Nelson Mandela Biography It’s snowing here today in the Rose City, the icy streets and breath-stealing temperatures an emotional backdrop for the loss of the great Nelson Mandela (18 July, 1918 – 5 December, 2013). The wind from the gorge is howling its way down our street, kicking up the powdery snow with a few brittle leaves, autumn and winter fighting for dominance in our front yard.
Several themes are converging at the corner of December and 1990. Twenty-three years ago at this time, I was finishing up my last term in college and had the once-in-a lifetime opportunity to spend it with Fatima Meer, the author of Higher Than Hope, the first authorized biography of Nelson Mandela.
Fatima Meer (12 August, 1928 – 12 March, 2010), was a prominent anti-apartheid activist who was imprisoned with Nelson Mandela in South Africa and was granted rare access to conduct personal interviews with him in his cell.
Several themes are converging at the corner of December and 1990. Twenty-three years ago at this time, I was finishing up my last term in college and had the once-in-a lifetime opportunity to spend it with Fatima Meer, the author of Higher Than Hope, the first authorized biography of Nelson Mandela.
Fatima Meer (12 August, 1928 – 12 March, 2010), was a prominent anti-apartheid activist who was imprisoned with Nelson Mandela in South Africa and was granted rare access to conduct personal interviews with him in his cell.
Fatima Meer inscription 1990 was the year Mr. Mandela was released from prison and when early negotiations to end apartheid were underway. Apartheid, from the Afrikaans, “the state of being apart,” was an official policy of racial segregation.
That period before he became President of South Africa was certainly a time of upheaval and also the most perfect time to be in the presence of such a living historical figure as Professor Meer. She had personally experienced apartheid and it was unraveling on the world stage.
As I spent those months with Fatima Meer listening to her personal stories, becoming acquainted, we grew attached to each other. I was honored beyond words when she invited me to return with her to Durban, South Africa and spend a year in her home, writing her biography.
The corner of December and 1990. Do I go to South Africa and begin my career as a writer or do I stay in Oregon, marry Groom and begin my career as an artist, designing funky, whimsical jewelry?
That period before he became President of South Africa was certainly a time of upheaval and also the most perfect time to be in the presence of such a living historical figure as Professor Meer. She had personally experienced apartheid and it was unraveling on the world stage.
As I spent those months with Fatima Meer listening to her personal stories, becoming acquainted, we grew attached to each other. I was honored beyond words when she invited me to return with her to Durban, South Africa and spend a year in her home, writing her biography.
The corner of December and 1990. Do I go to South Africa and begin my career as a writer or do I stay in Oregon, marry Groom and begin my career as an artist, designing funky, whimsical jewelry?
Telegram from South Africa To answer that, here’s a photo of my Western Union Telegram that I received from Fatima Meer, thanking me for a piece of jewelry I had made for her.
Did I make the right decision? Well, I’m still madly in love with Groom, so that’s a good sign and yet there’s this wistful part that wonders what it would have been like to jump into the middle of the action in South Africa, to have met Nelson Mandela and taken a completely different path?
As the white snow and dark leaves do their dance out my window, I am left with gratitude for being able to sit with someone and hear poignant stories of a hero directly from a person who knew him well. The world was blessed to have you, Nelson Mandela, Rest In Peace.
Did I make the right decision? Well, I’m still madly in love with Groom, so that’s a good sign and yet there’s this wistful part that wonders what it would have been like to jump into the middle of the action in South Africa, to have met Nelson Mandela and taken a completely different path?
As the white snow and dark leaves do their dance out my window, I am left with gratitude for being able to sit with someone and hear poignant stories of a hero directly from a person who knew him well. The world was blessed to have you, Nelson Mandela, Rest In Peace.
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