Cry Freedom

"Cry Freeedom" by John Briley

During my summer break last year I read Nelson Mandela's book "Long walk to freedom". I was really aware of the situation in South Africa during apartheid in the XX century and non violent movement for the equality of rights between black and white people. The movement was conducted by the new generation of slaves such as Nelson Mandela and Steve Biko in this book which represents the black youth who want to change their life. There were also whites involved in the movement and "liberals" such as Donald Woods. They liked the advantages of being white (nice car, big house with pool and black maides) but criticized the system which was unfair to blacks with the raid in their neighbourhood.

Biko and Woods met. Biko changed Woods conception of life, by bringing him to black townships. That's what is beautiful about this book. Despite their skin color and thoughts, especially on Woods behalf, a true friendship was shaped.
After Biko's death Woods didn't belief in the change. It grew stronger. He was as determined as ever to change South Africa. In some parts, especially towards the end, I felt like the story was rewritten with Woods in Biko's skin, at the head of the "Black Consciousness".

The book stresses on a part of the apartheid which is the movement of the equal rights for the people of Southe Africa; black and white hand in hand.
After acknowledgement I can say that the black condition is much better than it was 10 years ago in South Africa. Indeed Nelson Mandela bacame president in South Africa in 1994 and Barack Obama bacame president (elected) in the United States of America where slavery is part of the American heritage.
Black people have come from far and had to struggle join by whites like Woods whose spirit evolved thanks to Biko.

That's the reason why I enjoyed the book so much because it makes you think about the true meaning of the word "humanity" and its emancipation throughout the decades. Love and determination are the keys to anything as well as hope.