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Chapter 46
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
Mandela arrives in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The conference is the first time in a long while that Mandela gets to put aside his disguises and speak as himself. Still, some at the conference worry about the lack of unity and coordination between ANC and PAC, but Mandela tries to reassure them that everyone is working toward a common cause. After the conference, Mandela flies to see other parts of Africa, meeting freedom fighters from across the continent. Mandela also meets with political leaders and raises money for the South African cause. He prepares to go on to London.
Although Mandela’s trip across Africa helps to show him how different some other African countries are, with their Black leaders, this passage ultimately emphasizes the commonalities between different countries. Mandela recognizes a freedom struggle happening in these countries that is similar to what’s happening in South Africa. This shows that Mandela’s philosophy of unity goes beyond even South Africa’s borders.
Themes
