Rivonia Spawns Dawn of a New Generation

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 13, 2010) — "This is the struggle of the African people, inspired by their own suffering and experience. It is a struggle for the right to live. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society, in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunity. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and achieve. But, if needs be, my Lord, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." — Nelson Mandela, June 1964

The third installment of "Have You Heard from Johannesburg," a seven-part film series sponsored by the College of Arts and Sciences, shows the surge in South African and international activism after the Rivonia Treason Trial, in which ten African National Congress leaders were tried for 221 acts of sabotage designed to overthrow the apartheid system.

"The New Generation" will be shown at 3:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 14, in Kastle Hall, Room 213.

The results of the Rivonia Trial and the imprisonment of renowned leaders like Mandela widened the scope of South Africa's campaign, as youth in South Africa and around the world began to protest against the apartheid system.

Thousands of school children and teenagers in Soweto (near Johannesburg) simultaneously protested a new requirement that half of their classes be taught in Afrikaans (the language of the apartheid government. The brutal suppression of the youth uprising further galvanized international support for sanctions against South Africa.

"Activism almost always takes careful organization, so it is particularly remarkable that the Soweto uprising sprang from unorganized students," said Program Director Lauren Kientz. "We are familiar with the images of police dogs attacking protesting youth during the United States Civil Rights Movement. In this case, the government responded with riot police, gunshots and killings."

UK history professor Jakobi Williams will lead a discussion after both showings of "The New Generation," drawing parallels between the U.S. and South Africa and the rise of black consciousness in the 1970s.

"Jakobi Williams is working on an exciting book about the roots of the rainbow coalition in the Chicago Black Panther Party," said Program Director Lauren Kientz. "He is going to offer the audience a global context for understanding the rise of black consciousness in South Africa in the 1970s as well as lead a stimulating discussion. This promises to be an excellent evening!"

Williams' research interests include resistance and the social justice revolutions found within the historic African American community, including the Black Panther Party and Black Power and Civil Rights movements.

The UK history professor, born and raised on the south side of Chicago, is currently finalizing a book manuscript tentatively titled, "Fred Hampton to Barack Obama: the Illinois Chapter of the Black Panther Party, the Origin of the Rainbow Coalition, and Racial Coalition Politics in Chicago," which examines the brutal murder of charismatic Black Panther Party (BPP) leader.  

"Have You Heard from Johannesburg" sheds light on the global citizens’ movement that took on South Africa’s apartheid regime. The seven-part documentary series, produced and directed by Academy-Award nominated filmmaker Connie Field, chronicles the history of the global anti-apartheid movement that took on South Africa’s well-established apartheid regime and its supporters.

The series spans the world over half a century, beginning with the very first session of the United Nations and ending in 1990 – when, after 27 years in prison, Mandela, the best known leader of the African National Congress toured the world as a free man.

A&S will show each film in sequence on Thursdays at 3:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. in Kastle Hall 213 from Sept. 30- Nov. 11. Parents, students, alumni, children and other community members are welcome to attend one showing or all of them. Each film can be viewed individually. Parking is available at Parking Structure # 2 for the 7:00 p.m. showing.

Paralleling the film, Kientz is teaching a two-credit experiential learning course, A&S 100-049, from Sept. 23-Dec 7.

The College of Arts and Sciences is embarking on a year-long exploration of South African culture and history with its South Africa Initiative, themed "Different Lands, Common Ground." This program hopes to engage the Lexington community in crucial global conversations spark an ongoing exchange of ideas and promote awareness of race, human rights and political change.

For more information, contact Kientz at lauren.kientz@uky.edu.