Veli Mbele

[Veli Mbele delivered this talk at the Nelson Mandela Metro University's Racism and Power Dialogue Series, held at Rhodes University on 15 June 2016].

Introduction

INTRODUCTION

Speaking to students on the 21 October, 1949, the then SRC [Students’ Representative Council"> President at the University of Fort Hare, the great Mangaliso Sobukwe, had this to say: “...We must fight for freedom. For the right to call our souls our own.

[This talk was delivered at the Afrikan Liberation Day symposium, at the Drill Hall, Gauteng, South Africa, 25 May 2015.">

OPENING REMARKS AND DEDICATION

INTRODUCTION

‘...anti-blackness more accurately captures the dehumanization and constant physical danger that black people face. The “anti” in “anti-blackness” is denial of black people’s right to life.’- Michael Jeffries.

[This talk was presented at the annual Steve Biko conference hosted by the Umtapo Centre and Steve Biko Foundation at the Durban University of Technology on 17 September 2014">

When the Democratic Alliance recently launched its ‘Know Your DA’ campaign, I was reminded of a very apt observation made by a young Steve Biko, over 40 years ago, when he warned that ‘The biggest mistake the black world ever made was to assume that whoever opposed apartheid was an ally’.

As we mark the 35th anniversary of Mangaliso Sobukwe’s passing, one of the questions that his legacy poses to our generation is: what have we done, in our time, to contribute towards the realisation of his vision for our country and continent?

Throughout human history, there is a special category of human beings who emerge from among us and through the substance of their character infuse us with the confidence to embrace the possibility that, not only can we become better human beings, but it is in fact possible for us to build a world

In his classic song, ‘Some day we'll all be free’, the legendary, black American soul singer, Donny Hathaway, sings:

Keep your self-respect, your manly pride
Get yourself in gear
Keep your stride.
Never mind your fears
Brighter days will soon be here