Long Walk to Freedom

In what ways was the Black Consciousness Movement an outgrowth of Africanism? What are the new scenes of struggle to which Black Consciousness applied the tenets of Africanism?

How were the ideals of Africanism twisted to support the bantustan system? Why did some African leaders participate in it?

One of Mandela’s main critiques of the Pan-Africanist Congress was that its members were motivated by a sense of personal affront and therefore unwilling to subordinate their preferences to the larger needs of the struggle. What are some examples of Mandela applying this standard to himself?

Some critics charged Mandela with being too conciliatory with the agents of apartheid. They often pointed to the National Party’s presence within the newfound Government of National Unity after the end of apartheid. The lack of significant economic redistribution was also addressed, as it essentially allowed the overwhelming share of the country’s land and resources to remain in the hands of the white minority. How does Mandela address the criticism, both directly and indirectly, within Long Walk to Freedom?

One way in which Mandela attempted to reach out to Afrikaners was to invoke the memory of their own resistance against British colonial rule. What historical parallels did he cite, and was his strategy successful?

Who were the three largest influences of Mandela’s political development? How did each one fit into the evolution of his beliefs?

Mandela describes traditional African society as more or less classless despite its system of chiefs and kings. During apartheid, however, there were examples of African chiefs and kings collaborating with the government to enforce the system of racial separation. Is this an example of the apartheid regime exploiting the presence of a preexisting “political class,” or was this dynamic engineered by the state? If it is a combination, explain how.

With each ANC campaign, Mandela learned a new lesson about organizing. Cite three examples and explain how Mandela applied each lesson in future campaigns.