Maria Elena Lucas’ life is probably one of the hardest ones I have ever read. The hardness and outrageous strength of this woman simply fascinate. There is a great power held in one female who used to be a little girl suffering from the life circumstances that God put on her. Born in 1941 she was the first child of seventeen children living in an impoverished family in Texas. She had gone through many life difficulties that it could be probably impossibly hard to experience the same if we divide the same amount of injustice among several people. She used to be one of the best activists for migrant workers in the history of the United States. She wrote a moving autobiography “Forged under the Sun” that describe the courageous woman of indomitable spirit who proves to overcome any life obstacles and challenges.
Mamphela Ramphele is worth utmost admiration. Her entire life was as difficult as Maria Elena Lucas’. She depicts her life story vividly in the book Across Boundaries: The Journey of a South African Woman Leader. Of course, there are those moments when you simply want to cry and feel like there is so much unfairness in this world that you start wondering how this planet still exists. The compelling pages of her love for Steve Biko and the described situation of the difficult pregnancy period just stun with the real images arousing in your head when reading. The author surprises with utmost honesty which adds special power to the book and to her biography itself.
Ramphele: Excuse me, don’t mean to interrupt you, but I would be flattered to talk to you and get a better acquaintance if you don’t mind. It seems like we have so much in common that the conversation must be exciting.
Lucas: This is much of enjoyment for me, besides, you have no idea how I longed for our meeting and talking to you in person. And yes, there is no doubt we have much in common. This life sometimes takes unexpected curves so that you can’t really adjust to its speed, you know.
Ramphele: Oh well, tell me about it! Anyways, were you talking about the farm workers’ labor movement when gave a speech?
Lucas: Yes, and what is your topic at this conference? I think all the aspects touched upon today at this conference are so important since they edge with South Africa.
Ramphele: I was reporting about the IDT (Independence Development Trust) which I was invited to sit on the board in 1990 and was appointed its third chairperson at the end of 1994. This experience is truly precious.
Lucas: Tell me more. How did IDT launch and everything?
Ramphele: Well, I have to tell you that they took some funds from the National Party Government.
Lucas: It seems like it contradicts the essence of the affair started. Don’t you think that money is somewhat ‘bloody’? One can hardly deny what took National Party to gather the funds throughout the years.
Ramphele: Unfortunately, I can’t fully agree with you in this term. Of course, the money we are talking about is blood money; however, I can argue that there hardly exists clean money in South Africa or anywhere in the world. So, as long as it launches a good intention I bless this affair.
Lucas: Of course, it seems like it was for the first time that the South African government admitted its participation in an indifferent attitude towards the majority of South Africans.
Ramphele: Moreover, I would dare to say that the mentioned situation was deliberately created by the government. Therefore, let’s consider the party members’ funding of R2 billion as an attempt to justify themselves before the Africans of the South.
Lucas: Indeed, whatever we do the main thing is to remain humans and pursue our goals in a peaceful manner. I think once a person understands he was wrong it is not enough to simply admit it. The right thing to do is do something to improve the sick situation.
Ramphele: So, what about the farm workers’ labor movement you took part in? I think that should have been a great contribution of yours.
Lucas: I would like to think so. I discovered the United Farm Worker movement in the late 1970s. Afterward, in the 1980’s I went to Onarga, Illinois in order to join the Farm Labor Organizing Committee (FLOC). My utmost belief was to reach every African with the idea that the collective forces make us stronger. And that it is possible to win and overcome anything when we’re together in our thoughts and deeds. However, it wasn’t that easy because many problems came along, you know. The sexism haunted us and other troubles, as well.
Ramphele: I heard you were poisoned in this struggle…
Lucas: let’s consider it a shortcoming of occupation. Of course, there were people who wanted to get me out of the way. Therefore, now my biography contains an episode of poisoning with an almost lethal dose of pesticide.
Ramphele: So, did you continue?
Lucas: I surely did! No matter what. But let’s not recall the dramatic and arduous talks about our lives. I am sure you agree that there were much worse situations when it was hard to tell if you are dead or alive.
Ramphele: What I certainly know is my utmost desire for our fights to not be in vain. That would be a blind alley. My life was full of disastrous moments so in case the efforts were a waste of time this will get a rise out of me, indeed.
Lucas: I had a chance to hear something about your life and biography. Unfortunately, I don’t know everything in detail but I am so sorry about your husband and the way the government treated you during bearing a baby. This is a terrible thing a woman activist like you underwent. I am sorry if I am getting too personal, but this is a truly outrageous fact. The life of Africans was filled up with horrors right since the National Party had won elections up to the first democratic elections of 1994.
Ramphele: One can hardly deny that. You know, our lives were shaped by the heritage of Apartheid. Hence, it is hard to imagine any other life circumstances that could have taken place in my life. So, I have to admit that everything done throughout my life was just the way it had to be. There is nothing to regret about.
The two women are the prominent figures of the twentieth century. One can hardly deny their utmost devotion to the improvement of living conditions in South Africa. Both of them had hard life stories though slightly different ones. However, disregarding a little different personal life, both Maria Elena Lucas and Mamphela Ramphele are likely to have the same life priorities and virtues.
No wonder the two books about their lives simply stun with the vividness and outstanding storylines. Sometimes it is hard to realize that the described events in the two books really took place – meaning, the level of grief in both women’s lives goes beyond the limit. What is amazing – also described in the dialogue – is their inflexible desire to survive and teach everybody else the way to stand up and fight.
Reference
Mamphela Ramphele. Forged under the Sun, Across Boundaries The Journey of a South African Woman Leader