Long Walk to Freedom Term Analysis

African National Congress (ANC)

The ANC, which Mandela joins and eventually becomes president of, is the major political party in South Africa opposed to apartheid. It was a multi-racial coalition that aimed to incorporate all opponents of apartheid… read analysis of African National Congress (ANC)

Apartheid

Literally meaning “apartness,” apartheid was a policy implemented by the white supremacist government of South Africa to keep people of different races apart. It was in place from 1948 until 1990. Mandela and several other… read analysis of Apartheid

Bantustan

A bantustan is a territory in South Africa created under the apartheid system. The bantustan system forced Black South Africans out of their homes, giving more of their land to White residents and attempting to… read analysis of Bantustan

Inkatha

Inkatha is a group led by Chief Buthelezi that initially works with the ANC against apartheid but which eventually comes to oppose the ANC, sometimes violently. Inkatha causes trouble during Mandela’s efforts to hold… read analysis of Inkatha

Pan Africanist Congress (PAC)

Like the ANC, the PAC opposes apartheid, but they employ different methods. They only have Black members (as opposed to ANC, who are multiracial), and they advocate for more aggressive actions. Mandela admires… read analysis of Pan Africanist Congress (PAC)

Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK)

Meaning “spear of the nation,” MK is the paramilitary arm of the ANC. Despite his reluctance to employ violence, Mandela leads the MK at its inception because he believes that the unreasonable South African… read analysis of Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK)

Xhosa

The Xhosa are a large ethnic group in South Africa that Mandela belongs to. “Xhosa” can also refer to the language they speak. read analysis of Xhosa