Reflections from Prison

by Mac Maharaj

In 1976, while imprisoned on Robben Island, Nelson Mandela secretly wrote the bulk of his autobiography, "Long Walk to Freedom." The manuscript was to be smuggled out by fellow prisoner Mac Maharaj on his release later that year. Maharaj also urged Mandela and other prominent political prisoners to write essays on South Africa's political future. These were smuggled out with Mandela's autobiography and are now published for the first time.

Written by Mandela, Walter Sisulu, Ahmed Kathrada, Govan Mbeki, and four other leaders of the anti-apartheid movement, these essays provide a rare view of their thinking at a critical point in the liberation struggle, on the eve of the 1976 Soweto Uprising. The leaders describe their philosophies, strategies, and hopes. They debate such crucial issues as violent versus nonviolent forms of struggle, diversity and unity, the ideological challenge of the Black Consciousness movement, and how to accommodate different interpretations of African nationalism.

The book begins with a foreword by Desmond Tutu and a contextualizing introduction by Maharaj. Then come two essays by Mandela and one each by Sisulu, Kathrada, Mbeki, Billy Nair, John Pokela, Eddie Daniels, and Andimba Toivo ya Toivo. Each essay is preceded by a short biography of the author, a description of his life in prison, and a pencil sketch by a black South African artist.

Genres: South Africa

253 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

Reviews

[Sunae · Rating 5 out of 5]

All this competent, and genuin political figures came togehter to write essays containing some of there most urgent thoughts.
Madiba choosen for a engaging entrance forcuses on his allys, and cooperation between many different civil rights groups. What connects them, there weaknesses, the difficulty of differences whitout alliances, and there political history.

Member of the INC, the indian coloredopulation, and namibian resistance provide an alternative perspective from the well repressented south african side, allowing more aspects of south african to shine. I appreciated this few especially.

The member of the PAC sounded very immature, having honed his intellect primarily on his own history, and while well equiped tomreconize the problems in his society, he seemns to lack much understanding of long term problem solving, and engages primarily on ideological, and theoretical grounds.
But what he lacked on experience, he made up on vigor, and ambition. A honest soul.

It is highly educational to see them express there belifes, and share there knowledge in different ways. Some are more informational, and dry, others more emotional, perhaps even patriotic.

[Elizabeth Parenzee]

Insightful