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The Sharpeville Massacre, Violence, And The Struggles Of The African National Congress, 1960-1990, Reese W. Hollister
The Sharpeville Massacre, Violence, And The Struggles Of The African National Congress, 1960-1990, Reese W. Hollister
Armstrong Undergraduate Journal of History
During the long process of decolonization in South Africa, the Sharpeville Massacre was a turning point for the African National Congress' decision to begin using violence for the internal resistance to apartheid. Nelson Mandela and the ANC reacted to the Sharpeville Massacre by shifting their methods to incorporate the practicality of anti-colonial violence. In his 1964 "I Am Prepared to Die" speech, Mandela acknowledged that peaceful resistance was met with brutal force, and this could not go on. The ANC continued its strong non-violent resistance while also developing a military wing and conducting sabotage. This essay brings into question the …