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Nelson Mandela is remembered
around the world as a symbol of resistance, peace, and generosity. His story
transcends politics and geography to reach the deepest areas of the human soul.
More than a revolutionary leader, he was a teacher of humanity, someone who
taught through example, through overcome pain, and through an unwavering faith
in the power of forgiveness. His life shows us that true generosity is not born
of comfort, but of a conscious choice to transform suffering into wisdom. When
we think of leaders who left a mark on history with their elevated spirit,
Mandela shines as a light at the end of the tunnel of intolerance.
Born in 1918 in the small village of Mvezo, South Africa, Mandela grew
up in a context of brutal inequality, worsened by the apartheid system that
institutionalized racial segregation for nearly five decades. By studying law,
he realized that the fight against oppression would not be won with fiery
speeches alone, but with legal awareness, political strategy, and, above all,
moral integrity. His involvement with the African National Congress (ANC) led
him to prison, where he spent 27 years of his life. Yet, paradoxically, it was
in prison that Mandela found one of his greatest sources of transformation: the
power of a generous mind.
When he was released from prison in 1990, many expected Mandela to seek
revenge. After all, he had lost nearly three decades of his life behind bars,
separated from family, freedom, and the most basic rights. However, instead of
hatred, he offered dialogue. Instead of bitterness, he proposed reconciliation.
The famous quote, “Resentment is like drinking poison and then hoping it will
kill your enemies,” perfectly captures his life philosophy. And this philosophy
didn’t come from nowhere: recent studies from Harvard University and Stanford
University confirm that forgiveness, when practiced deeply, has positive
neurological effects, such as reducing cortisol (the stress hormone) and
increasing oxytocin (the hormone associated with love and trust). Mandela was,
in this sense, a living example of what is now understood as emotional
neuroeducation.
His generosity was not just emotional, but practical. As president of South
Africa, Mandela could have used his position to benefit Black citizens and
punish whites. Instead, he created inclusive and multicultural policies,
implemented the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and invited his former
oppressors to build a new nation together. The famous scene in which he wore
the South African rugby team jersey — a symbol of white power — during the 1995
World Cup is a powerful example of political theatre with an educational
purpose. And this is precisely where we can draw a parallel to the
methodologies created by Antônio Carlos dos Santos: MAT (Mindset, Action, and
Theatre) and ThM (Theater Movement) explore theatre as a tool for transforming
mindsets, much like what Mandela did in his role as a statesman.
These methodologies show that mindset change is possible when combined
with symbolic action and artistic expression. MAT, for example, proposes that
before any social or personal transformation, it is necessary to work on the
belief system — something that Mandela did masterfully, when he taught his
people to believe in dialogue again. ThM, which is based on body movement and
the dramatization of internal conflicts, could be seen as a metaphor for the
long years in which Mandela internally dramatized the pain of imprisonment,
until he emerged from it with a new emotional body: a generous body.
Another methodology created by Antônio Carlos dos Santos — TBMB (Mané
Beiçudo Puppet Theater) — proposes the use of symbolic characters to represent
human archetypes. Mandela, when portrayed as a “generous puppet” in educational
programs, teaches that kindness can be more powerful than brute force. By using
these puppets in schools, therapists and educators can access the imagination
of children and adults in a playful and affectionate way. By using these
puppets in public and private organizations, planners can capture the
commitment of leaders and workers to change in a creative and supportive way.
In this way, Mandela's story is transformed into a therapeutic and educational
narrative with great emotional impact.
Interestingly, science has validated many of these practices. Research
from Oxford University and the University of California, Berkeley, shows that
acts of generosity increase dopamine levels, strengthen neural networks of
empathy, and reduce impulsive responses associated with fear and anger. Mandela
seemed to understand this intuitively. His brain, shaped by discipline, pain,
and hope, was a living laboratory of resilience and compassion. His legacy is
not only political, but neurological and educational.
When we look at today’s world, marked by polarizations, intolerance, and
symbolic and real violence, remembering Mandela is not just important — it is
urgent. He teaches us that true leadership is one that educates by example,
that transforms pain into wisdom, and that refuses to be ruled by the thirst
for revenge. His generosity was not about forgetting, but a conscious choice to
forgive without erasing the past — teaching the world that healing does not
come from denial, but from liberation from emotional bondage.
Mandela’s biography is full of moments that could have justified hatred.
Yet, he chose love, even when that meant more sacrifice. At this point, his
life becomes a universal lesson, one that transcends time and culture. As an
educator, he understood that the soul of a nation only heals when its people
learn to look into each other’s eyes without fear, guilt, or resentment. And
that requires practice, patience, and above all, generosity.
In a time when generosity feels like a revolutionary act, Mandela’s example
continues to echo in classrooms, homes, and institutions. His spirit lives on
in every person who chooses forgiveness over vengeance, listening over
judgment, and unity over division. May we, like him, remember that we are all
students in this great school called humanity — and that, sometimes, the
greatest lesson we can teach is simply to choose to be generous.
Access the books by Antônio Carlos dos Santos on amazon.com or amazon.com.br
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