Learning from the past to build a better future
By Brian
[P]ost-apartheid is not a time period that has an end date
When I travel to a new country, I try to learn as much as I can about the history and culture of that place. This helps me to gain more context about why a place is a certain way and why people behave in a specific manner. One of the most moving visits during the week was our trip to the Apartheid Museum. The topic of apartheid is extremely important to discuss because the vestiges of apartheid can still be felt in South Africa. The businesses that we visited are focused on making a difference in areas such as education, healthcare, financial investments, and job creation – areas that many were denied access to under apartheid. Knowing this is extremely important to understanding the current business climate and the challenges that exist today in South Africa.
The exhibit that resonated the most with me was “Total Onslaught.” This exhibit included a 20 minute movie that showed activists rallying against oppression in the 1980’s. The most disturbing parts of the video showed skirmishes where activists were badly injured and killed. It was terrifying, ugly, and vile – and it helped me to truly comprehend the pain and suffering that has existed in South Africa for generations. The raw emotion and anger depicted in this video was powerful and sent shivers down my spine.
One of the final exhibits in the museum, “Miracle and Beyond,” focuses on post-apartheid South Africa. I noticed newspapers with the current date around the room and articles with relevant stories about apartheid. These stories signify that challenges still exist but progress is being made. This is also made apparent by a sign in the room. It says that the exhibit is still being developed because post-apartheid is not a time period that has an end date. Seeing this sign caused me to reflect on everything I had seen in the museum. It takes a lot for a country to openly acknowledge the dark parts of its history. South Africans have a tremendous amount of courage and I feel grateful that they have shared their struggles with us. This will help us to learn from the past and allow us to build a better future.
