How Can Man Die Better The Life Of Robert Sobukwe Pdf Download

While it is understandable, even if not acceptable, that Robert Sobukwe has been "forgotten" as a political figure in South Africa's struggle for freedom, what is more puzzling is why his supporters, then and now, and intellectuals with an interest in the political history of South Africa have not kept the name, ideas, and work of Sobukwe alive. In preparation for this book review I thought I would read as much of Sobukwe's work that I could get hold of. In my misplaced optimism I thought I would find a book of his speeches and writings - no such luck! Sobukwe's work (mostly speeches) is scattered all over the place, and two speeches regularly feature in the few resources that do contain material on, and of, Sobukwe: the first is his address on behalf of the graduating class at Fort Hare College, delivered at the "Completers' social" on 21 October 1949; and the second is his inaugural address (4 April 1959) to the founding congress of the Pan Africanist Congress, 4-6 April 1959 (see: -africanist-congress-basic-documents-2000-constitution.pdf). These two speeches are important documents as they set out the Africanist position as distinct from the prevailing views of the ANC at the time. Obviously the Karis and Carter (1987) documentary history of African politics, volumes three and four, contains material on the PAC, and thus some speeches by Sobukwe. The Internet brings some relief, but not much. Wikipedia has a very brief (three page) entry on Sobukwe. Other online resources are the South African History Online website ( ,sahistory,org,za/people/robert-mangaliso-sobukwe). and the Historical Papers Research Archive at the University of the Witwatersrand (see: ,historicalpapers,wits,ac,za/?inventory/U/collections&c=A2618/R/), The latter resource has all of Benjamin Pogrund's papers dealing with Sobukwe that he donated in September 1997, These contain the hundreds of letters between "Bob" Sobukwe and "Benjie" Pogrund during Sobukwe's incarceration, and especially his six years on Robben Island (1963-1969).

However, it seems that things might be looking up with regard to a new interest, and thus recovery, of the ideas of Sobukwe, In his "Epilogue" (pp 385-414) Pogrund tells us that. "Significantly, a resurgence of interest in Sobukwe was developing in 2015. It is described by Dr Derek Hook, a South African-born social psychologist at Duquesne University. in Pittsburgh, who is writing a biography of Sobukwe, Hook notes that another major study is being written in South Africa, with other assessments under way in universities and political circles," (pp 411-412), There follows a long (pp 411-414) commentary from Derek Hood about contemporary South African politics and why he thinks the moment is right for a resurgence of interest in Sobukwe, Unfortunately, besides Hook's intended / forthcoming biography, we are not told by Pogrund what these other works and assessments are, or when they might appear, Thankfully, while we wait for these other works to appear, we have Benjamin Pogrund's updated new edition (2015) of How can man die better: The life of Robert Sobukwe, that was first published in 1990.

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How can man die better is a big book (at 427 pages), and so it should be to properly tell the story of Robert Sobukwe's life in the detail that it deserves, Pogrund gives us a lot of detail starting with Sobukwe's upbringing, his schooling at Healdtown High, his years as a student at Fort Hare College, his teaching career in Standerton, his lectureship in African languages at the University of the Witwatersrand, the formation of the PAC and his presidency, through to the ghastly years of his imprisonment and especially the six years on Robben Island, to finally his release from prison and banishment to Kimberly where he qualified as a lawyer, and in the end his early death form cancer at the age of 53 on 27 February 1978. The details of Sobukwe's life and struggles are not from some distant observer, but from a friend, a participant in Sobukwe's life and from someone deeply concerned about the welfare of his friend and fellow-traveller. This care, and love, for his friend (and Sobukwe's family - Veronica, his wife, and their children) is evident in the chapters (from chapter 11) discussing Sobukwe's time on Robben Island. Pogrund went to great lengths to make Sobukwe's stay on Robben Island as "liveable" as possible, from arranging food and fruit deliveries from Stuttafords in Cape Town to Robben Island, to arranging reading and study material, to writing letters to the authorities for Sobukwe's release and requesting extended visits from his wife and family. Sobukwe's conditions of detention on Robben Island were very different from all the other prisoners. While he lived on his own and was not allowed contact with the other prisoners, he lived in a small house that was reasonably well furnished, he never wore prison issue clothes and could arrange his own clothing to be sent to the Island, he was granted study privileges and was allowed to receive books, magazines and newspapers. be457b7860