This past week was very enlightening
in the sense that all of the history and politics we have been learning in
class was truly coming to life. Sharpeville was probably my favorite museum
because you could really get a feel for the history through the tour guides and
the town as a whole. The pictures and paragraphs of information really
stimulated my thinking and I was able to relate back to class and all that we
learned about protests and anti-apartheid movements. The memorials and the
cemetery were heartbreaking but it was amazing to be able to witness real life
history. The tour guides were truly amazing because they were all personally
involved in the apartheid struggle and it was evident how strongly they felt
about it. One of the guides told us that her parents, husband and two children
were all killed during the struggle and that was truly upsetting. However, it
just showed how strongly she feels about sharing their story and her dedication
to contributing to a better future.
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| Students listen to story of Sharpeville from tour guide Alice. |
I also really enjoyed the Hector Pieterson Museum because it was just a glimpse into the riots and protests that
took place across the nation. It’s inspiring to read about the people who
fought so strongly and gave their lives for the cause while knowing they might
not be around to see the final result. Personally, Hector’s sister really
inspired me with her statement about Hector not being a hero but how she is so
proud that his tragic and unfortunate death sparked such an amazing response
across the nation.
The entire week was a whirlwind of amazing
museums full of rich history and inspiring people. It was nice to be able to
decompress in Kruger National Park with all of the amazing animals!
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