No title {Arrest} Long Walk Original Manuscript (Image #509)

On 7th November 1962 the magistrate delivered his judgement and sentenced to me to 5 years imprisonment for leaving the country without a passport and for inciting people to strike. I decided to lodge no appeal against the conviction. As the court rose I greeted the crowd with my clenched fist and the "Amandla" salute. The crowd reciprocated with "Amandla" and "Mayibuye iAfrika" (Let Africa come back). The uproarious crowd made me forget for a moment that I was going to prison to serve what was then considered the stiffest sentence to be imposed for a political offence in recent times, and the presence of old friends like Walter Sisulu's wife Ntsiki and others meant much to me. I bade the prosecutor farewell. He had already made arrangements with the authorities that I be allowed to study immediatly. This arrangement was honoured. Zami, my sister Leabie and my nephew Chief Lewayo (?) Mthikrakra were allowed to see me. On this occasion Zami was quite different. She was in high spirits and shed no tears. She spoke affectionately but like a comrade in arms. What need for more to prepare myself for the difficult days ahead. I heard the sentence with mixed feelings. I had recently returned from a tour during which I had important discussions with African leaders but was now to be behind bars instead of appying the knowledge and experience which I had gained in the cause of freedom, and the place of any revolutionary is not in prison but amongst his people, fighting side by side with them against