4/15/2018 0 Comments A 'historical' WeekendThis weekend we visited Constitution Hill in Johannesburg and the Apartheid Museum with Father Egan, the Jesuit who teaches our South African history course. Constitution Hill is home to three historical prisons dating back to the 19th century and used throughout apartheid and the current Constitutional Court of South Africa (placed there to symbolizing the reclaiming of history by the African people). Mahatma Ghandi, Nelson Mandela, Winnie Mandela, and thousands of others ranging from political prisoners to murders were imprisoned there. It was a reflective experience to walk in their footsteps and learn about the awful treatment they incurred (in Nelson Mandela's words, prisoners were treated like animals). It was an especially reflective experience as we happened to be visiting a jail cell where Winnie Mandela had been imprisoned on the day of her funeral, occurring only a short distance away. Since her death, there has been much debate about whether she should have a positive or negative legacy. We have seen incredible outpouring of admiration for her as the mother of the nation, especially from African women. While some, mostly the media, focus on her transgressions. In our own discussions, we have wondered how much of this negative focus is because of her gender. At the Apartheid Museum, we saw video footage of white men being forgiven for torturing and killing many people during apartheid yet Winnie Mandela cannot leave behind her missteps even while her body is being laid to rest. We have even learned of some controversial actions of Nelson Mandela but he is remembered simply as a hero. of A memorial for her at the Apartheid Museum put it well when saying that she is a good reminder that even our heroes are people who make mistakes.
The Apartheid Museum had a large connection of photos and videos that are not usually seen to give a full picture of life in South Africa during apartheid. There are even segregated entrances to the museum and a bullet-hole ridden police tank you can climb inside. We finished the weekend by visiting the Jesuit residence in Johannesburg and making pizzas for dinner.
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