| |  Voortrekker Monument |
Today the Rutgers group and I travelled to two important venues in South Africa that told two different stories. First, we travelled to the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg. After studying the life of Mandela as well as South African history and culture, this experience brought many things to life. I was touched by the videos, pictures, writing exc., within the Museum. When I walked into one of the jail sails, I empathized with the mental and emotional anguish of physical bondage and having everything stripped away that blacks who revolted against apartheid must have felt. There were times when I saw pictures of younger Mandela and instantly thought of my older brother Raheim who stands tall and whom I’ve always admired for his humility, fearlessness and intelligence. As I saw pictures of Mandela as a free man surrounded by hundreds of dignitaries, I saw the powerful affect that a man’s revolutionary thoughts, prudence and wisdom had on the lives of so many! It was a spiritual moment.
After attending the gift shop and having lunch, we travelled straight to the Voortrekker monument. The Voortrekker monument was constructed by the Afrikanners, in 1949. It is a symbol that commemorates the history of the Afrikanners in South Africa (specifically the Voortrekkers who left Cape Colony between 1835 and 1854). Once arriving at the monument, we met our tour guide who was Afrikaans. Throughout the tour of the monument, our moral consciousness was struck by many words of our tour guide. Many of us felt anger, and questioned in a way that was not ungraceful. The Afrikanners saw South Africa as their God given territory and themselves as bringing civilization and development to South Africa.
I take from these experiences a greater understanding of two different narratives. One filled with a history of despair but a present and future of great pride. And one filled with memories of being conquered by the British and the Africans.
After attending the gift shop and having lunch, we travelled straight to the Voortrekker monument. The Voortrekker monument was constructed by the Afrikanners, in 1949. It is a symbol that commemorates the history of the Afrikanners in South Africa (specifically the Voortrekkers who left Cape Colony between 1835 and 1854). Once arriving at the monument, we met our tour guide who was Afrikaans. Throughout the tour of the monument, our moral consciousness was struck by many words of our tour guide. Many of us felt anger, and questioned in a way that was not ungraceful. The Afrikanners saw South Africa as their God given territory and themselves as bringing civilization and development to South Africa.
I take from these experiences a greater understanding of two different narratives. One filled with a history of despair but a present and future of great pride. And one filled with memories of being conquered by the British and the Africans.
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