Mandela Honored on Majestic Day

Before a crowd of 25,000 that stretched from the steps of Memorial Church to the stone columns of Widener Library, Nelson R. Mandela called for continued efforts to narrow the gap between the rich and the poor in countries around the world.

Mandela, the current president of South Africa, who spent 27 years in jail for fighting against the government-imposed apartheid laws that deprived black citizens of their rights, received an honorary doctorate of law from Harvard at a rare ceremony conducted Friday afternoon.

"To join George Washington and Winston Churchill as the other recipients of such an award conferred at a specially convened convocation...holds great symbolic significance," Mandela said. "The name of an African is now added to those two illustrious leaders of the Western world."

Flanked by some of the most renowned scholars of Africa and Afro-American studies, standing at a podium adorned with white and crimson roses, Mandela praised Harvard's commitment to studying the African continent.

"Our fledgling democracy faced with enormous tasks of reconstruction and development owes your institution a great debt of gratitude," Mandela said. "As South Africans play their role in helping to conceptualize and give content to the African Renaissance, we continue to draw upon the intellectual skills nurtured and honored here."

At the end of the ceremony, to the steady beat of African drums and the ringing bells of Memorial Church, Mandela shook hands and chatted with students, hugging the more emotional supporters.

In an unrehearsed gesture characteristic of his relaxed political style, Mandela personally thanked each member of the Harvard University Choir after the group performed "Fair Harvard" at the conclusion of the ceremony.

He then met each student in the Harvard-Radcliffe Kuumba Singers, the group that had performed the South African national anthem earlier in the ceremony.

A Call for Equity

While many institutions like Harvard--and many leaders like Mandela--have worked for social and racial equality, freedom for all is still a long walk away, Mandela said Friday.

Echoing United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan's words at Sanders Theatre on Thursday, the South African president asked the world, as one, to "combat and eradicate its disparities."

He also emphasized the importance of globalization--world unity which is exemplified by universities like Harvard that study international issues and attract students from around the globe.

Bringing countries around the world together to confront poverty and inequality is a theme that runs through many of Mandela's speeches. A man who practices what he preaches, Mandela often takes his ideas from continent to continent, speaking before the United Nations and other governments.

But, while his theme was global involvement, Mandela highlighted hisexperiences in his own country and the problemsSouth Africa faces.

Revealing a humor to rival Bob Hope, Mandela,in his clipped accent, began his speech with thetale of a frightened visitor he met 10 years agoin South Africa.

A middle-aged lady, though obviouslyintimidated by his stature, came directly to thepoint, saying, "You are 70, and I came here to seehow a man of 70 looks like."

"Now I am 80," Mandela said. "I am encouragedto see so many people who have turned out. I amnot sure if you came here to see how a man of 80looks like."

Turning to more serious issues as he continuedhis speech, Mandela said Africa is striving tobecome a full participant in world affairs in thenext century but added that he realizes it cannotdo so without economic help from the world andincreased education for its people.

And Africa must also have the will to develop.He reminded his audience that the theories ofdemocracy that often preoccupy the citizens ofdeveloped countries are unimportant to those whohave to scrounge for food and rent money from dayto day.

"Where men and women and children go burdenedwith hunger, suffering from preventable diseases,languishing in ignorance and illiteracy, orfinding themselves bereft of decent shelter, talkof democracy and freedom that does not recognizethese material aspects can ring hollow and erodeconfidence exactly in these values which we seekto promote," Mandela said.

To improve the plight of the deprived, Mandelacalled for reform of the world economic systemthat he said, in light of the recent economiccrisis, has proven wanting.

He said leaders in the developing world musttake part in the "fundamental rethinking andreconceptualization" of the economy and that bothdeveloping and developed countries must worktogether "to shape a world order that answers tothe shared and common needs of all peoples and notjust the rich."

At the ceremony, three Harvard professors whostudy Africa, Henry Louis "Skip" Gates Jr.,Jeffrey D. Sachs '76 and Kwesi Botchwey, announceda new program from Harvard's Center forInternational Development (CID) to devote moretime to studying Africa and working with Africaninstitutions and scholars.

Gates, who is DuBois Professor of theHumanities, proposed that a new fellowship forSouth African scholars to study at Harvard benamed after Mandela.

"You have been in both words and deeds a beaconof temperance and reason," Gates said. "Thank God,sir, you refused to die and refused to let an evilregime kill your commitment to economic justice."

Mandela endorsed the new program--and gaveGates the nod to use his name for the fellowship.

"I am confident that it will also strengthenand build your own understanding of Africanreality and capacity to analyze that reality aspart of our shared world," Mandela said.

Tributes to Greatness

Many of the administrators and professorsgathered on the stage with Mandela in theiracademic robes paid tribute to the man and hislegacy.

Opera singer Jessye Norman sang "AmazingGrace."

Gates told of waking his daughters early on themorning of Mandela's release from prison to watch"your nobility, your presence, your straight back,unbowed head...as regal as any king."

As he tucked them back in bed, he glanced atthe "Free Mandela" poster above his daughter'sbed.

"I thought that poster is wrong, not only isMandela free, Mandela has always been free," Gatessaid to cheers from the crowd.

