I Am Prepared to Die

One of the central themes that Mandela’s speech engages is whether and under what conditions political violence can be justified. Though Mandela is speaking in his defense, his goal is to question larger political ideologies and ideals in order to put Umkhonto’s actions in context.

Mandela does not to deny the charges against him, as they bear the political intentions of the freedom struggle. Rather, Mandela aims to recontextualize the violence as necessary and strategic. Paradoxically, it is a form of violence that seeks to stop further harm. This is contrasted against the state’s violence, which is malicious and seeks to silence and even kill those who oppose its white supremacist oppression.

Mandela’s persuasive rhetoric allows him to explain Umkhonto’s sabotage as the most humane form of necessary violence, as it is aimed at buildings and prioritizes the sanctity of human life. Mandela states that “Umkhonto was to perform sabotage, and strict instructions were given to its members right from the start, that on no account were they to injure or kill people in planning or carrying out operations” (37). This emphasis on violence against state property, not people, continues throughout his speech.