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How Far We Slaves Have Come!: South Africa and Cuba in Today's World
Speaking together in Cuba in 1991, Mandela and Castro discuss the unique relationship and example of the struggles of the South African and Cuban peoples.
83 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1991
About the author
Nelson Mandela
254 books2,422 followersNelson Rolihlahla Mandela was a former President of South Africa, the first to be elected in a fully representative democratic election, who held office from 1994–99.
Before his presidency, Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist, and the leader of the African National Congress's armed wing Umkhonto we Sizwe. The South African courts convicted him on charges of sabotage, as well as other crimes committed while he led the movement against apartheid. In accordance with his conviction, Mandela served 27 years in prison, spending many of these years on Robben Island.
In South Africa he is often known as Madiba, an honorary title adopted by elders of Mandela's clan. The title has come to be synonymous with Nelson Mandela.
Following his release from prison on 11 February 1990, Mandela supported reconciliation and negotiation, and helped lead the transition towards multi-racial democracy in South Africa. Since the end of apartheid, many have frequently praised Mandela, including former opponents. Mandela has received more than one hundred awards over four decades, most notably the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/nelson...
Before his presidency, Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist, and the leader of the African National Congress's armed wing Umkhonto we Sizwe. The South African courts convicted him on charges of sabotage, as well as other crimes committed while he led the movement against apartheid. In accordance with his conviction, Mandela served 27 years in prison, spending many of these years on Robben Island.
In South Africa he is often known as Madiba, an honorary title adopted by elders of Mandela's clan. The title has come to be synonymous with Nelson Mandela.
Following his release from prison on 11 February 1990, Mandela supported reconciliation and negotiation, and helped lead the transition towards multi-racial democracy in South Africa. Since the end of apartheid, many have frequently praised Mandela, including former opponents. Mandela has received more than one hundred awards over four decades, most notably the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/nelson...
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
July 2, 2015
My country sends aid to prop up Saudi Arabia an oligarchical, sexist nation with huge levels of imprisonment; my country also sends troops to secure oil reserves. And what is more, my country invests a lot of money and effort into offing foreign heads of state too conscientious for their own good. You can thus understand my cynicism for the United States.
Simultaneously you have Cuba sending troops for the express purpose of halting the expansion of apartheid, investing huge amounts of money into healthcare, education, plus the elimination of sexism, racism, and poverty.
Read this book and you'll find out why I'm a socialist.
Simultaneously you have Cuba sending troops for the express purpose of halting the expansion of apartheid, investing huge amounts of money into healthcare, education, plus the elimination of sexism, racism, and poverty.
Read this book and you'll find out why I'm a socialist.
November 25, 2019
ثبتی از یک تاریخ طلایی که ظاهرا رو به افول است
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امروز در سومین سالگرد درگذشت کاسترو یک یادداشت درمورد این کتاب نوشتم: اینجا
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امروز در سومین سالگرد درگذشت کاسترو یک یادداشت درمورد این کتاب نوشتم: اینجا
December 23, 2024
Fidel and Nelson going m for m and band for band. Two truly great men wow, what they say here is still so prescient today. Also fidel has a whole but about how cañones (Spanish for gun) rhymes with cajones (testicles)
September 7, 2014
Speeches by Mandela and Fidel Castro given in Cuba 1991. Emphasis on the battle of Cuito Cuinavale in Angola!
September 17, 2023
Two of the GOATs going shot for shot, bar for bar.
Two inspiring, analytical speeches given at a critical historical juncture for both of these men and their countries. This is late July 1991, as the socialist bloc is in the process of dissolving, although the USSR itself still has about 6 months left to leave. Cuba has entered the special period about a year ago, where they have been unable to expect the same amount of trade from their trading partners and have been forced to ration food and begin to restructure their economy. Mandela was let out of prison a year ago, and the ANC was made legal, with an anticipated restructuring of the constitution on the way, but the ANC is not yet in power. Mandela is facing the prospect of a victory he and his people have worked their whole lives for, while Castro trying to prevent total economic collapse in Cuba and the loss of 30 years of a successful revolution. The solidarity expressed between these two, and the 15 year history of Cuba's support with troops and weaponry to fight the racist South African army in Angola (which Mandela expresses a great deal of gratitude for), is very inspiring.
