Mandela - Long Walk to Freedom

5/17/2022

Movie: Mandela - Long Walk to Freedom (Due 5-20-22)
1. In your opinion, what scene in the movie best magnifies the brutality and injustice of the apartheid system of South Africa? Explain in detail.
2. Read pgs. 673-675. How did the policy of apartheid strengthen whites' hold on power? Use the textbook to answer.
3. In your opinion, what does this quote mean to you. Explain in detail.
"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." - Nelson Mandela

7 Comments

Gray Lina

5/20/2022 03:16:25 pm

1. In your opinion, what scene in the movie best magnifies the brutality and injustice of the apartheid system of South Africa? Explain in detail.

In terms of its raw portrayal of the apartheid system’s violence, the scene depicting the 1960 Sharpeville massacre stood out to me the most. The moments preceding the massacre highlight the dichotomy between the peaceful protesters’ rally for liberation and the violence perpetrated by the Sharpeville police – the protesters are merely celebrating the ambition of freedom; the police aim to do everything in their power to prevent the reality of freedom. The movie transitions from peace to violence in a matter of moments – similarly, the massacre itself is depicted in moments, starting from the protesters’ assembly outside the Sharpeville police station, to policemen gunning down innocent demonstrators. The scene of the Sharpeville massacre conveyed the essence of the apartheid system and its beliefs –ultimately, a conflict between freedom and power fueled the intensity of the apartheid system.

2. Read pgs. 673-675. How did the policy of apartheid strengthen whites' hold on power? Use the textbook to answer.
The policy of apartheid automatically gave power to White people, being a system established by White rulers. Under the rules of the apartheid system, Black people were only viewed as accessories to White people – Black workers were only allowed to live in “White areas” if working for White employers. Though Black people made up the majority of the South African population, White people owned land reserved for the South African elite.

3. In your opinion, what does this quote mean to you? Explain in detail. “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” - Nelson Mandela
A deep understanding of the world can solve the problems that cause its suffering – power is futile without knowledge. A problem cannot be solved without thorough comprehension of its
roots – just as Mandela’s first-hand experience with apartheid was used as ammunition to combat it. Education propels knowledge; knowledge – both of the past and present, makes one more cognizant of the future.

Adrian Mendoza

5/20/2022 11:00:25 pm

1. In your opinion, what scene in the movie best magnifies the brutality and injustice of the apartheid system of South Africa? Explain in detail.

The scene that stood out the most to me was the train scene. The portrayal of Mr. Mandela running through leading his strikers. That scene magnified the magnitude of opression they were facing. Mr. Mandela running through a subway station and having that many police men chasing him was absolutely absurd. And the way the entire scene ended caught my attention. Him politely sitting down acting as if nothing happened; immediately afterwards getting man-handled by police. I found much irony in the scene. Having such a peaceful act such as sitting in a bus, be treated as a crime. This was a great representation of the apartheid Mr. Mandela went through.

2. Read pgs. 673-675. How did the policy of apartheid strengthen whites' hold on power? Use the textbook to answer.

The policies of apartheid were completely unjust and heavily favored the whites. These were less policies and more set rules to govern the blacks. These "policies" gave better circumstances to the whites. One of the heavily regulated policies was the distribution of land. Blacks made up 75% of the population of South Africa but got a measly 13% of the land. And the land they did obtain, were the leftovers from the whites.

3. In your opinion, what does this quote mean to you? Explain in detail. “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” - Nelson Mandela

This quote signifies to me that Mr. Mandela was a very intelligent man. Many people are blinded with riches of many sorts. And think the most power weapon they can obtain is a instrument of combat. But they fail to realize that the mind is a complex thing that - that is ever expanding and has limitless growth. A great example that I can think of is when a person is fearless. This person could be at gunpoint and have no fear for death. But have a highly educated
and well spoken person. You will slowly see this fearless person change. Results a weapon of mass death; could not obtain.

Clarissa Tran

5/20/2022 10:30:46 pm

1. The scene in the movie best magnifies the brutality and injustice of the apartheid system of South Africa would be the scene when black people were protesting for their freedom and right but the police would be walking around shooting them and taking them to jain. The police are white people and they are killing and taking the black people just because they are fighting for their freedom. Nelson Mandela inspired them to fight back for their freedom.
2. The policy of apartheid automatically gave power to White people. The black people were like objects to the white people, something that they can control. Black and white people were banned from having social contacts but only when the black people are working for the white.
3. This quote means that knowledge is the most powerful thing in the world. Being in control and having no education can lead to the world into a crazy place. Without education, problems cannot be solved without knowledge. When someone is in control and there is a problem they will have to come up with a solution. By having education the problem can be solved fast and easy without having to deal with more problems because they didn't solve the first one right.

