Literature Network » Thomas Carlyle

Mandela, de Klerk Make Mind-Boggling History in S. Africa

Content courtesy of

From: Chicago Sun-Times
Date: 19940504
Author:Carl Rowan

`The history of what man has accomplished in this world is at bottom the history of the great men who have worked here." - Thomas Carlyle, 1840.

When I first visited South Africa a generation ago, I left believing that not in my lifetime or that of my children would there be a transition to a one-man-one-vote democracy - meaning black rule.

South Africa was then the most racially oppressive society that I had ever seen - yes, worse than my native South in which black people had been the slaves, the sharecroppers, the "uppity" protesters who became lynch victims.

But I had seen nothing ...

Read the rest of this article with a Free Trial at HighBeam Research.

Other Articles on Thomas Carlyle

About Our Articles: We've partnered with Highbeam Research to provide these article excerpts for your research needs. However, due to copyright laws, we cannot publish the whole article. To view these articles in full length you'll need to use the link above to access the free trial at Highbeam.