Today we went to the Apartheid museum. It was probably the most interesting thing in Johannesburg we did. For those of you who do not know what Apartheid is, I will explain.
What was Apartheid?
Apartheid was a system that oppressed all non-whites. It was used in South Africa to ensure that the minority white population was dominant in everything. There were black political parties but black people were not allowed to vote so none of the black political parties would ever win. Apartheid was a horrendous and terrible way of controlling people and redistricting their rights.
My Individual Thoughts from Inside the Museum
These are some notes I made inside the museum. I put them in separate paragraphs because I like to think of them as individual thoughts.
Predicting the Future or the Future, Predicted
Here is a quote made by Nelson Mandela in 1952, I find it funny and inspiring. Nelson Mandela said ”One day I will be the first black president of South Africa”
This is my reflection on the quote.
I like to think that instead of him “predicting the future” he was saying “one day I will be president” and he meant it like “I will work hard to become president and it will happen.”
Escaping the Danger by Becoming the Danger
I read a story in the museum about a black man who was constantly being brutally harassed by the police. He wanted it to stop so he decided to become a policeman himself. I was a little shocked by this because why would a black man become a policeman? He would probably be sent to hurt his own people. I think it was because they felt like they needed to escape the danger by becoming the danger. It made me sad to think of this, but some people I think are softer than others and succumb to the enemy.
I Did Not Know about All the Others
I realized, while I was looking through the Museum shop, that before coming to Africa and listening to A Long Walk To Freedom, I only vaguely knew about Nelson Mandela and I did not know at all about Apartheid or Walter Sisulu, Oliver Tambo, Winnie Mandela, or Mandela’s children. Joe Slovo, Albertina Sisulu, George Bizos, Govan Mbeki, Ahamed Kathrada (also known as Kathy), Andrew Mlangeni, Raymond Mhlaba, Dennise Goldberg, and Bram Fisher. These were all people who were in Mandela’s life and helped him become the man he was.
I Look Up to Nelson Mandela Very Much
I was so Awed at how Mandela always knew what to say, his words were just full of wisdom and it’s like he just knew what to say to make everybody feel confident or sad or whatever emotion he is going for. He knew what will calm or please or rile up the crowd. He carried himself with such confidence and poise and dignity. He is definitely someone I look up to. When I see him in a video or picture I think of leadership, pride, prowess, calm, and reassurance.
History Everybody Needs to Learn
The Apartheid Museum was a very good place for us to visit. Even though I read Long Walk to Freedom, I never imagined police brutality was so bad. It was even worse than America. In Nelson Mandela’s Book, he talks about how bad the police were but in the videos at the museum, it showed the police being more violent than anyone could imagine. Even though the museum is sad and it has a painful history, I think it is all history that everybody needs to learn. Everybody in the world.