UNIVERSITY
Meer chooses action over anger
South African
dispels myths
By Cathy Peterson
Emerald reporier
Although she is a university
trained sociologist and the au
thorized biographer of Nelson
Mandela. South African Fatima
Meer said she is denied a basic
right in her country enjoyed by
many in the United States.
Because of her color, Meer
cannot vote in South African
government elections.
But Meer. of Indian descent,
said she does not let her anger
get in the way of her activism.
"Of course I'm angry ... but
I’m not in a state of anger. I
really couldn't survive that
way. I’m mobilizing through
action," Meer said.
Meer is the University's fifth
Carlton and Wilberta Ripley
Savage Visiting Professor She
is also the author of Higher
Than Hope: The Authorized Bi
ography of Nelson Mandela. as
well as a short biography of In
dian leader Mahatma Ghandi.
She is teaching a course on
peace issues in southern Africa,
the Middle Hast and India, as
well as another course on wom
en in South Africa this fall.
"Growing up in the system
of apartheid, being segregated
and abused, lots of people re
acted against it.” Meer said. ”1
was among them. ”
While in high school. Meer
participated in organized resist
ance campaigns in 19411 and
195.’). She was banned from
participating in the resistance
organizations, under a South
African security law in 11154.
19711 and 1981. She and Win
nie Mandela were detained
without trial for five months in
19711.
In 1975 Meer helped found
the Federation of South African
Women, which was banned a
year later because the state felt
threatened by their activities.
Meer said.
In South Africa. Meer has
l>een active in the development
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Meer. left, and graduate student Barbara Sumner take part in
a group discussion before a class lecture.
of education and research op
portunities for black social sci
entists at the Institute for Black
Research. The institute recently
completed a survey of South
Africans' reactions to the cur
rent political situation in their
country.
Meer said the survey found
that 78 percent of all South Af
ricans supported negotiations
between the African National
Congress and the government
and found very little support
for an armed solution. Support
for Nelson Mandela was also
very high, she said
"He has a total commitment
Meer, was tried lor treason
with Mandela in 1956.
Since Mandela’s release last
spring. South Africa has en
tered a new phase.
Americans who want to help
black and white South Africans
carve out a new government
should keep themselves in
formed and support sanctions
against the current nationalist
government. Meer said
"Fatima Meer has spent her
whole life doing academics as
an activist." said 1-eslie Scott, a
graduate tear hing fellow who
is working with Meer
to the uemocratu: process,
Meer said "If you want a peo
ple to be moved together, you
need to walk with them, not
ahead of them "
Meer has been acquainted
with the Mandelas since the
1950s. and her husltand. Ismail
Shannon Oliver, one of
Miser’s students, sail! the s<x:i
ologist has debunked many
myths about South Africa
“She has illuminated how
inadequate the media is here in
presenting what's happening in
South Africa." Oliver said
THE FAR SIDE
By GARY LARSON
“Who are we kidding, Luke? We know this is going
to be just another standoff."
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