Kristof’s Reflection on the Passing of Mandela
World History/Napp Name: ______
Biographical Context:
“The most famous of all African nationalist leaders was Nelson Mandela. The situation in South Africa was different. It hadexperienced imperialism, but the country had gained autonomy at the turn of the century. White setters called Afrikaners had control of the South African government and had imposed a social structure known as apartheid.Apartheid consisted of two social classes, upper white and lower black. The races were kept separate and unequal, with the black population suffering terrible abuses. Examples of this abuse include pass cards for blacks only, voting rights for whites only, and segregated reservations called Home Lands. Mandela, due to speaking out against apartheid, was imprisoned for 27 years and not released until the early 1990’s. South African president F.W. De Klerk freed Mandela and ended the racist institution. In 1994, South Africa had its first free election and Mandela was elected president. Mandela and De Klerk earned the Nobel Peace Prize together for their efforts.”
~ Oswego City School District Regents Exam Prep Center
1-Who were Afrikaners and what did they control? ______
2-What social structure did the Afrikaner government impose? ______
3-Describe the system of racial segregation in South Africa. ______
4-Why was Nelson Mandela imprisoned for twenty-seven years? ______
5-Who was F.W. De Klerk and how did he change South Africa? ______
6-What happened in South Africa in 1994? ______
7-What did Mandela and De Klerk earn? ______
The Reflection:
Mandela Lives
By NICHOLAS KRISTOF
December 5, 2013
My favorite fact about Nelson Mandela is that he invited one of his white jailers, who had helped imprison him for 27 years, to his inauguration as South Africa’s president. It was a sign of the magnanimity, warmth and absolute lack of vindictiveness that marked Mandela.
There have been many great dissidents and freedom-fighters, but few have made the transition well to national leader. The qualities that mark a rebel – raw courage and stubbornness, even unreasonableness – don’t tend to make a great president. Mandela faced plenty of pressures to be petty, to humiliate those who had humiliated him and even murdered his friends, yet he somehow resisted them. He’s the biggest man I’ve ever seen.
More broadly, Mandela epitomized public service and sacrifice more than anyone of his generation. Here was a lawyer with a promising career who could have chosen to work within the system, and yet he tossed it aside to fight for all his country’s people. When on trial and facing the death penalty, he was defiant as ever. And then during those 27 years in prison, he was repeatedly offered the chance to be released early. Indeed, the government pretty much begged him to accept a conditional release, because he was an embarrassment behind bars. Yet he refused to accept anything less than an absolutely unconditional release – and eventually he got it.
Questions:
1-What is Mr. Kristof’s favorite fact about Mr. Mandela? ______
2-Why, according to Mr. Kristof, do few great dissidents and freedom fighters make a successful transition to national leader? ______
3-Why is Mr. Mandela “the biggest man” Mr. Kristof ever met? ______
4-According to Mr. Kristof, what did Mr. Mandela epitomize? ______
5-Provide three examples Mr. Kristof uses to prove that Mr. Mandela epitomized public service and sacrifice more than anyone of his generation. ______
Putting his country first also meant family troubles, including his break with his wife, Winnie, after he was released. It meant standing up to those long-time allies of his who thought that he was acquiescing in racial and economic gulfs and giving away the store. And it meant taking just one term as president, to show that South Africa would be led by laws and not presidents-for-life. That set an example for governance that rippled around the region.
When experts debate why Africa faltered in the post-independence period, one common factor cited is poor governance and poor leadership (partly because of dismal education systems and tribal conflicts put in place by colonial authorities). There were few shining examples of great leaders in Africa, outside of Botswana. Yet Mandela turned out to be as great as a president as he was as a freedom fighter, and his example was inspiring and contagious. All across Africa and the world, people turned to Mandela as an inspiration of public service and leadership. He raised the bar, and it’s perhaps not a coincidence that African leadership has been much better in the post-Mandela period.
