Script
Nick: Good morning Mr. Mandela I am Nick and I would like to ask you a few questions if that is ok.
Mr. Mandela: That’s fine
Nick: Were did you live growing up?
Mr. Mandela: I lived in Qunu, South Africa, in the Transkei territory. It was in a valley, surrounded by hills where I would sometimes play soccer.
Nick: What was it like when you were a young boy of 6 years?
Mr: Mandela: I was born into the royal family and my life was dominated by custom ritual and taboo.
Nick: Where were you educated?
Mr. Mandela: I began my studies for a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University Collage of Fort Hare but I did not complete the degree there because I was expelled for joining a student protest.
Nick: Did you have a wife?
Mr. Mandela: I did have a wife, her name was Winnie… she was a strong, independent woman. She raised our six children almost single handedly.
Nick: What Charges were you convicted on?
Mr. Mandela: I was convicted on charges of sabotage and treason and I sent to jail for 27 years.
Nick: What, in your opinion, was the worst apartheid law?
Mr. Mandela: The laws that stopped blacks from voting were the worst, because they prevented blacks from voting someone into parliament who could change the other laws. Even though the blacks were the majority of the population, they were still not getting a say.
Nick: In your opinion what was the biggest factor that changed the South Africans government’s mind?
Mr. Mandela: I think that the international pressure was probably one of the biggest factors. The UN really aided in that respect.
Nick: Do you think the without pressure applied by the UN you would have been released from prison?
Mr. Mandela: I would like to believe that eventually the South African government would have seen the error of their ways, but without the pressure from the UN my release would not have happened nearly as soon.
Nick: If the South African government hadn’t released you, what would you have done?
Mr.Mandela: I would have continued to fight for my freedom and the freedom of the African people.
Nick: What would be your dream for South Africa?
Mr: Mandela: My dream would be a multicultural society, one that is diverse and where every man, woman and child are treated equally. I dream of a world where all people of all races work together in harmony.
Nick: What needs to happen for this to be achieved?
Mr.Mandela: We have already made the first steps towards achieving this goal. We need to close the racial division between whites and blacks in South Africa.
Nick: If you knew that you would go to prison for as long as you did, would you still have done what you did?
Mr. Mandela: I would have. Prison did not change me… I would endure far worse to see the progress we have made here in South Africa.
Nick: Thank you for your time Mr. Mandela.
Mr.Mandela: Thank you for having me
Mr. Mandela: That’s fine
Nick: Were did you live growing up?
Mr. Mandela: I lived in Qunu, South Africa, in the Transkei territory. It was in a valley, surrounded by hills where I would sometimes play soccer.
Nick: What was it like when you were a young boy of 6 years?
Mr: Mandela: I was born into the royal family and my life was dominated by custom ritual and taboo.
Nick: Where were you educated?
Mr. Mandela: I began my studies for a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University Collage of Fort Hare but I did not complete the degree there because I was expelled for joining a student protest.
Nick: Did you have a wife?
Mr. Mandela: I did have a wife, her name was Winnie… she was a strong, independent woman. She raised our six children almost single handedly.
Nick: What Charges were you convicted on?
Mr. Mandela: I was convicted on charges of sabotage and treason and I sent to jail for 27 years.
Nick: What, in your opinion, was the worst apartheid law?
Mr. Mandela: The laws that stopped blacks from voting were the worst, because they prevented blacks from voting someone into parliament who could change the other laws. Even though the blacks were the majority of the population, they were still not getting a say.
Nick: In your opinion what was the biggest factor that changed the South Africans government’s mind?
Mr. Mandela: I think that the international pressure was probably one of the biggest factors. The UN really aided in that respect.
Nick: Do you think the without pressure applied by the UN you would have been released from prison?
Mr. Mandela: I would like to believe that eventually the South African government would have seen the error of their ways, but without the pressure from the UN my release would not have happened nearly as soon.
Nick: If the South African government hadn’t released you, what would you have done?
Mr.Mandela: I would have continued to fight for my freedom and the freedom of the African people.
Nick: What would be your dream for South Africa?
Mr: Mandela: My dream would be a multicultural society, one that is diverse and where every man, woman and child are treated equally. I dream of a world where all people of all races work together in harmony.
Nick: What needs to happen for this to be achieved?
Mr.Mandela: We have already made the first steps towards achieving this goal. We need to close the racial division between whites and blacks in South Africa.
Nick: If you knew that you would go to prison for as long as you did, would you still have done what you did?
Mr. Mandela: I would have. Prison did not change me… I would endure far worse to see the progress we have made here in South Africa.
Nick: Thank you for your time Mr. Mandela.
Mr.Mandela: Thank you for having me