Empowering Global Citizens

Activity 5.6.2

Making One’s Self Heard: The Defiance Campaign of
1952, Sharpeville, and the 1960 Arrest of Mandela

The students write a petition or protest in nonviolent ways to change the
situation explored in the above activity. Through this activity, the teacher in—
troduces the students to the 1952 Defiance Campaign, in which eight thou—
sand volunteers defied the laws by entering places that they were forbidden
to enter and by not carrying their registration passes. Nelson Mandela is in—
troduced as one of the pioneers and leaders of the movement driven forward

by the African National Congress.

Activity 5.6.3

Sharpeville and the Arrest of Mandela

The students are introduced to the events that took place in Sharpeville in
1960, when sixty—seven Africans were killed while protesting against apart—
heid, and to the arrest of Nelson Mandela in 1961 for creating trouble in

the country.

Activity 5.6.4
Collectivism versus Individualism
Students are introduced to the following lines from Mandela’s speech from

the dock in 1964:

During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to the struggle of the
African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have
fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a
democratic and free society in which all persons live together in
harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope
to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I
am prepared to die.

167