Questions:
1-How did putting his country first affect Mr. Mandela personally? ______
2-Why did Mr. Mandela take only one term as president? ______
3-What is one factor cited for why Africa faltered in the post-independence period? ______
4-How did colonialism and imperialism contribute to this factor? ______
5-How did Mr. Mandela challenge this factor? ______
There’s also a message for the rest of the world. When Mandela was behind bars and most needed help, much of the world was mute. Dick Cheney even voted against a 1986 House Resolution calling on South Africa to release Mandela. That was short-sighted, and we are similarly short-sighted when we don’t speak up for dissidents in countries from China to Bahrain. Eventually freedom will prevail in Beijing and Bahrain as it does in South Africa.
Mandela’s contributions to black-white conciliation are well known, but what is perhaps less famous is his tireless work to fight AIDS, to bring peace to warring nations, and to promote respect for LGBT rights. In a continent that has often been deeply repressive of gays and lesbians, Mandela was a strong advocate of equality and gay marriage, and it was because of his influence that South Africa became the fifth country in the world to legalize gay marriage. He was a leader not just for South Africa but for the world.
So, yes, a mighty figure may have died at the age of 95. But travel around Africa and the world, and you see his imprint, his legacy, his spirit. Mandela lives.
Questions:
1-What did Dick Cheney vote against in 1986? ______
2-According to Kristof, what will eventually prevail? ______
3-What are some of Mr. Mandela’s less known contributions? ______
4-What did Mr. Mandela advocate? ______
5-What did South Africa become the fifth country in the world to legalize? ______
6-Why does, according to Mr. Kristof, Mr. Mandela live? ______
7-What do you think was Mr. Mandela’s greatest contribution to world history? Explain your answer. ______
Multiple-Choice Questions:
1-Which conclusion is best supported by this cartoon?
(A)Imprisonment of political dissidents rarely ends opposition to the government.
(B)The United Nations supports punishment for acts of civil disobedience.
(C)Better media coverage would prevent the imprisonment of protesters.
(D)Mistreatment of political prisoners often results in their acceptance of government policies.
2-In the Republic of South Africa, the primary goal of the African National Congress (ANC) has been to
(A)eliminate communist influence
(B)rule as the majority political party
(C)create a united Africa
(D)promote homeland areas for Blacks
3-In the 1980’s, global concern for Blacks in the Republic of South Africa led many nations to
(A)impose economic sanctions on South Africa
(B)demand that Whites return to their European homelands
(C)sent troops to South Africa
(D)support policies of Apartheid
4-“The Very First Thing You Should Know About South African Stocks and Bonds”
“Two Leading Financial Institutions Show You Around South Africa’s Banking World”
“Amalgamated Banks of South Africa: Everything You’d Expect From An International Banking Partner”
The titles of these pamphlets, available in 1994 from an American business and financial publication, reflect
(A)a continuation of the international trade sanctions imposed on South Africa in 1985
(B)a renewed interest in investing in South Africa’s economy
(C)the hazards associated with overseas economic investment
(D)a belief that the banks and the bond market in South Africa are inferior to those in Europe
5-In which way has the end of apartheid had a positive economic effect on South Africa?
(A)Black South African managers have increased industrial productivity throughout the nation
(B)the introduction of communism has led to a more equal distribution of income
(C)many foreign companies have resumed trading and investing in South Africa
(D)all profits of South Africa’s industries are now reinvested out of the country
6-Which statement best characterizes the period of apartheid in South Africa?
(A)the majority of the population had the right to vote
(B)the Boers attempted to conquer Nigeria
(C)many racist ideas of the ruling minority were adopted into laws
(D)French was declared the official language of the nation
7-In the Republic of South Africa, the slogans “Freedom in Our Lifetime” and “New South Africa” changed from promises to reality after
(A)Frederik W. de Klerk took over the radical white police force
(B)Untied Nations troops occupied the Transvaal
(C)Nelson Mandela was elected President
(D)the majority of white South Africans returned to Europe
8. A major problem currently facing the Republic of South Africa is the
(A)continuation of attacks from neighboring Zimbabwe
(B)move toward the creation of a theocratic state
(C)struggle for power between different groups within South Africa’s black majority
(D)continued international economic embargo against South Africa
9. Since the end of apartheid in South Africa, what has been one of the major challenges to the current government?
(A)establishing diplomatic relations with Europe
(B)resolving regional and ethnic rivalries
(C)guaranteeing religious freedom for all groups
(D)improving transportation throughout the country
Explain the meaning of the political cartoon.
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