Winnie Mandela

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14

I'm Columbus Madikizela,

headmaster of Bizana Elementary School.

Welcome.

Next time, have your pickaninnies chase

the cattle off the road.

We haven't got time to waste.

As you can see,

we do not have desks and chairs.

Our only equipment is

blackboard and chalk.

We came to evaluate your

teaching abilities.

So far, you're not making

a very favorable impression.

Despite all our disadvantages,

I can wager that any one of my pupils

could compete

with any white pupil in your cities.

Winnie, Shakespeare's 18th Sonnet

for our guests.

"Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?

"Thou art more lovely

and more temperate,

"Rough winds do shake

the darling buds of May,

"And summer's lease

hath all too short a date,

"Sometime too hot the

eye of heaven shines,

"And often is his gold..."

Yeah, yeah, that's enough. Thank you.

Good day.

- Winnie.

- Yes, Father.

I was disappointed

when you were not born a boy.

But now, I am proud.

I'm so very proud that

you're my daughter.

Don't forget to write.

You should be the one taking the bus,

sisi.

It was always going to be you.

Miss Madikizela.

Miss Madikizela.

Oh, goodness. I'm so sorry we're late.

There was this frightful accident

in Eloff Street.

We do apologize.

We are so very pleased

that you're coming to study with us.

Yes. Our first student

from a rural area.

And we believe your father is a chief.

No, madam. My father is a teacher,

son of a chief.

But the first black

teacher in our district.

Daughter of a Xhosa teacher,

son of a chief is quite good enough.

Welcome to Johannesburg.

Can I help you with that?

Now, ladies, a career as a social worker

means two things for certain.

Long hours and pitiful salaries.

Please turn to page 296...

...in the Encyclopaedia

Of The Social Sciences.

Quietly, please.

Hallelujah

Hallelujah

Hallelujah

Hi.

Hallelujah

Hallelujah

I actually can't believe

that you just did it.

You'll tell Mama.

Winnie, haven't you had enough of your

books yet'? We're going to town. Come.

I have seen the town.

You study too much,

and you're going to put us all to shame.

For goodness sake, it's Saturday.

Oh, my, it is beautiful.

I think she likes it.

Let's go in and try it on.

Oh!

Oh, you look like Cinderella.

Go on, buy it.

There are better things

to do with money.

Darling, buying beautiful clothes

is the only thing to do with money.

- No, really, I can't.

- You can pay me back later.

Excuse me. Excuse me!

What do you think you are doing?

My friend would like to buy a dress.

Is that a problem?

- You're going to ruin that dress.

- Ruin it?

Only paying customers

are allowed to try the dresses on.

Look, you people don't bathe.

The next customer is

not going to want to buy that dress.

It'll smell. Now take it off

before I call the police.

- Leave her alone.

- Just you...

Africans want to be paid a living wage.

Africans want to perform work

which we are capable of doing

and not work which the government

declares us to be capable of.

We want to allowed and not obliged

to living in rented housing

which we can never call our own.

We want to be allowed

to live where we obtain work

and not being forced to

living in our ghettos.

African men want to be with their wives

and not being forced

into an unnatural existence.

African women want to be

with their husbands...

He is incredible.

Who is he?

Nelson Mandela.

Mandela who?

Nelson. Nelson Mandela.

I would follow him anywhere.

Would you, Winnie?

Move, move, move, move.

Get these people out of here.

Go on. Get out of here.

This is a peaceful meeting.

This is a peaceful meeting.

This is an illegal demonstration.

Disperse.

We have every right to be here.

Illegal gathering. Disperse.

Arrest him!

Wouldn't mind finding out more

about that Mandela fellow.

He's a dreamboat.

- He's a lawyer.

- A black lawyer?

Mmm. He's defending a friend of mine.

She was caught without a pass,

and she hardly earns anything,

so he did it for free.

A lawyer that works for free? Mmm-mmm.

My friend says he's also a boxer.

A boxer?

Wouldn't mind getting to go

a couple of rounds with him.

Always ready for a few rounds,

aren't we, Harriet?

Ladies, ladies, ladies, ladies.

Wow! Who's the new lamb?

Or should I say angel?

This is Peter Magubane.

He's a photographer for DRUM Magazine.

May I please take a picture?

I would rather you didn't.

Oh, come on, Winnie. You never know.

Everyone reads DRUM, and a picture

in it might make you famous.

Okay. All right. Here we...

Yes!

What are you doing?

Oliver, please, ask her

if she needs a lift.

Please.

Sorry.

Hello, sisi. Sorry.

My friend wants to know

if you need a lift.

Is she sure?

Is she sure?

Are you sure?

I am sure.

Haven't I seen you somewhere before?

Let's go. Let's go.

Comrades. Comrades.

All is well? Good, good, good.

- Hoot if you see anyone.

- I will, sir.

Yes! I knew it!

I told you.

I have seen her somewhere before.

The girl from the bus stop.

We should join forces

with The Pan-Africanist Congress.

Let me see.

They are very good at explosion.

The Pan-African Congress want to drive

this country's four million white people

into the sea,

and they want us to help them do it.

We refuse to work with people

who exclude whites, coloreds or Indians.

But we are not getting anywhere.

The apartheid system is getting stronger

by the day.

- And they've got guns and...

- Comrades. Listen, brothers.

We must remember,

ours is a struggle for justice,

not domination.

Nelson, quickly, hide!

- Nelson...

- Go, go, go, go, go!

Your meeting is illegal!

You are surrounded!

All of you, out! Now!

Nelson, quickly!

Mandela, Tambo!

Where are they? Where are they?

Hey, Jew boy.

Where are they?

Where are they?

They are not here.

You lying kaffir.

Where are they?

Where are they?

Search the place.

Congratulations. It's

a full scholarship.

You'll have your master's

in a year or two.

And then if you wish,

I'm sure you could apply to live and

work in the United States permanently.

You don't seem to

excited, Miss Madikizela.

Of course, I am, sir.

Every one dreams of going

to America, but...

But?

I am needed here.

- Here?

- Bara.

Baragwanath Hospital?

They've offered me

post of social worker.

It is the first time the position has

ever been offered to a black person.

Yes, well, that's wonderful, of course.

Do you understand what an honor,

what a privilege this is,

both for the school and for yourself?

It's the opportunity of a lifetime.

- Excuse me.

- Please, sir, wait your turn.

This is for you.

Wait.

Wait.

Oh, my God.

We get at least

10 abandoned babies a week.

You mustn't let them in.

Not let them in?

Into your heart.

Or you'll spend many nights

crying yourself to sleep.

- I'm Adelaide.

- Winnie.

I know. Everyone's talking about you.

Choosing Soweto over Boston.

Winnie, can we give you lift home?

- Isn't it a bit out of your way?

- No, not at all.

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