Collective Memory: How People Choose to Remember the Past - Research Paper Example

Collective Memory: How People Choose to Remember the Past Introduction History and historical events have shaped the course of human existence since time in memorial. Humans are very reliant on past events as a learning tool for future decisions and planning. For this reason, it is important for them to remember, commemorate and celebrate both people and the events that shape their historical paths. Collective memories of the people and events of historical relevance are largely influenced by modern social dynamics. Events of great social importance, like the attainment of political independence, far outshine the atrocities and struggles that lead up to them. As a result, many important historical events are either changed or completely ignored. This essay will focus on Nelson Mandela, discussing how people choose to remember him, what people choose to ignore about him, and why. In many countries all over the world, political independence is the most important historical event in their nation’s calendars. It is marked by celebration and remembrance of the freedom fighters and their contribution to the country’s sovereignty. Memorial parks, monuments and even songs are just part of the collective memories passed on from generation to generation. Preservation of these memories forms part of the nation’s culture and identity (Olick & Robbins 67). A case in point was the long struggle for independence in apartheid South Africa. The struggle for self rule and democracy in South Africa has long been associated with Nelson Madiba Mandela (Goldin 2). He is perhaps most famous for the time he spent in prison for his participation in the fight for equal rights and just treatment of all South Africans, both Black and White. However, little emphasis is placed on the reasons why he was detained. Collective memories of the people, therefore, centre on his arrest, release, and his subsequent ascend to power (Anderson & Levy 56). Apartheid South Africa Apartheid rule was a governance system in colonial South Africa that oppressed the majority, Black, population. The system began after the 1948 general elections which saw the national party with a White majority come to power (Guiloineau & Rowe 13). This was shortly after the Second World War. At that time, many large democracies like the USA and Britain were largely preoccupied with internal and external economic and political reconstruction. The ruling white minority took advantage of these facts to establish an oppressive regime in South Africa and present day Namibia (Goldin 8). After the 1948 elections, apartheid was adopted as an official government policy. It led to the classification of the South African population into four groups, Natives, Colored, Asians and Whites. The population groups were forcefully moved from their original settlements and laws introduced to limit interaction between the races. The most popular re-settlement was done in the 1950’s where 60,000 Black South Africans were moved to Soweto (Guiloineau & Rowe 18). In this period, some laws were passed, which came to be known as petty apartheid. These include the 1949 Act 55, which made interracial marriages unlawful. Also in 1950’s, Act 21 prohibited indecent acts between two races. The Black minority was deprived of their citizenship. This meant that they could not participate in any election process. Social amenities such as schools and hospitals were segregated (Guiloineau & Rowe 34). The black majority got very poor social services, and in some cases, none at all. Nelson Mandela Nelson Mandela was born on July 18th 1918. He was brought up in apartheid South Africa but from a relatively good background. He attended a private school and latter joined college. Mandela, alongside his college colleague, Oliver Tambo, started a law firm that provided low cost legal representation for the Black minority (Guiloineau & Rowe 26). Political activity Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo became actively involved in politics after the 1948 elections. Mandela was prominently involved in ANC’s defiance campaign of 1952 (Goldin 6). Mandela was first arrested in 1956 and accused of treason with many other anti-apartheid campaigners. He was released and later arrested in 1962 (Guiloineau & Rowe 51). These two events sparked a worldwide uprising and greatly exposed the apartheid atrocities against Black South Africans. During this period, the United States was also struggling with its own racial problems. The US and the rest of the world were very much against the apartheid rule. This support for the South African struggle led to trade embargos against South Africa. The United Nations passed sanctions against the apartheid government, limiting the participation of South Africa in international games and events. Winnie Mandela, nelson Mandela’s wife actively campaigned for his release from prison. This also played a big part in drawing