Fresh Wounds
On Saturday, we traveled to Robben Island to visit the infamous prison where Nelson Mandela was held for 18 years. Of all the sights that we saw on the island, including Mandela’s prison cell, I found the lime quarry most impressive. It was here that prisoners performed grueling forced labor and suffered severe retinal deterioration due to the scorching sunlight. But more importantly, the shallow cave at the back of the quarry became the site of secret, brief political meetings, which would eventually shape the process of transition from the apartheid regime to a multiracial government. The enormity of what took place amidst such resolve-breaking conditions helped me to better understand just how resilient Mandela and the others remained throughout their imprisonment.
Another striking aspect of my Robben Island experience was my difficulty grasping just how recently its prison was in full operational use. Often, visits to historical landmarks include interactions with paid actors pretending to live during that period and sharing their “experiences” (the “Pilgrims” at Plymouth Plantation come to mind). But on Robben Island, our tour guide was an actual political PRISONER finally released in 1992. He is a survivor of apartheid oppression, and his stories are real experiences that he generously chooses to share with tour groups. Constantly, I have to remind myself that the horrors of apartheid existed during my lifetime. Its survivors walk among us now. I am thankful that I am beginning to understand the freshness of these wounds.