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Chapter 29
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Long Walk to Freedom, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Racism and Division
Negotiation, Democracy, and Progress
Nonviolent Protest vs. Violent Protest
The Value of Optimism
Summary
Analysis
A new group called the Pan Africanist Conference (PAC) arises, with a specifically African perspective that contradicts ANC’s multiracial perspective. Despite this rivalry, Mandela knows and respects the PAC president Robert Sobukwe and has other former colleagues in the party as well because they used to be part of the ANC. Mandela finds the viewpoint of the PAC “immature.” Still, he remains interested in reading about their policies, believing that one day the two groups will reunite.
Mandela’s feelings about the PAC reflect his nuanced views on the liberation struggle. Mandela admires many things about PAC but ultimately argues that they go too far in the direction of Black nationalism. Although Mandela believes that Black people should be proud of their history and accomplishments, he sees this as part of a larger, multiracial liberation movement, not as an end in itself.
Themes