in the international community (Goldin 10). Nelson Mandela was released from prison in 1990, one year after the stepping down from power of Botha (Guiloineau & Rowe 10). F. W. De clerk was the president at the time of Mandela’s release from prison. He was very instrumental in the road to South Africa’s independence. Remembering Mandela and the struggle In 1993, the international community awarded the Nobel peace prize to both Nelson Mandela and F. W. De clerk for their work in ending the apartheid rule. The award is humanities’ greatest accolade for extra ordinary contribution of a person towards improving other people’s lives. This is one way in which the world recognized Mandela’s sacrifice and he instantly became a global historical figure (Goldin 12). Mandela has received numerous other awards from all over the world. They include the president’s award in 2004 by George W. Bush, honorary citizen of Canada in 2001, Bharat Ratna award from India in 1990 among many others (Bhana & Vahed 30). People also remember Mandela by use of musical compositions, especially by world popular musicians. In 1983, the Special Aka recorded the song Free Mandela. Stevie Wonder, a renowned musician, dedicated his 1985 Oscar award to Nelson Mandela, leading to the ban on his music by the South African government. In 1988, a concert organized at Wembley stadium in commemoration of Mandela’s birthday sparked an anti-apartheid movement with many musicians showing their support for Mandela (Anderson & Levy 42). Several publications have been made in honor of Mandela and his contribution to the fight against apartheid rule. The Long Walk to Freedom, Mandela’s autobiography was published in 1994. It tells Mandela’s part in the struggle for independence. Goodbye Bafana was a book published by a prison warden from Robben Island, the prison where Mandela spent 18 years of his 27 year jail term (Anderson & Levy 36). Nelson Mandela has been depicted in various movies, showing him and the South African struggle for independence. Mandela and De Klerk is a movie showing events leading to Mandela’s release from prison. Goodbye Bafana was a movie depicting Mandela’s personal life. Mandela also personally appeared in the film, Malcolm X, as a school teacher, shortly after his release from prison (Weldon 40). Monuments and commemorations In 2001, a memorial garden was put together in Leeds to honor Mandela. A six meter statue was erected in Johannesburg and the square it stood on was named Mandela Square. In 2007, a statue of Mandela was put up at the parliament buildings in London. According to Mandela, the statue represented everyone who has ever fought oppression (Guiloineau & Rowe 76). A bridge in Johannesburg South Africa was also named the Nelson Mandela Bridge. Robben Island, the prison that Mandela spent most of his prison sentence is now a historical site and a shrine for South Africa’s most popular states man. Nelson Mandela day, 18th March, was adopted by the United Nations, and is celebrated the world over. On this day, organizations all over the world are asked to do something to help other people (Bhana & Vahed 11). This day is usually marked by a concert attended by world famous musicians and dignitaries. The South African Central Bank is planning on printing Mandela’s image on all bank notes. New coins, both legal tender and collectables are also going to be made. This will be an eternal commemoration of the living hero. Millions of shirts have been sold with Mandela’s prison number while at Robben Island, and also his image on them. A lot of the funds collected have been used for charitable work (Anderson & Levy 70). Events we choose to ignore There are various facts about the struggle for independence and the figure of the struggle, Nelson Mandela, which we have chosen to ignore. These are factors that played out during and after the apartheid struggle. First, Mandela’s divorce is an issue that has been eroded with time and no longer lingers in our memories. Winnie Mandela was also a freedom fighter and a strong campaigner for the release of Mandela from prison. However, Winnie was also controversial and she was severally linked to various violent events during and after Mandela’s release from prison. This eventually led to their divorce (Anderson & Levy 72). Mandela was also an advocate for a violent takeover of government in case the apartheid rule was not abolished. He detailed plans to systematically bomb key government offices and other installations (Guiloineau & Rowe 11). Mandela saw guerilla war as the only option if talks to abolish apartheid were not successful. The USA and UK joined power to veto the trade embargo on apartheid South Africa. This was seen as a way of suppressing a Marxist movement thought to be brewing in colonial South Africa. They labeled the ANC party, a terrorist organization and its activities were to be banned (Guiloineau & Rowe 90). F. W. De Klerk was also alleged to have been complacent in the violence of the