Neither Settler nor Native: The Making and Unmaking of Permanent Minorities

by Mahmood Mamdani

One day I was at the head office conferring with the commanding officer. As I was walking out with the major, we came upon a young prisoner being interviewed by a prison official. The young man, who was no more than eighteen, was wearing his prison cap in the presence of senior officers, a violation of regulations. Nor did he stand up when the major entered the room, another violation. The major looked at him and said, ‘Please take off your cap.’ The prisoner ignored him. Then in an irritated tone, the major said, ‘Take off your cap.’ The prisoner turned and looked at the major and said, ‘what for?’ I could hardly believe what I had just heard. It was a revolutionary question; what for? The major also seemed taken aback, but managed a reply. ‘It is against regulations,’ he said. The young prisoner responded, ‘Why do you have this regulation? What is the purpose of it?’ This questioning on the part of the prisoner was too much for the major, and he stomped out of the room, saying, ‘Mandela, you talk to him.’ But I would not intervene on his behalf, and simply bowed in the direction of the prisoner to let him know that I was on his side.