INVICTUS-SOUTH AFRICA

INVICTUS CONT.

Latin, meaning: unconquered, unconquerable, undefeated

  

 I began my first blog entry in 2010 with one of the most powerful, and inspirational poems of our time, Invictus, by William Ernest Hensely. After watching the film Invictus, one of the most poignant scenes was one in which Morgan Freeman, who depicts Nelson Mandela exceptionally, reminisces about his years imprisoned on Robin Island. What resonates with me about this poem is the message that no matter the trials and tribulations one faces in life, perseverance and resilience are both necessary fortifications to withstand any obstacle.  The last stanza that states, “ It matters not how strait the gate, how charged with punishments the scroll, I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul”, which indicates that with true tenacity one can surpass any form of difficulty, and reign victorious in the end. This poem will continue to be my source of inspiration when my path seems uncertain

The film focuses primarily on Nelson Mandela, who was the then incumbent president of the “New South Africa”, following the dismantling of Apartheid. Many of Mandela’s advisers were dubious when he sought to unite the Springbok Rugby team. Mandela understood that dissension and antipathy within the national team was a direct reflection of societal discordance. This film depicts the struggle Mandela faced in the process to foster a united Springbok team and inevitably a United South Africa.

Sadly remnants of the oppressive Apartheid system still exists, as the minority white population controls a majority of the economic wealth. The vast populations mainly of Bantu or indigenous origin are still immobilized and unwillingly segregated from the new system, which was restructured to be inclusive and fair. 

This semester in my Government and Politics of Sub-Saharan African course, we learned of about several cases in Rwanda, Sudan, and South Africa where vestiges of imperialism serve as the impetus for issues prevalent today, pertaining to ethnic conflict, genocide, and grave socio-political and economic disparities. In South Africa, we learned of a woman named Sandra Laing. Sandra was caught in the maelstrom of the Apartheid Afrikaner Nationalist movement. Implementing institutional racism and allocating resources based on racial stratification were primary outcomes of the Nationalist Party. The novel When She Was White by Judith Stone is a necessary read for those who have heard of the repressive movement, but are unable to associate the reprehensible events with a person directly affected by it. It is far more important although, to accept the mistreatment as the past, and strive for a better tomorrow and more so to make a concerted effort to reach solutions to thwart the continuance of Human Rights violations globally.

This is the Novel When she was White by Judith Stone and the film associated with Sandra Laing's troubling story entitled Skin, portrayed by the phenomenal actress Sophie Okonedo