Rolihlahla Nelson Mandela has passed from this life to the next. He was a distinguished man valued for his intellect,
charisma, and vision for the greater good. He made a difference by
never giving up the quest for dignity, and learning about humanity to
always grow individually to teach his captors, his country, the
world, and his family the grace of an unconquered spirit thru his
evolving example of what it is to be a leader by advancing all
people.
He was a husband, father, grandfather,
boxer, attorney, statesman, and Madiba to his countless admirers.
Madiba Nelson Mandela :Grace To Be Continued: An African Journey by Patricia Britt
“I have discovered
the secret that after climbing a great hill, one only finds there are many more
hills to climb.” Nelson Mandela
In the seventies there was a
television series called “Born Free” about a white African family among black
countrymen revolving around the preservation of wild life. Born Free was a
staple in our household. I never realized the importance of that show until now,
in that the very title of the show must have been a statement about Apartheid?
Mandela’s spirit was born free, and he sought freedom for black South Africa
thru the ANC, because of the brutality he’d witnessed beyond the aristocratic
security he could have enjoyed with less conflict. He later realized working
with whites in reconciliation instead of retaliation was his life’s path always
seeing himself as a child of God entitled to freedom of choice equal to any man
communicated thru letters over the course of many years.
As a black American throughout my
life I have witnessed unexpected acts of kindness, and injustice. Maybe last
year I was in a store, and planned to get two items which were stamps, and a
lottery ticket. I purchased my stamps, saw a long line, and realized I forgot
to purchase my million dollar ticket, after I completed my first transaction, I
told the clerk I’ll get back in line, because I forgot to mention the ticket initially.
The twenty something year old very seriously said, “This is America, tell me
what you’d like.” And it struck me as so sweet, and respectful that she felt so
strongly about common courtesy, and justice, and of course it strengthened my
reservoir of hope for American unity, and understanding as kindness, and
political progress always does.
We’ve all experienced numerous
acts of simple consideration from sharp young store clerks educating us about
the latest technological gadgets when we’re seeking to make a purchase whether
we, or they are black, white, or otherwise even if we’re only window shopping,
and it warms our heart, and lets us know a willing spirit of cooperation is
alive, and well even in the face of incidents of tragic violence committed
against young black men by racist with harsh thoughts, and / or preconceived
notions. There’s a lot of cool kids that make up America, and the rest of the
world whose opinions matter, and contribute to good vibes.
On a much deeper level Mandela
must have internalized both the cruelty, and humanity of the guards (Christo
Brand – Afrikaner translater) that held his physical fate in their hands on a
daily basis for nearly 30 years, knowing that if he even spoke with a degree of
pride their resentment might cost his life, because human good, and evil can be
quick, and irreversible as he certainly knew. Yet he was determined to overcome
the overt evil that imprisoned his people’s path with the belief that through
reason in his own circumstances, he could eventually achieve freedom employing
silence, gaining knowledge, attaining wisdom, and communication with his
captors to materialize a victory, and find a way out of no way.
World musicians were on par with the
apartheid struggle translating that injustice anywhere is not something good people
will tolerate, without speaking out in time. Students of the world, and
Politian’s withdrew financial support to show support, and bring about change.
Hollywood, and probably the African,
and European equivalent have made numerous movies about the love of Africa (Mississippi
Masala, Out of Africa, Coming To America, Amistad, 12 Years a Slave, The African Queen, Cry
Freedom, Blood Diamonds, The Hotel Rwanda, and so on …) its native people, decendents,
and the lush land in addition to internal conflict, and stereotypes. Mandela
took all his experiences in stride, and cast a spell on South Africa, and the
world applying his education, and way with words to compose, and establish a
democratic constitution. He maintained an attitude of setting endless goals,
perhaps stemming from an athletic spirit of sportsmanship from his youth to
achieve thru team leadership, with some clerks, poets, and musicians along the
way to elevate his soul.
His grace will be continued through all the lives he touched even if it was just his smile across the tv screen. His eyes were damaged working in
the lime mines in captivity, and he still read, and increased his knowledge
after his release. He stood strong for the unifying themes of equality, civil
rights, and justice for a rainbow nation as the first black president in a predominantly
black land, rich in priceless minerals.
Through his transition his
countrymen have cried, sang, danced, and prayed in triumph for the impact he
made in their daily existence.
2013 Zimation Arts & Letters