So nice to read speeches where they start crunching the numbers and bringing actual insight to a political situation, instead of just meaningless platitudes that don't address anything. Very interesting to read the perspective of competing imperialist blocs (US, European economic zone, Japan) at a time when this was really just emerging, with the end of the cold war. Very prescient analysis done from the middle of a hurricane.
Also illuminating to hear of the strategies of alignment with Latin America, which was of course absolutely necessary but came with it certain limitations and restrictions on how Cuba could build socialism, and certain tradeoffs it was forced to make. The references to ensuring that Latin American countries are not just exporting raw materials but actually manufacturing and processing in their own country is also still very relevant, particularly in the context of Venezuela, which despite its wealth of oil reserves was still sending so much of its oil to be refined in the US 30 years later. And this speech is pre-Bolivarian revolution!
The references to popular political language which was starting to play a role at the time (inequality, injustice, wealth redistribution, social justice) and how perhaps they notice the problem, but neglect to name capitalism and imperialism as the cause is even more common today.
Also, obviously very inspiring speeches written by two inspiring men.
Two inspiring, analytical speeches given at a critical historical juncture for both of these men and their countries. This is late July 1991, as the socialist bloc is in the process of dissolving, although the USSR itself still has about 6 months left to leave. Cuba has entered the special period about a year ago, where they have been unable to expect the same amount of trade from their trading partners and have been forced to ration food and begin to restructure their economy. Mandela was let out of prison a year ago, and the ANC was made legal, with an anticipated restructuring of the constitution on the way, but the ANC is not yet in power. Mandela is facing the prospect of a victory he and his people have worked their whole lives for, while Castro trying to prevent total economic collapse in Cuba and the loss of 30 years of a successful revolution. The solidarity expressed between these two, and the 15 year history of Cuba's support with troops and weaponry to fight the racist South African army in Angola (which Mandela expresses a great deal of gratitude for), is very inspiring.
So nice to read speeches where they start crunching the numbers and bringing actual insight to a political situation, instead of just meaningless platitudes that don't address anything. Very interesting to read the perspective of competing imperialist blocs (US, European economic zone, Japan) at a time when this was really just emerging, with the end of the cold war. Very prescient analysis done from the middle of a hurricane.
Also illuminating to hear of the strategies of alignment with Latin America, which was of course absolutely necessary but came with it certain limitations and restrictions on how Cuba could build socialism, and certain tradeoffs it was forced to make. The references to ensuring that Latin American countries are not just exporting raw materials but actually manufacturing and processing in their own country is also still very relevant, particularly in the context of Venezuela, which despite its wealth of oil reserves was still sending so much of its oil to be refined in the US 30 years later. And this speech is pre-Bolivarian revolution!
The references to popular political language which was starting to play a role at the time (inequality, injustice, wealth redistribution, social justice) and how perhaps they notice the problem, but neglect to name capitalism and imperialism as the cause is even more common today.
Also, obviously very inspiring speeches written by two inspiring men.
July 18, 2023
در زادروز نلسون ماندلا بخوانید:
این کتاب حاوی دو سخنرانی از ماندلا و کاسترو است. در روزی که قرار است ملت کوبا با اهدای بالاترین نشان خود به ماندلا از مقاومت سرسختانه او ستایش کند.
ماندلا در سخنرانی کوتاهش از انترناسیونالیسم کوبا که باعث شده آنها نیروهای مبارزشان را چند هزار کیلومتر آن طرف تر به قاره آفریقا بفرستند تا با رژیم اشغالگر آپارتاید در خاک آنگولا بجنگند سپاسگزاری میکند و اذعان میکند این شکست سرنوشت ساز مقدمه شکست رژیم آپارتاید بوده است. اینجا او تازه پس از 27 سال از زندان رژیم آپارتاید آزاد شده!
