Dickinson to Durban » Entries tagged with "MK"
Tactics of Last Resort: From Peaceful to Violent Protest
Mandela had long supported non-violent protest against apartheid. In 1961, however, he co-founded the MK to act as the armed wing of the African National Congress (ANC). He arrived at this striking reversal in methods only because it was forced upon him. Events like the Sharpeville Massacre, where police used lethal force on peaceful protesters, and the banning of the ANC in 1960 convinced Mandela that the anti-apartheid movement was at risk of utter defeat unless it resorted to violence. Despite the circumstances, Mandela was committed to avoiding any human casualties in his new efforts. Thus, he planned to begin with acts of sabotage that targeted buildings rather than people. This was an important strategic decision, as it would undermine the power of the system without brining condemnation upon them for … Read entire article »
Filed under: Summer Reading Responses
Resorting to Violence: Did the ANC have a choice?
Explain the reasons behind the creation of Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK). Do you think adopting violence as a method strengthened or weakened the anti-apartheid movement? Adopting violence as the movement’s revised strategy after almost fifty years of preaching nonviolent resistance was undoubtedly a complicated decision with immense ramifications. On one hand, the choice to use violence demonstrated to ANC supporters that nonviolence could not destroy Apartheid which is demoralizing. It showed that they were not strong and united enough to conquer violence without partaking in it. On the other hand, the ANC simply did not have a choice. They would not achieve their vision of a free state for all people without using more aggressive means to achieve it. Due to the force of the National Party, violence did strengthen the … Read entire article »
Filed under: Summer Reading Responses
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