Nashali Diaz link

5/20/2022 10:58:27 pm

1.The scene of the masscre really magnified the brutality and injustice of the apartheid system in South Africa. Also another moment that really demonstrated that was when Nelson was doing dirty work and there were guards there and he tried defending himself but he couldnt because the guard was "above him". It's also just so crazy that Nelson had lots of money and was so powerful and inteligent and he was still taken advantage of and dehuminized just because of the color of his skin.

2. The policy of apartheid really stregnthened and gave whites a secure spot for overpowering anyone who didn't have the same skin tone as them. To them it was just a pass to dehuminize them and treat them however they wanted. They had no respect for them. African americans werent allowed to live in the same areas as whites did and if they did they had to be "working" for them if not it wasnt permited.

3. I 100% agree with this quote. To me this quote signifies that when you feel like you have nothing to offer or you've been downgraded so much the only thing that can make you stand out is your knowlwdge that you've gathered over the years. People who are open minded and knowledgable can use that to create things to help our planet.

Kyle De La Parra

5/20/2022 11:41:27 pm

1. In your opinion, what scene in the movie best magnifies the brutality and injustice of the apartheid system of South Africa? Explain in detail.

In my opinion I feel that the Sharpeville massacre really caught my attention. Its scenes lead up to the massacre illustrate the comparison between the peaceful protesters' protest for liberation and the Sharpeville police's violence the protesters are simply celebrating the vision of freedom, although the police seem to be doing everything they can to prevent this from becoming a reality. In the same sense which the video swings from peace to violence in a matter of moments, so is the massacre itself, that starts with protesters gathering outside the Sharpeville police station and finishes with policemen firing down innocent marchers. The Sharpeville massacre represented the heart of the apartheid system and its ideas ultimately, a battle between freedom and power fueled the system's brutality.

2. Read pgs. 673-675. How did the policy of apartheid strengthen whites' hold on power? Use the textbook to answer.
Apartheid policy, being a system established by White rulers, automatically gave power to White people. Black people were only ever seen as accessories to White people under apartheid's rules, so Black employees were only allowed to live in White places if they worked for White companies. Considering the fact the black people made up the majority of the population in South Africa, white people owned land reserved for the country's elite.

3. In your opinion, what does this quote mean to you? Explain in detail. “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” - Nelson Mandela
Education allows us to have a better understanding of the world we live in. We have become more aware of our surroundings as a result of our schooling. It provides you the tools to improve the quality of life in modern society both economically and sociologically.

Raelene Gonzales

5/23/2022 12:14:01 pm

1. In your opinion, what scene in the movie best magnifies the brutality and injustice of the apartheid system of South Africa? Explain in detail.
A scene that stood out to me would have to be the scene where the African American people were protesting. This scene really stood out to me because they were standing up for their right and showing awearness to what is happening to them and the fact that it is so wrong.
2. Read pgs. 673-675. How did the policy of apartheid strengthen whites' hold on power? Use the textbook to answer.
The policy of apartheid really stregnthened and gave whites an advantage to being the first choice rather than someone with a different skin the as them. Since the White people were the ones creating the rules The black people were left out or feeling a certain way of life; constantly feeling pressured or obligated to have to do what the white people wanted and it was extremely wrong. This goes back to the scene where they were protesting for them and there right to be as equal as everyone else.
3.In your opinion, what does this quote mean to you? Explain in detail. “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
I believe that education is the most important thing in the world especially history, because history repeats itself and there's going to be a constant pattern meaning if you know and you take the information that is given you would know what to say and know how to defend yourself. In this case black people don't nessasarily have to do what the white people want them to. We have freedom in this world with laws of course however we shouldn't let people walk all over us and think its ok. Therefore I think your knowledge and knowing what's right and wrong is so important.

Nikolai Ochaeta-Yu

5/23/2022 12:24:54 pm

1. In my opinion, the scene that best magnifies the brutality and injustice of the apartheid system of south Africa was when the citizen were protesting about freedom. They were peacefully protesting in front of police when they soon got shot. This showed how brutal the police where willing to get to prevent the protesters from getting freedom.
This goes to show how unfair the apartheid system was against blacks.

2. Under the policy of apartheid, south Africa was racially divided with a small white minority ruling over a large black majority. When south Africa became an independent member of the British commonwealth, the constitution gave whites power and denied black rights.Because of this, blacks were forbidden to live in white areas, blacks and whites couldn’t have social contact, segregated schools, hospitals, and neighborhoods were established, and more unfair rights were given to blacks.

3. In my opinion, the quote means that education is the key to reducing poverty and equality. Education would also have the power to create a sustainable planet for all and prevent unneeded deaths and illnesses. Education allows us to better understand the world we live in. Therefor, education is a very powerful weapon to change the world.

Discussion Board/ Blog:

Our World History class blog brings students together in an online discussion forum. Weekly topics will be posted for students to discuss. Students will receive an additional five points each week for quality responses to our blog topics. Please remember to post respectful and insightful comments and include your full name and period at the conclusion of your response. In addition, you will be required to comment on at least two other students' post to receive the full 5 points.

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