Nelson Mandela does not think the oppressor is free. According to him, the oppressor is a "prisoner of hatred," locked behind the bars of prejudice and narrow-mindedness. Mandela feels that both the oppressor and the oppressed are robbed of their humanity. He believes that one is not truly free if one is taking away someone else's freedom, just as one is not free when one's freedom is taken away. True freedom requires living in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others. Therefore, the oppressor, despite seeming powerful, is internally bound and not free because of this hatred and prejudice.
Why the Oppressor Is Not Free
- The oppressor is trapped by hatred and prejudice.
- This imprisonment of spirit and mind strips humanity from both oppressor and oppressed.
- Freedom is indivisible and cannot be realized by depriving others of their freedom.
Mandela's message emphasizes that liberation must be for both the oppressed and the oppressor, highlighting that freedom is about mutual respect and the enhancement of everyone's liberty, not just the absence of chains.