late 1980’s and early 1990’s (Guiloineau & Rowe 82). He was seen to take a back seat while many innocent South Africans were beaten and killed by the police. The Sharpeville massacre of 1960 was also a mark in history that has been faded by time. The atrocities of the time were done in plain sight of the international community with no one to respond (Foucault 64). Reasons why we change or ignore these past events The main reason why we choose to ignore some parts of history is because some events are too traumatic, and so we want to forget, rather than keep the memory. Examples of such events include the Sharpeville massacre of 1960 (Foucault 65). Another reason why people ignore certain aspects of history is due to fear of retaliation, or aggravating an already bad situation (Weldon 45). This is clearly demonstrated by De Klerk’s ignorance of the plight of the Black South Africans during the uprisings in the early 1990’s. The deplorable conditions and hard labor in Robben Island during Mandela’s imprisonment are hardly talked about as events that contributed to the struggle for independence. Many of the other political prisoners that were locked up alongside Mandela are also omitted from mainstream historical coverage, and all the attention revolves around Mandela (Foucault 28). Many commemorations and historical milestones are hinged on the successes but not the short comings that were encountered (Olick & Robbin 32). The United States bestowed the president’s award to Mandela, even though they had previously vilified his party, the ANC, as a terrorist organization. This shows that omission or change of historical events in the course of time is not only done by individuals, but also by nations. Popular modern culture has played a key role in shaping past memories into an acceptable form. Events leading up to victories are highlighted, leaving out bits and pieces that are considered low points. Nelson Mandela has been unofficially named a living saint due to his contribution to end apartheid. People are willing to ignore some of the other aspects of the struggle, and his personal life (Halbwachs 81). Conclusion Since memory has been seen as a very important tool in the struggle for social development, controlling people’s memory controls their dynamism (Foucault 77). This means that when seeking historical accuracy, it best not to rely on the state as the only source of historical data. The most favorable sources for accurate information are groups of people since the information that is part of collective memories is passed on from generation to generation, either orally or through writing. Social contagion or implantation of thoughts either true or false is a way in which collective memories are altered. This can simply be done through mass media or academic literature. Exposing groups of people to the same kind of information leads to implantation of collective memories, hence inaccuracies in the depiction of past events. Shared rendering of the past is also possible through forgetting of the same memory due to individuals failing to mention events, or knowingly avoiding certain aspects of the past. An example is Mandela’s failure to mention Winnie’s involvement in violent activities in his biography. This has had the effect of erasing his former wife’s past from mainstream historical records. Mechanisms should be put in place to safeguard historical sources and their integrity. Reconstruction of past events is a vital part of collective memory enhancement (Halbwachs 23). Retrieval induced forgetting is a psychological tool that can be used to reverse forgotten events due to competing memories (Anderson & Levy 58). Since collective memory is the most reliable source of history, there has to be a way to recover repressed memory. When a competing event inhibits the remembrance of another event, the people are trained to block the unimportant events. Works cited Anderson, M. C., and Levy, B. J. Inhibitory Processes and Control of Memory Retrieval: Trends in Cognitive Science. London: Sage Publishers, 2002. Print. Bhana S. K & Vahed, G. Making of a Political Reformer: Gandhi in South Africa. Johannesburg: New Africa Books, 2005. Print. Focault, M. Language and Counter Memory Practice: Selected Essays. New York: Cornell University Press, 1997. Print. Goldin, Ian .Making Race: The Politics and Economics of Colored identity in South Africa. Longman Cape Town, 1987. Print. Guiloneau, Jean and Rowe, Joseph. Nelson Mandela: The Early Life of Rolihlahla Madiba. Johannesburg: North Atlantic Books, 2002. Print. Halbwachs, M. On Collective Memory. Chicago, IL: The University of Chicago Press, 1992. Print. Olick, J. K., and Robbins, J. Social Memory Studies: From “Collective Memory” To the Historical Sociology of Mnemonic Practices. New York: Free Press, 1998. Print. Weldon, M. S. Remembering as a Social Process: Psychology Of learning and Motivation. New York: Academic press, 2001. 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