Reviews and Comments

A long but wonderful reading. It's amazing how Mandela vividly remembers the details of his life from childhood.

Here's an excerpt from a few paragraphs I loved at the final chappers of the book...

//Just as we told the people what we would do, I felt we must also tell them what we could not do. Many people felt life would change overnight after a free and democratic election, but that would be far from the case. Often, I said to the crowds, 'Do not expect to be driving a Mercedes the day after the election or swimming in your own backyard pool.' I told our supporters, 'Life will not change dramatically, except that you will have increased your self-esteem and become a citizen of your own land. You must have patience. You might have to wait 5 years for results to show.' I challenged them; I did not patronize them: 'If you want to continue living in poverty without clothes and food,' I told them, 'then go and drink in the shebeens. But if you want better things, you must work hard. We cannot do it all for you; you must do it yourselves.'

I told white audiences that we needed them and did not want them to leave the country. They were South Africans just like ourselves and this was their land, too. I would not mince words about the horrors of apartheid, but I said, over and over, that we should forget the past and concentrate on building a better future for all.

Each rally was also designed to teach people how to vote. The ballot itself was a long, narrow piece of paper with the parties listed in the descending order to the left, and then the symbol of the party, and a picture of its leader to the right. Voters were to place an X in the box next to the party of their choice. I would tell audiences, 'On election day, look down your ballot and when you see the face of a young and handsome man, mark an X.'

- "Long Walk to Freedom" (1994) by Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela.//