Days of Commitment Long Walk Original Manuscript (Image #78)

years tried to shape their own political beliefs and to develop the country wide opposition to all forms of racial discrimination. They have in varying degrees, and subject to remarks that will be made later, helped not only to educate the masses on the evils of racial oppression and disunity amongst the people, but in maintaining a hard core of dedicated fighters who have kept the ideals of freedom alive even at such a crucial moment when the enemy has become more ruthless in dealing with its political opponents. These are the organisations through which we have tried to rally the people during the last eighty years and to fight for our rights. Some of these, the ADP of Paul Mosaka for example, have disappeared from the scene and are forgotten. Others remain in name only, and still others have grown considerably and today are the centre of the struggle trashing out problems, providing leadership and developing new programmes to meet new situations. Equally different was the environment in which the ANC founded the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) in 1944. The first half of the 40s was an important period in world history and created the ideal atmosphere for the propogation of enlightened ideals. In 1941 Roosevelt and Churchill outlined certain democratic principles on which the respective countries hoped to build a future world, whilst the United Nations Charter reaffirmed faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and work of the human person. It called for international co operation in promoting respect for human rights without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion. At the same time the 1944 Brazzaville Conference called by the French Provisional Government advocated greater