In His Own Words
Nelson Mandela
(Reviewer - Rebecca Brown)
2003 Little, Brown & Co.
ISBN: 0316110191

A collection of the most historic & inspirational addresses by the renowned political leader.

As the most stirring voice to come out of South Africa, Nelson Mandela brought his message of freedom, equality, & human dignity to the entire world. Now his most eloquent & important speeches are in a single volume. From the eve of his imprisonment to his release 27 years later, from his acceptance of the Nobel Peace Prize to his election as South Africa's first black president, these speeches span Nelson Mandela's life & his country's history. They memorably illustrate his lasting commitment to reconciliation, democracy & development, culture & diversity, & international peace.

The extraordinary power of this volume is in the moving words & intimate tone of the legend himself, who, along with Mahatma Gandhi & Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is one of the most articulate, courageous, & respected men of our time.

In His Own Words is edited by Kader Asmal, David Chidester & Wilmot James, with Forewords by Kofi A. Annan & William J. Clinton, together with an Introduction by the editors, & retrospectives by Adrian Hadland & Fintan O'Toole. It is set forth by topic:
 • Struggle: introduced by Wilmot James
 • 1962 Posterity Will Prove that I was Innocent. I read a mimeographed copy of this speech that had arrived by a secret courier before portions of it ever made it to the newspapers.
 • 1964 I am Prepared to Die, Rivonia Trial, Pretoria Supreme Court. This time I listened to a hissing, gritty reel-to-reel recording in a secret Anti-Apartheid office in London.
Freedom: introduced by Albie Sachs
Reconciliation: introduced by F. Van Zyl Slabbert
Nation Building: introduced by G. K. Gerwel
Development: introduced by Cyril Ramaphosa
Education: introduced by Mamphela Ramphele
Culture: introduced by Miriam Makeba & Bill Cosby
Religion: introduced by Desmond Tutu
Health: introduced by Olive Shisana
Children: introduced by Graça Machel
Heroes: introduced by Ahmed Kathrada
Peace: introduced by James A. Joseph

Because these are public speeches, there will be repetition, relax & let the words flow over you. & while most of us won't notice it, what we read from the book in no way indicates the timbre, cadence & nuances of the spoken word, so it would have been a wonderful completion had a DVD sound recording of one or two of Nelson Mandela's speeches been included.

Because of reading Alan Paton's Cry, Beloved Country I joined the Anti-Apartheid Movement in London, England where I volunteered as a typist, artist & agitator in secret, movable offices. At one hurriedly convened meeting a tall young South African spoke to us, & then was whisked quietly away. Later I heard he'd returned to his homeland. Upon his incarceration I was in the forefront of the marches on the South African Embassy, landing myself on a blacklist of undesirables. After I'd emigrated to Chicago, Illinois I went to work with Rabbi Robert J. Marx, a Reform Jewish leader in the Civil Rights Movement, where I met Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He was thrilled when I spoke of my Anti-Apartheid activities & that glimpse of Nelson Mandela.

So, if you have ever wondered how this man moved generations of people to agitate for civil rights, I encourage you to settle down with this big, big book & relive the words & ideas that inspired us, & get a rare glimpse of the heroes from another time & another place.

More from Nelson Mandela:
Long Walk to Freedom: The Autobiography of Nelson Mandela
Mandela: An Illustrated Autobiography
Nelson Mandela's Favorite African Folktales
(02/27/05)

Rebecca