Did Barack Obama’s speech strike the right chord?
Cheryl Hendricks: Obama was chosen because he represented a great deal of what Mandela stood for.
His lecture struck the right chord. It was a forceful reminder of how far humanity has come over the past century – as well as the world’s current tensions and uncertainties. It was also a reminder of how we need to keep the hope and spirit alive of a world in which social justice and democracy can prevail. A world in which tolerance, inclusivity and the pursuit of a common good is the norm.
Mandela was a humble, visionary leader of international stature seeking to bridge the divides between the North and South to promote a common humanity, to reinvigorate multilateralism, to fight inequality and provide a moral compass for the world.
His idea about attaining peace in Africa through negotiations and mediation and creating more inclusive societies is one that shapes conflict management on the continent.
In SA his contribution remains his vision of a united, nonracial, nonsexist, democratic society that eschewed tribalism and patronage politics, and promoted collective and servant leadership.
He was a unifier in a deeply racially divided society.
But the last decade has seen a shift from Mandela’s vision – globally, continentally and nationally. Globally, multilateralism is under threat by rogue states, “America first” forms of engagement with its stress on national interests, and the return to militarised solutions for conflict resolving.
For its part, the continent has lost its way in implementing pan-African ideals. It’s more constrained today by narrow nationalist and authoritarian politics, and by high levels of poverty and inequality.
Mandela’s legacy was probably under the most threat in SA itself where we had deviated substantively from integrity, humility, nonracialism, participation, eradicating inequality and empowering all. Obama’s speech was powerful because it drew on all these themes...