Summary

Upon his release from freedom, Mandela goes underground, hiding from the authorities. He earns himself the nickname “Black Pimpernel,” a reference to a fictional character who evades capture during the French Revolution. During this time, Mandela focuses on planning May 29’s “Stay-at-Home” protest. The PAC sabotages the protest by releasing flyers telling the people to oppose the stay-at-home. The people’s response is tepid and Mandela calls the protest off on the second day.

The ANC hosts an executive meeting in Durban, where the leaders debate whether to use violence or not. Mandela argues that the State has given them no alternative, arguing that if violence is going to happen regardless, the ANC may as well try to harness it for its own aims. Finally, Mandela is granted authorization to start a new military organization named Umkhonto we Sizwe (“the...