“There are many people who feel that it is useless and futile to continue talking about peace and non-violence against a government whose only reply is savage attacks on an unarmed and defenseless people.”
Image credits: John Mathew Smith 2001,”From Wash D.C. Longworth building October 4, 1994. Mandela’s first trip to the United States.”,CC BY-SA 2.0,Nelson Mandela 1994 – Nelson Mandela – Wikipedia
- July 18, 1918 – December 5, 2013
- Born in South Africa
- Politician, lawyer
- The first black president of South Africa, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for abolishing apartheid and building a democratic South Africa where multiple ethnic groups coexist.
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Quote
“There are many people who feel that it is useless and futile to continue talking about peace and non-violence against a government whose only reply is savage attacks on an unarmed and defenseless people.”
Explanation
In this quote, Nelson Mandela reflects the frustration felt by many oppressed people who, after years of nonviolent resistance, are met with only violence and repression from the government. The use of the words “savage attacks” emphasizes the brutality and inhumanity of the government’s response to peaceful protests, particularly in the context of apartheid South Africa, where the state used force to suppress those who demanded basic human rights and freedom. Mandela is acknowledging the disillusionment that arises when nonviolent efforts are met with such cruelty, which can lead people to question the effectiveness or even the morality of continuing peaceful resistance under such conditions.
This statement also sheds light on the historical context in which Mandela made this remark. Throughout the apartheid era, the South African government repeatedly used force to crush anti-apartheid movements, including peaceful protests and civil disobedience. The Sharpeville massacre of 1960, where police opened fire on unarmed protestors, is a tragic example of how the state responded to nonviolent demands for freedom and equality. Mandela, at the time a leader of the African National Congress (ANC), was part of a movement that initially sought peaceful change but later resorted to armed struggle as a result of the state’s refusal to negotiate.
In a modern context, this quote still resonates with social justice movements around the world. It speaks to the dilemma faced by oppressed peoples and activists: whether to continue advocating for peace and nonviolent resistance when faced with a government or system that does not respond to peaceful methods. Mandela’s words encourage understanding the context in which resistance occurs—when peaceful actions are violently suppressed, many may be forced to question whether nonviolence is still a viable option. It is a call to examine the conditions under which human dignity and freedom can be achieved, even in the face of extreme repression.
