For those who refuse to see the world in black and white; Mandela’s Struggle for Freedom

BY SIMONE J. SMITH

It was very hard not to be triggered as I walked through the Mandela; Struggle for Freedom Exhibit. Signs clearly marked “Whites ONLY!” A Bench set up that displayed the words “Europeans ONLY!” Images of my people being chained, and beaten, being treated like less then human; it was definitely an experience that I will not forget, and that some will try to make us forget.

On Thursday, October 10th, 2019, I made my way down to the Meridian Arts Centre (formerly the Toronto Centre for the Arts), to be a part of the opening reception for their newest exhibition, Mandela; Struggle for Freedom created by the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in collaboration with the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg, South Africa, and supported by curatorial consultant Karen Carter. It is a FREE exhibit that I would definitely recommend for families to bring their children to as a way to remember the life and times of Nelson Mandela.

When I arrived, the centre was buzzing with people; there was quite a large turnout for opening night, and I will say that I was a little surprised to not see more of our community there; it is for that reason that I choose to write an article because as much as we know about the events of apartheid in South Africa, this exhibit brought great detail to the struggles experienced by South Africans, and more specifically the time that Mandela spent struggling for freedom, equality, justice, solidarity, truth reconciliation and peace.

 INTERESTING FACT: Did you know that when Nelson Mandela was freed after 27 years in South African prisons, the very first country he chose to visit was Canada?

The Mandela exhibition takes the visitor through five different zones that offer stories to highlight Mandela’s lifelong fight against apartheid—a system of white supremacy in South Africa.

 Zone One: Apartheid Zone

The focus is on defining and understanding what apartheid was and how it affected the lives of the people in South Africa. It was in this zone that I met a father and daughter who shared the stories of their own experience in South Africa. The elderly gentleman was in his 90s, and he recalled, “Standing here, I can’t believe that this all happened. It brings back such painful memories for me. It reminds me of the reasons that I fled South Africa and brought my family to Canada.”

 Zone Two: Defiance Zone

I was introduced to the man Nelson Mandela, and I was educated more on his character, his role in the African National Congress, and his revolutionary stance against the apartheid. Horrifying scenes from the Sharpeville massacre were reminders of just how determined the government in South Africa was to keep the people subjugated.

 Zone Three: Repression Zone

I found this zone most compelling because it focused on Mandela’s experience in prison, and how different it was for black prisoners. I enjoyed how the curators recreated the cell that Mandela himself stayed in, and how they actually had a silhouette that represented Mandela shadow boxing, reading, and surviving his time in prison.

 Zone Four: Mobilization Zone

The most dramatic installation found in the exhibit, featured film, photos, and a full-sized replica of an armoured vehicle utilized by government forces to suppress and nullify the growing revolution. It is where Canada is introduced and stories are explored of Canada’s connections to mobilization efforts in South Africa.

 INTERESTING FACT: Mandela was made Canada’s first living Honourary Canadian citizen

 Zone Five: Freedom Zone

A film highlighting the release of Mandela from prison is what gives this zone its power. It displays original drawings and sketches by political cartoonist Jonathan Shapiro (known as Zapiro), who used satirical cartoons to encourage reflection on the apartheid. The final wall displayed South Africa today; with a video of youth sharing their ideas on the legacy of Madiba, or as we best know him Nelson Mandela.

This is an exhibit worth experiencing and sharing with young people. It will allow you to reflect on the life and times of a people who refused to accept being treated any less than human, and a compelling man who was inspired by the word Ubuntu, “ I am a person through other people.”