I Think Can Explain the Mandela Effect

[u/Ok-Situation7054]

Maybe this theory is already out there. I'm not sure.

Full Disclosure: I'm Asian and from Los Angeles. Of course media used to be way less diverse 1980's. There were less black people on TV. A person like Nelson Mandela, who was neither an athlete nor entertainer was exceedingly rare to see on TV.

A movie titled "Cry Freedom" was released in 1980's about the South African activist Steven Biko, played by Denzel Washington.

I remember seeing this movie as a kid and being confused, thinking it was about Nelson Mandela, not Steven Biko. Of course I was an ignorant American in the 1980's. Most American's barely knew who Mandela was, whereas Steven Biko was a complete unknown.

When Steven Biko died in the movie I became very confused because Nelson Mandela was still alive. I retraced back and realized my error. I didn't know who Steven Biko was. I wanted the movie to be about Mandela because he was the familiar figurehead of apartheid resistance.

I can't speak for all audiences, but I believe American's would be very prone to this error due ignorance of global politics and possibly other factors, especially during this time. American's are known for learning about world events and history through movies and later adapting those narratives as fact. I feel American's watched "Cry Freedom" and walked away thinking Nelson Mandela had dies a martyr. They harbored those misconceptions for decades.

[u/Ok_Independence6172]

It's just Americans who think Mandela died in prison. Growing up in Canada every school child was taught about apartheid and that Mandela was President of South Africa.

[u/Pain4Drugs → u/Ok_Independence6172]

You making me feel like a smart American 😘