Analysis Of Eye Opening Stories Of Hardship And Perseverance: The Power Of One And He Who Shakes The Tree
‘’Reading allows you to have experiences from which you would otherwise be denied or sheltered. ’’ This quote has truly opened my eyes to the reality that is. I never truly thought about the experiences you gain, perspectives you see and characters you meet through reading. As humans we are creatures are habit, after a while we have a set routine that we stick to, we hang out with the same types of people, we eat the same food, say and think the same things, whether it’s due to race, social status or even lack of travel its easy to miss out on new experiences. With reading your instantly teleported to a new world, with new people. With a simple book you break the cycle, the routine.
A recent film I have watched has made me think about this quote often. The power of one, is a film about the journey of a young English boy, Peekay, an English-speaking South African boy, from age five to age seventeen, The Power of One, is set in South Africa during the 1930s and 40s. Based on a book by Bryce Courtenay and directed by John G. Avildsen. It pays tribute to the journey of a young boy who goes through many hardships and what three spiritual elders play in his character development. The story of a young man who becomes a peacemaker and a leader in the fight against racial bigotry and violence. Starring in The Power of One are Stephen Dorf, Armin Mueller-Stahl, John Gielgud, and Morgan Freeman.
A Zulu medicine man, a German concert pianist, and a black prisoner known as the Elders of the tribe. These three men passed down all the wisdom they possibly could, during WW2 to help guide and shape him into a kind and accepting person, In this unusual uplifting drama. P. K, an English orphan, is bullied, practically torched at his new boarding school by Afrikaners who hate the English as much as they hate blacks. His nanny takes him to a Zulu medicine man in hopes it will help him develop courage. He then learns about justice, wonder, and sensitivity from Doc, a German pianist who is a friend of his grandfather.
A black prisoner teaches P. K. how to box and to lead his life with not only his heart but also his head. P. K now feels impowered by these three elders, and becomes a bridge between, common ground, a peace maker between the black tribes and the races in South Africa. He becomes an activist in the mission to bring literacy and education to the poverty-stricken blacks living in the townships. A story like this has not only shown me that one person can make a difference, but how easy it is to break the norm that is human habit and just show how easy it is to show kindness to one another. Even after hardship especially when encouraged in body, mind, and soul by the wisdom of your elders and those around you.
Another story that challenges our routine-stricken lives is the inspiring story of “he who shakes the tree’’ former South African President, Nelson Mandela. The first time the hypothetical tree was shaken when he was the first in his family to attend school, and was given he English name ‘nelson’, which unironically translates to “he who shakes the branch;’ or trouble maker’. An appropriate name for one who was destined to overturn a regime and change the direction of a nation. He opened himself up to new experiences, such as education and suddenly his view pint changed, he started to challenge the norm. Mandela joined the African National Congress (ANC) in 1943, first as an activist, then, as a founder and president of the ANC Youth League, becoming its general secretary in 1947.
To add to this great legacy that is Mandela, he opened the first black law firm with Oliver Tambo, who campaigned against the racially-based system of apartheid and called on the government to repeal all discriminatory legislation or face a ‘Campaign for the Defiance of Unjust Laws’. The government reacted by introducing a penalty for protesters against apartheid, because of this, thousands were arrested, including Mandela. The court gave him a suspended sentence considering the campaign was non-violent but put in place a ban ordering him to the confines of Johannesburg for six months and prohibiting him from attending gatherings. It was during this time of his banning that Mandela created a plan called the ‘M-Plan’ to divide ANC branches into underground cells to enable greater contact with the black community.
In 1956 Mandela, along 153 others, were charged with high treason under the Suppression of Communism Act, a piece of legislation designed as a ‘catch-all’ for all opponents and people that argue the regime. This is just another example of how we are creatures of habit and when any sort of uprising they are cut down quickly.
After a four-year trial the charges were dropped after it was shown that the ANC did not advocate violence. The fight continued in Sharpeville, when 69 black people were shot dead by police in the ‘Sharpeville Massacre’. The ANC was banned, and Mandela went underground. Peaceful resistance was replaced with economic sabotage. Mandela became national vice-president of the ANC.
Our troublemaker kept busy as he was then arrested for leaving the country illegally. He then conducted his own defence but was convicted in November and jailed for five years with hard labour. While he was in prison the police raided an ANC safe house in Rivonia where they discovered a supply of arms. Mandela and other leaders of the ANC were charged with treason. In 1964 the court, yet again, found them guilty and Mandela and other the leaders were sentenced to life in prison.
Mandela was given the number 46664 (prisoner 466 of 1964) a number that has now become an iconic symbol for global HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention campaign. Just because Mandela was imprisoned it did not stop the people who believed in him and his message not only that but, Mandela’s reputation grew as the most influential black leader in South Africa. An uprising started and the ‘Free Mandela’ campaign was born. Not only that but he refused to compromise his ideological and political stance to secure his release, even after being heavily advised to do so.
In 1990, 27 years later, while South Africa was under global economic and political pressure to reform its policies, the current president at the time announced that Nelson Mandela was to be released and the ban on the ANC lifted. 5 months on and he was awarded the noble piece price and Mandela was inaugurated as President which the ANC gained 63% of the vote. During his 5-year tenure as president he devoted his time towards rebuilding the international image of South Africa. ”
Reading allows you to have experiences from which you would otherwise be denied or sheltered. If not for these two inspiring and eye opening stories of hardship and perseverance, I would not have been exposed to the reality of south Africa during WW2 or the struggles Mandela went through to bring peace and justice to his country. Without reading I would have been left in the dark to these experiences. Living in Australia I have never been exposed to these kinds of people or these types of experiencesSure, I have a couple of cousins that stayed overnight at the cop shop for some rowdy drinking, but nothing compared to this. Nothing like 27 years imprisonment, and sure I have some grandparents that give me some sort of advice time to time, but nothing visiting a prison every day for 5 years for boxing classes and wisdom from African elders and bridging the gap between races and tribes. Reading opens one’s eyes to experiences you would have been blind to.
