Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Youth Day in South Africa


On June 16, 1976, 700 people, many of them children, were massacred for standing up for their rights as human beings. I want to dedicate my blog today to the memory of those students and others who have put their lives on the line for what should be basic freedom for everyone. I want to send a special thank you out to my wife, my brother Moorosi, and many others who were on the ground risking their lives for this basic freedom. Amandla!!!! Awetu!!!! Peace to everyone. Click here to learn more...




Source: sahistory.org

7 comments:

Rethabile said...

Matla!

Thank you for reminding me of this essential day. So easy to think of other things, like how to pay the rent.

Stephen A. Bess said...

Rethabile-
lol! I know that very well. Looking forward to July my brother. Let me know exactly when so I will be in town. Otherwise, I am subject to hit the road. :)

Rethabile said...

I'll holler, like two weeks before.
Khotso...

NML/Natalie said...

I always learn so much from you! The boyfs dad lives in SA so no doubt this will make for an interesting conversation when I speak with him next. Thanks for sharing this and I must get back into regularly reading your blog.

Mickle in NZ said...

Oh my goodness, yes.

It was around 1976, aged 11, I started to become aware of the words "South Africa" and "Apartheid" appearing in the news reports here.

Of course, by 1981 it couldn't be missed - little New Zealand having huge protests over the SA Springboks rugby tour and Apartheid. Quiet little New Zealand split in two over it, aircraft dropping flour bombs over rugby matches. A watershed year.

An issue so incredibly important to me.

2009, New Zealand now has a sizable population of those who have emigrated from SA.

Mickle now drinks Rooibos tea always.

And the number of those here from Zimbabwe grows.

Stephen A. Bess said...

NML-
Cool. I didn't know that Boyf's father lives in SA. I will be going this year for the first time. I'm really looking forward to seeing my inlaws for the first time. Thanks for stopping in. Always a pleasure.

Mickle-
Wow! That's a great account of the not so distant past. Thanks for sharing that. It's also intersting to learn that there are so many Southern Africans in New Zealand. I would love to visit and watch how the two worlds interact and influence each other. Great to see you.

Mickle in NZ said...

Dear Stephen
New Zealanders ? - long time sporting rival of both is Australia. Like my Dad I'm delighted when SA beat Aussie at anything!

In 1996 I started working for a diviion of a company headed by an Soth African, Gregory Fortuin. AT the time he was Honourary SA Consul General to NZ, had (has) the car number plate ANC1. He has met and is known to Nelson Mandela.

They wanted Gregory back in SA - he replied that his wife wouldn't move back. Gregory is an amazing speaker. He is now one of the Commissioners in the Humman Rights Commission here - NZ is very lucky.

Black Men in Life Space: A Change for the Better

Photo Source: Showtime The late great Chicago soul singer, Sam Cooke sang and announced that "A Change is Gonna Come." On season f...