کاسترو در سخنرانی مفصل و پرشورش بارها به ریشه های مردم ماتانزاس کوبا که عمدتا برده بوده اند اشاره میکند و پس از برشمردن پیشرفت های کوبای سوسیالیستی تکرار میکند "ما بردگان تا به کجا آمده ایم!" وضع کشورهای امریکای لاتین را بیان میکند و میگوید آمارها نشان میدهد کوبا در بهداشت و آموزش و رفاه از خیلی از آنها بهتر است. نباید فراموش کرد این رویداد در سال 1991 برگزار شده که رژیم آپارتاید هنوز کاملا سقوط نکرده بوده ولی شوروی کمونیستی فروپاشیده بوده و موجی از نئولبرالیسم از شیلی تا اندونزی کشورهای جهان (حتی ایران) را درمینوردیده. با توجه به این وضعیت معلوم میشود این دو رهبر چه جراتی داشته اند که در کنار هم بایستند و به نظام سرمایه داری جهانی که از آپارتاید حمایت میکرده دهن کجی کنند.
این کتاب حاوی دو سخنرانی از ماندلا و کاسترو است. در روزی که قرار است ملت کوبا با اهدای بالاترین نشان خود به ماندلا از مقاومت سرسختانه او ستایش کند.
ماندلا در سخنرانی کوتاهش از انترناسیونالیسم کوبا که باعث شده آنها نیروهای مبارزشان را چند هزار کیلومتر آن طرف تر به قاره آفریقا بفرستند تا با رژیم اشغالگر آپارتاید در خاک آنگولا بجنگند سپاسگزاری میکند و اذعان میکند این شکست سرنوشت ساز مقدمه شکست رژیم آپارتاید بوده است. اینجا او تازه پس از 27 سال از زندان رژیم آپارتاید آزاد شده!
کاسترو در سخنرانی مفصل و پرشورش بارها به ریشه های مردم ماتانزاس کوبا که عمدتا برده بوده اند اشاره میکند و پس از برشمردن پیشرفت های کوبای سوسیالیستی تکرار میکند "ما بردگان تا به کجا آمده ایم!" وضع کشورهای امریکای لاتین را بیان میکند و میگوید آمارها نشان میدهد کوبا در بهداشت و آموزش و رفاه از خیلی از آنها بهتر است. نباید فراموش کرد این رویداد در سال 1991 برگزار شده که رژیم آپارتاید هنوز کاملا سقوط نکرده بوده ولی شوروی کمونیستی فروپاشیده بوده و موجی از نئولبرالیسم از شیلی تا اندونزی کشورهای جهان (حتی ایران) را درمینوردیده. با توجه به این وضعیت معلوم میشود این دو رهبر چه جراتی داشته اند که در کنار هم بایستند و به نظام سرمایه داری جهانی که از آپارتاید حمایت میکرده دهن کجی کنند.
October 18, 2023
4 Stars.
Two small speeches, from Mandela and Castro. The small contextual information either side was quite interesting, around Cuba's intervention in Angola against the Pretorian South African army in 1975.
Both speeches were very interesting and compelling, with moving histories of personal and national struggle. Ultimately I found Castro's to be more rousing/ moving and whilst both were politically motivated, Castro's turned into a general oratory on the strengths of socialism.
"We will never renounce a single one of our prerogatives! ...
the blood of South Africans is our blood! Humanity's blood is our blood! ...
We who come from way back, who were conquered, who were exploited, and who were enslaved throughout history, what marvelous ideas we can defend today; what just ideas we can uphold! And we can think in Latin American and even world terms!
How far we slaves have come!"
