Nelson Mandela, The Great Communicator

I just returned from seeing the excellent film, “Invictus,” starring Morgan Freeman as Nelson Mandela, shortly after he was elected president of South Africa in the mid-1990s. What I didn’t remember, or possibly ever know, is that Nelson Mandela is one of the most powerful communicators ever to lead a nation.  He succeeded in communicating to whites that they were essential to his vision of a united nation.

After his election, he sought rapprochement with white Afrikaners, not revenge.  He didn’t clear out white staffers and the security detail in the President’s office; rather he offered whites the opportunity to stay, if they wished.  When he pushed the national rugby team to improve so that South Africa could win the Rugby World Cup, he retained the hated name and colors of the team.  His black staff members were furious because the team symbolized years of white oppression.

President Mandela understood that whites were essential to the economy and the path to a multi-racial democracy.  He recognized the urgent need to avoid another war of the races. His actions in keeping white staffers and supporting the mostly white rugby team were more powerful in communicating to whites than any words could possibly be.

In the age of text messaging, the Kindle and email, it is important to understand that words are only one of three communications channels.   Photos and actions speak more powerfully than words.  Nelson Mandela reached out to whites and they got the message.

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