In his introduction of Mandela, HarvardPresident Neil L. Rudenstine recalled the sameday.

"For many people around the world, one of themost enduring memories of our time is the image ofNelson Mandela emerging from prison, with a vigorin his step that belied his years of suffering,free at last," Rudenstine said. "We knew that wewere watching not simply one man walking out ofbondage, but the emancipation of a whole nation."

In his introductory prayer, Plummer Professorof Christian Morals Peter J. Gomes thanked God forMandela and the example he set for the world.

"Prophets have told us of [this] day when theold shall see visions and the young shall dreamdreams," Gomes said. "He is a renewal of hope,when hope itself has died."

In his remarks, Botchwey, director of AfricaResearch and Programs at the CID, expressed whatothers later said encapsulated their experience.

I cannot explain how "privileged I feel and howvery proud I am to be part of it," Botchwey said."He will go down as one of the century's mostenduring legacies."

In response, Mandela had another anecdote.

The South African leader once became involvedin a dispute on the phone to a woman who, withoutknowing his identity, dismissed him, saying hewould never be her equal.

"I wish she were here today," Mandela said

Revealing a humor to rival Bob Hope, Mandela,in his clipped accent, began his speech with thetale of a frightened visitor he met 10 years agoin South Africa.

A middle-aged lady, though obviouslyintimidated by his stature, came directly to thepoint, saying, "You are 70, and I came here to seehow a man of 70 looks like."

"Now I am 80," Mandela said. "I am encouragedto see so many people who have turned out. I amnot sure if you came here to see how a man of 80looks like."

Turning to more serious issues as he continuedhis speech, Mandela said Africa is striving tobecome a full participant in world affairs in thenext century but added that he realizes it cannotdo so without economic help from the world andincreased education for its people.

And Africa must also have the will to develop.He reminded his audience that the theories ofdemocracy that often preoccupy the citizens ofdeveloped countries are unimportant to those whohave to scrounge for food and rent money from dayto day.

"Where men and women and children go burdenedwith hunger, suffering from preventable diseases,languishing in ignorance and illiteracy, orfinding themselves bereft of decent shelter, talkof democracy and freedom that does not recognizethese material aspects can ring hollow and erodeconfidence exactly in these values which we seekto promote," Mandela said.

To improve the plight of the deprived, Mandelacalled for reform of the world economic systemthat he said, in light of the recent economiccrisis, has proven wanting.

He said leaders in the developing world musttake part in the "fundamental rethinking andreconceptualization" of the economy and that bothdeveloping and developed countries must worktogether "to shape a world order that answers tothe shared and common needs of all peoples and notjust the rich."

At the ceremony, three Harvard professors whostudy Africa, Henry Louis "Skip" Gates Jr.,Jeffrey D. Sachs '76 and Kwesi Botchwey, announceda new program from Harvard's Center forInternational Development (CID) to devote moretime to studying Africa and working with Africaninstitutions and scholars.

Gates, who is DuBois Professor of theHumanities, proposed that a new fellowship forSouth African scholars to study at Harvard benamed after Mandela.

"You have been in both words and deeds a beaconof temperance and reason," Gates said. "Thank God,sir, you refused to die and refused to let an evilregime kill your commitment to economic justice."

Mandela endorsed the new program--and gaveGates the nod to use his name for the fellowship.

"I am confident that it will also strengthenand build your own understanding of Africanreality and capacity to analyze that reality aspart of our shared world," Mandela said.

Tributes to Greatness

Many of the administrators and professorsgathered on the stage with Mandela in theiracademic robes paid tribute to the man and hislegacy.

Opera singer Jessye Norman sang "AmazingGrace."

Gates told of waking his daughters early on themorning of Mandela's release from prison to watch"your nobility, your presence, your straight back,unbowed head...as regal as any king."

As he tucked them back in bed, he glanced atthe "Free Mandela" poster above his daughter'sbed.

"I thought that poster is wrong, not only isMandela free, Mandela has always been free," Gatessaid to cheers from the crowd.

In his introduction of Mandela, HarvardPresident Neil L. Rudenstine recalled the sameday.

"For many people around the world, one of themost enduring memories of our time is the image ofNelson Mandela emerging from prison, with a vigorin his step that belied his years of suffering,free at last," Rudenstine said. "We knew that wewere watching not simply one man walking out ofbondage, but the emancipation of a whole nation."

In his introductory prayer, Plummer Professorof Christian Morals Peter J. Gomes thanked God forMandela and the example he set for the world.

"Prophets have told us of [this] day when theold shall see visions and the young shall dreamdreams," Gomes said. "He is a renewal of hope,when hope itself has died."

In his remarks, Botchwey, director of AfricaResearch and Programs at the CID, expressed whatothers later said encapsulated their experience.

I cannot explain how "privileged I feel and howvery proud I am to be part of it," Botchwey said."He will go down as one of the century's mostenduring legacies."

In response, Mandela had another anecdote.

The South African leader once became involvedin a dispute on the phone to a woman who, withoutknowing his identity, dismissed him, saying hewould never be her equal.

"I wish she were here today," Mandela said