The name “Mandela” inspires a
world of emotions. Capturing them all in one word is a challenge; one that the Denver Urban Spectrum presented local leaders who participated in the Denver Trade & Partnerships Mission to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in 2002. Led by Denver Mayor Wellington E. Webb, this trade mission helped to establish business, education, health and city government partnerships between Denver and the SADC. Below are responses from some of the participants.
The Legacy of Mandela in One
Word
Freedom
Rosalind “Bee” Harris, Publisher Denver Urban Spectrum
Grace
-Sculptor Ed Dwight
Joel Boyd, Senior Business Development Manager, REMAX World Headquarters, LLC
Herman Malone, Owner RMES Communications
MANDELA REFUSES FREEDOM UNTIL ALL ARE FREE By Wellington E. Webb
Rocky Mountain News, Sunday, April 7, 1985
(This column ran when Webb served as executive director of the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies)
As we march and protest the dehumanizing political system of South Africa called apartheid, we must not forget the inspiration and leadership provided by Nelson Mandela – one who has sacrificed entire life fighting the system of apartheid, a system of total disenfranchisement. Black South Africans deprived of citizenship, land ownership, organizing rights, equal access to housing, schooling, medical ca job opportunities. Blacks must pay for education that is free to white South Africans; only 3 percent of bla begin elementary school complete high school. Blacks can enter white areas in the country only with prope identification; an average of 250,000 blacks are arrested annually for pass violations. In a country where blacks make up more than three quarters of the population, they are allocated only 13 the land. That 13 percent lies in the remote reservations (bantustans) where the whites still control the police, enterprises and most sources of public funds. More than 3 million blacks have been forced to resettle in th since the hateful policy was instituted more than 30 years ago; thousands of families have been uprooted as th touts the new “homelands” with sham ceremonies of independence. One of the most effective and articulate protesters, Nelson Mandela is beloved not only in South Africa bu world for his opposition to the policy of apartheid. Nelson Mandela, a freedom fighter who has spent the past 22 years in prison should, not be forgotten. His messag dom and peace for all South Africans. At the age of 25, he founded the Youth League of the African National Cong Nationalist Party came to power four years later with its policy of apartheid, the African National Congress respond strikes and other forms of civil disobedience. In 1952, the ANC initiated the defiance campaign, and targeted six ap civil disobedience action. That campaign was highly effective, and mobilized the people to take political action aga ment. The government responded by banning Mandela; although he could not participate in public functions, he k lawyer representing many of his fellow black victims of oppression. In 1956, not long after Mandela and 3,000 oth in support of the Freedom Charter stating that South Africa belonged to all who lived in it, Mandela was arrested high treason for his participation in the defiance campaign. After a four-year trial, in which he was the defendant the defense counsel, he was acquitted on all counts. In August 1962, Mandela was sentenced to a five-year prison term; two years later he was sentenced to lif ment for his participation in a national strike and acts against the South African government. Now, at the age of 66, he remains a hero to those South Africans who believe that all South African people s equally in their country‘s wealth, and should have equal rights regardless of ancestry. There is not much difference between South African Foreign Minister Pik Botha, or Bull Connors of the civi movement of the ‘60s or Adolf Hitler of Nazi Germany. The issue is still the same, depriving a race of peop freedom because their skin color happens to be black. In the case of South Africa, the irony is the majorit lation is black. On Jan. 31 of this year, Nelson Mandela rejected release from prison where he has been held in a c Dr. Faye Rison, since 1964. Even after 22 years in prison, Mandela has not lost his compassion for his people’s freeRetired Nurse and dom. Mandela, in a letter, stated, “Let the prime minister show that he is different. Let him guaran College Professor tee free political activity so that the people may decide who will govern them,” Mandela said. “Let him say that he will dismantle apartheid.“ With that, Nelson Mandela elected to stay in prison. That is commitment, and I, as one American, salute his commitment, honor his dedication and solicit support of all Americans to continue his struggle until apartheid is dismantled forever. Allegra “Happy” Haynes, Director of
Awakening
“Neatest Man I've ever met.”
History
Dignity
Civic and Community Engagement at CRL Associates
Denver Urban Spectrum — www.denverurbanspectrum.com – January 2014
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