Two small speeches, from Mandela and Castro. The small contextual information either side was quite interesting, around Cuba's intervention in Angola against the Pretorian South African army in 1975.
Both speeches were very interesting and compelling, with moving histories of personal and national struggle. Ultimately I found Castro's to be more rousing/ moving and whilst both were politically motivated, Castro's turned into a general oratory on the strengths of socialism.
"We will never renounce a single one of our prerogatives! ...
the blood of South Africans is our blood! Humanity's blood is our blood! ...
We who come from way back, who were conquered, who were exploited, and who were enslaved throughout history, what marvelous ideas we can defend today; what just ideas we can uphold! And we can think in Latin American and even world terms!
How far we slaves have come!"
December 22, 2025
I have to finally admit I'm not gonna finish this book. It's pretty interesting and I think Nelson Mandela is a little more eloquent than Castro. It's very interesting to hear Mandela express his (well reasoned) gratitude to Cuba for their sacrifices in blood to end Apartheid. It's important to history that we all know that while the West debated over wether or not to sanction South Africa, Cuba actually sent 15,000 soldiers to go to war against Apartheid South Africa in Angola. It's important history but you don't have to read this book to know. Interesting but not interesting enough for me to finish, unfortunately.
January 13, 2026
Shortly after Nelson Mandela was released from prison, he visited Cuba to deliver a speech alongside Fidel Castro in 1991 to show his appreciation for Castro’s regime supporting anti-apartheid initiatives. This book is of that speech Mandela and Castro gave.
A very cool document and perhaps a side of Mandela not often discussed. Castro’s speech was good too but it definitely went on a bit long whereas Mandela kept it to a good length.
Worth checking out as a historical document.
A very cool document and perhaps a side of Mandela not often discussed. Castro’s speech was good too but it definitely went on a bit long whereas Mandela kept it to a good length.
Worth checking out as a historical document.
September 7, 2020
Always interesting to revisit this perspective on human rights and the parallels in South Africa and Cuba.
June 29, 2026
Biased but useful to help understand how they were thinking at the time
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August 22, 2026Interesting capture of a moment in time. Obviously it’s not nuanced, but the topics are things that go undiscussed in the USA.
July 2, 2023
This came out in 1991, before Mandela was elected president, and it's still a big seller for Pathfinder Press today. On July 26th, 1991, Nelson Mandela, then president of the African National Congress, and Fidel Castro, then president of Cuba, then spoke together for the first, but not the last time. This book contains the full speeches of both of them.
In part, Mandela said: "The decisive defeat of the aggressive apartheid forces destroyed the myth of the invincibility of the white oppressor. The defeat of the apartheid army served as an inspiration to the struggling people of South Africa. Without the defeat [of the South African Army in Angola] of Cuito Cuanavale our organizations would not have been legalized. The defeat of the racist army in Cuito Cuanavale made it possible for me to be here with you today. Cuito Cuanavale marks the divide in the struggle for the liberation of southern Africa. Cuito Cuanavale marks an important step in the
struggle to free the continent and our country of the scourge of apartheid."
In part, Mandela said: "The decisive defeat of the aggressive apartheid forces destroyed the myth of the invincibility of the white oppressor. The defeat of the apartheid army served as an inspiration to the struggling people of South Africa. Without the defeat [of the South African Army in Angola] of Cuito Cuanavale our organizations would not have been legalized. The defeat of the racist army in Cuito Cuanavale made it possible for me to be here with you today. Cuito Cuanavale marks the divide in the struggle for the liberation of southern Africa. Cuito Cuanavale marks an important step in the
struggle to free the continent and our country of the scourge of apartheid."
Want to Read
January 7, 2014 “The speeches are both tributes to the Cuban people for their internationalist aid to the anti-apartheid struggle and to the vanguard role of the African National Congress and, at the distance of almost two decades, Mandela’s speech has shown great staying power.” [Annotation ©2010 Book News Inc. Portland, OR] — Book News
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews