Nelson Mandela spoke for only a few minutes at Madison Park High School in Roxbury in 1990, but his message was clear: the importance of education.
He addressed the dropout problem, which was far worse than it is now.
“The reason for our children leaving schools at the very elementary standards is because of poverty and frustration. But I would like to advise you to try as much as possible to try to remain in school."
[Watch Mandela's full speech at Madison Park
here.]
The applause was a lasting memory for Jose Solis, an administrator at Madison Park High School, who was in the audience that day 23 years ago. He said he was surprised at Mandela’s disposition.
“For someone to not be bitter after being in prison for all those years, and just coming out and being so inspirational.”
Solis said he remembers a euphoric crowd.
“I remember all the kids at Madison Park were very emotional meeting him and seeing him in real life. And I think it was very inspirational for the kids as well as a lot of the staff.”
Boston was part of Mandela’s then eight city tour of the United States. The day-long visit happened before current Boston High School students were even born, but senior Massa Bah of Dorchester said she is sad about Mandela’s passing.
“He didn’t just have an affect on people in South Africa and the Apartheid, it was a whole world wide thing. So he’s a great figure, just how Martin Luther King fought for every race. What he did in his country exemplified what everyone should be doing.”
Her classmate, Carlson Guillet, said he’s certain Mandela’s message will endure.
“We lost a historic legend. But he still lives with us. He shows us that we’re all the same people and that’s all we need, really, to just remember that.”
Even Mandela’s death is a living memory, a monumental one for these students. If they didn’t understand his significance last week, they do now.
