Long Walk to Freedom

Long Walk to Freedom

by

Nelson Mandela

Long Walk to Freedom: Chapter 38 Summary & Analysis

Summary
Analysis
Mandela’s trial continues to drag on. His travel ban ends two days before adjournment, and he doesn’t think the police keep track of such things, so he makes plans to drive a car 300 miles to Pietermaritzburg for a meeting. He will return to Pretoria for a verdict. The speech Mandela gives calls for unity from all groups, including Black, White, Indian, and Coloured. Meanwhile, Nationalists hold an all-White referendum that declares that South Africa should become a republic.
Mandela’s speech at the trial about unity among the different racial groups is a summary of all the ideas he has been putting together over this first part of his life. Once again, he contrasts his own positive view of the future with a more negative portrayal of the Nationalists, who claim to be a democracy but who pointedly exclude most of the population from the voting process.
Themes
Racism and Division Theme Icon
Negotiation, Democracy, and Progress Theme Icon