, her behavior deemed criminal, in addition to the personal split
• He lost years of personal intimacy with love ones, saying goodbye to his mother, death of his son.
• He had virtually no personal or private life as we define it and/or take for granted

PART II
Synthesis questions – After you’ve discussed the film, your study group needs to provide a detailed paragraph for items 1 and 2 below.

1. If we were to encourage others to “Lead Like Mandela” we would be encouraging them to do what 3 things?

Mandela’s leadership example can be summarized in three dimensions:

• Committment to grit, as a combination of resilience, patience, determination and courage
• Serve and make sacrifices in the understanding that your life exists in a wider context than what is ‘normal’ both socially, culturally and historically
• Study others closely, yet practice personal detachment to stay focused on objectives over personalities

Over nearly three decades, Mandela provided ample evidence that he was fully committed to these leadership values.

2. What does your study group believe are the two most important lessons Mandela learned in his “long walk to freedom” as a leader of an outside-political group, to a political prisoner, to a formalized leader as president? For both of the lessons learned, what were his initial beliefs? What events caused him to change his thinking? What were his new beliefs?

Mandela’s main evolution was moving from a practitioner of non-violent change, to endorsing violence, to returning to leading through non-violent resistance.  While he was remarkably steadfast, he was open to change.  He came to understand that making the oppressor more fearful would increase the oppression.  His position evolved to fully embrace democracy for all; he understood that compromises on that principle and short-cuts would make peaceful change unsustainable.

ANOTHER RELATED MOVIE TO SEE: 30 for 30 ESPN series, The 12^th Man