“I am thankful for this opportunity to meet new women and learn about the struggles of our faith in relation to the sin that has caused so much destruction and oppression.”
- Christy
Share something that surprised you today or disturbed you today, etc.:
- The fact that Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 30 years in such terrible conditions and was still compassionate towards those who kept him there; he emerged with generosity in his heart... Mara
- The language and propaganda used to condition people into a set of beliefs; the words that are used, our words also can build barriers... Christy
- When I learned about apartheid, I knew it to mean 'white people abusing blacks', but to see black people abuse black people... What were they suggesting black people needed 'protection' from? That black people were convinced that these things/boundaries are making them free... Sibekezelo
- The concept of 'good neighborliness' (used to justify the concept of apartheid). Sharing a cup of sugar or a blanket is what I'd define as a being a good neighbor, not putting someone in a cement cell with no windows... Vongai
- The conditions of the hospitals with children sitting on the floors, 4 of them in one bed together... Ruth
- The status of education, also with kids sitting on the floor... Nthabiseng
- The contrast between the Apartheid Museum and the Gold Reef Mine/Theme Park across the street. The serious, underlying topic of the mines wasn't really even addressed on the mine tour (the African men who labored and died in the mines, for the benefit of others' greed). Was so terrible what happened there, but the actual story wasn't even told... Becky
- The laws to amend the laws to fix the loopholes of apartheid...reminds me of Jim Crow laws that were meant to maintain segregation. And having a theme park at the mine seems no different than having a rollercoaster at Buchenwald or Dachau, where so many people died during the holocaust... Karris
- I thought I hadn't seen racism during my life because it's almost entirely black people. But things have been 'the way they are' my whole life, so maybe it's more that the racism is not 'blatant' anymore. Maybe it is racism, just not in the obvious way it used to be; maybe it is racism that I have experienced... Vongai
- Apartheid was in place for 47 years and ended nearly 20 years ago. People are still dealing with the same issues: no care in the hospitals, poor education; people who left South Africa during apartheid have returned since it ended and have observed that the problems still exist. The problems are simply deeper... Is there a sense that black people now think they're less important, regardless of skin color?... Nthabiseng
(*the above-mentioned reflections are paraphrased from a group conversation)
"I was struck by the honesty with which the stories and histories/herstories are told at the Apartheid Museum." Karris, Iowa USA
"I’ve been having insightful and educative times since the beginning of the seminar. I have been most impressed by the presentation and discussion techniques." Nthabiseng, Pretoria South Africa
"The Apartheid Museum is full of images , narrations and captions that make one think.
I was struck by P.M. Verroew’s concept of ‘good neighbourliness’ which involved separating people based on colour. This is very different from the interactive and ‘we’re family’concept that I believe in and I thought equating good neighborliness and apartheid was very sick.
The lonliness and the miners’ (Gold Reef City Mine Museum) living conditions were sad, the resulting use of alcohol; the role that women played and the size of the confinement cells were all very touching.
The good thing that came out of this (the visit) for me was the hope, the selflessness and determination to set things right was the highlight of this museum for me. The South African people wanted equal opportunity for everyone so badly they were willing to die for it. I wish them the best on the reconstruction of their country." Vongai, Harare Zimbabwe
"Apartheid scars will never be healed- we know that for some of us-we are what we are because of it. What we have to do is to forgive our oppressors and go on with our lives. We are all in the image of God and His beloved creatures. Love yourself as you love your enemies." Serweetsana, Rustenburg South Africa
"I have seen many things today. One of them is the newspaper (article-Apartheid Museum) where Nelson Mandela was telling the nation the disease which caused the death of his son. This is one of the thing I will take home with me as where I come from people don’t tell if one of heir family members died of AIDS—they keep it secret. This one has touched me very much." Winne, Lilongwe Malawi
"After visiting the museum I have learnt that when we are working in the field of God we need to have love, confidence, patience, and hope. With these we can achieve whatever we want to do. When I go back home I’ll share his with my fellow young women and even elders that these four items are the keys. Thank you." Judith, Lasaka Zambia
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