Days of Commitment Long Walk Original Manuscript (Image #83)

he also believed that the other oppressed groups formed an essential part of the liberation movement and that whenever possible we should unite against the common enemy. He regarded the ANC as a national forum where all schools of political thought could freely debate issues together and take common action. He worked harmoniously with other population groups and often addressed mixed audiences with Coloureds, Indian and white speakers. In 1947 I was elected to the executive committee of the Transvaal ANC and served under Ramohanoe. He was a staunch nationalist and a devout Christian and in many ways an ideal man to head the broad committee. He could skillfully balance the various trends of political thought and whenever deadlock threatened he was always ready to come forward with a suitable compromise. In this way he was able to reconcile sharp differences and to move forward with his entire team. My association with Ramohanoe strengthened my conviction that I was in the right place and that the ANC was the organisation best suited to lead us towards our most glorious day of liberation. From now on I was a committed man with my whole future tied up with the ANC and ready to identify myself with its hopes and despairs, its victories and reverses. Although I was now fully committed and had gained some idea of the hazards that accompanied the life of a freedom fighter, I had not seen any major political campaign by blacks and had not even begun giving serious attention to the question of methods. The sacrifices I was called on to make so far went no further than being absent from the family during weekends mainly, returning home late,