Celebrate the Release of Nelson Mandela

Celebrate the Release of Nelson Mandela

Chicago Anti-Apartheid

This poster directly relates to Nelson Mandela’s release from prison in February of 1990, and is dedicated to a celebratory event at Malcolm X College in Chicago, Illinois. The organizers of the event and creators of the poster were The Chicago Committee in Solidarity with South Africa, while the artwork was drawn by an artist named Dino. This committee was made up of Chicago college students, many of which were Columbia College students, who were against the apartheid taking place in South Africa and supported Nelson Mandela and his beliefs. An artist by the name of Willie Bester is quoted in the article “Apartheid’s Artistic Legacy” talking about his apartheid works of art: “My art has to be a nasty-tasting medicine for awakening consciences.” With this poster, the Chicago Committee in Solidarity with South Africa are reinforcing this same idea. The background of the image shows police and military personnel in riot gear as Mandela supporters cheer for his release, further demonstrating the harsh tensions between the people and the state during this movement. The sunlight peaking through the clouds, as well as a bright crowd of cheering supporters, give a glimmer of hope and happiness in the wake of these trying times, a detail that fits the celebratory event perfectly.

Columbia College Chicago Students

Chicago Anti-Apartheid Movement Collection, College Archives & Special Collections, Columbia College Chicago

College Archives & Special Collections, Columbia College Chicago

[no text]

[no text]

“The oral histories are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution- Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License. “ All rights remain with the creators.

[no text]

[no text]

[no text]

[no text]

[no text]

[no text]