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Chapter 44
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
Mandela decides that MK should begin with sabotage, since it is the form of violence that is easiest to do and least likely to have negative repercussions. Still, Mandela is prepared to move on to using terrorism or guerrilla warfare if sabotage isn’t effective. Many of Mandela’s recruits come from ANC, and he worries that some are no longer performing their ANC duties. In December, Mandela hears that Luthuli has won a Nobel Peace Prize. Although Mandela is happy about this, he finds it a little awkward, since not long after, MK deploys homemade bombs at power plants and government offices around the country.
Although Mandela doesn’t disavow his decision to lead MK, he reflects honestly on the downsides of using violence, even in the limited form of sabotage. As Mandela notes, all actions come with an opportunity cost, and spending more time with MK leaves members with less time to do any normal ANC activities. Still, while Mandela criticizes himself, he also subtly differentiates himself from people like the activists in PAC, who didn’t seem as concerned with whether or not their actions conflicted with the actions of the ANC, even if they were fighting for the same ideals.
Themes
