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Chapter 106
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Long Walk to Freedom, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Racism and Division
Negotiation, Democracy, and Progress
Nonviolent Protest vs. Violent Protest
The Value of Optimism
Summary
Analysis
In December of 1990, Tambo finally returns from exile abroad to South Africa. He gives a controversial speech about how ANC must push international countries to start rolling back sanctions against South Africa. Meanwhile, to try to contain the spiraling violence in the country, Mandela meets with Chief Buthelezi. They each agree for their side to follow a code of conduct that will hopefully stop the bloodshed. But Buthelezi doesn’t seem to follow the code. In July 1991, the ANC holds its first conference in South Africa in 30 years. The ANC wants to formalize itself as a legal, legitimate political party. Within 17 months of legal activity, they gain 700,000 members. Meanwhile, Mandela and George Bizos attempt to wrap up some of Winnie’s legal issues.
Mandela again faces challenges from all sides, even after he is free and a democratic future for South Africa is finally in sight. Chief Buthelezi’s challenges to the ANC recall some of the ANC’s earlier struggles with the PAC and the Black Consciousness Movement, but the violence adds even higher stakes. In spite of these challenges to its authority, the ANC manages to legitimize itself by holding its first legal conference in three decades. Mandela notes the success of the ANC as a way of showing how people are receptive to the liberation movement after enough exposure to it.
Themes
