Today we visited the Hector Peterson museum and not only was it was a great experience, but a very educational visit. We learned about the tragic events that happened on the 16th of June 1976, and why the events that happened took place, as well as the consequences of them.
Hector pieterson was in a huge crowd of students when he was killed in a protest consisting of schools across South Africa regarding the language Afrikaans. He was one of the first to die and was only 12 years of age. This shows us the extreme hatred some white people had towards the blacks as they where shooting at innocent children due to only the colour of their skin.
Also, we got the honour to meet an inspirational woman named Antoinette - the sister of Hector Peterson. She told us a personal experience of what happened on the the 16th of June 1976 and how it effected her. She explained to us in detail about what happened that day and how she got separated from her brother. After, she explained that she told us that she heard another gun shot - one of many - go off and everyone had to flee the streets to take shelter from the bullets again. Then when the round of shots had passed, there was a crowd of people beginning to form. Antoinette wanted to go and see what the crowd was but she thought she would stay where she was so that if her brother got out of taking cover he would be able to see her. Unfortunately, she saw a man go to the crowd of people and pick someone up. The first thing she saw was hectors shoes and she instantly knew it was him. Antoinette said it took her a long time to accept what happened and actually look at the photo that was taken. She said it used to break her looking at that photo. However, it's amazing how she could stand in front of us students and share her and Hector's story. One of the questions that she got asked was "do you forgive the people who shot your brother?" And her response was she does because there is no one to be angry at. She also said that "you have to forgive because forgiveness allows the soul to be free." This stayed in my mind because it made me think that you can't hold grudges and be angry with people forever. Also because there is no point in living your life hating other people for what has happened in the past you may as well move on with you life and be happy and free.
Ariana
Hector pieterson was in a huge crowd of students when he was killed in a protest consisting of schools across South Africa regarding the language Afrikaans. He was one of the first to die and was only 12 years of age. This shows us the extreme hatred some white people had towards the blacks as they where shooting at innocent children due to only the colour of their skin.
Also, we got the honour to meet an inspirational woman named Antoinette - the sister of Hector Peterson. She told us a personal experience of what happened on the the 16th of June 1976 and how it effected her. She explained to us in detail about what happened that day and how she got separated from her brother. After, she explained that she told us that she heard another gun shot - one of many - go off and everyone had to flee the streets to take shelter from the bullets again. Then when the round of shots had passed, there was a crowd of people beginning to form. Antoinette wanted to go and see what the crowd was but she thought she would stay where she was so that if her brother got out of taking cover he would be able to see her. Unfortunately, she saw a man go to the crowd of people and pick someone up. The first thing she saw was hectors shoes and she instantly knew it was him. Antoinette said it took her a long time to accept what happened and actually look at the photo that was taken. She said it used to break her looking at that photo. However, it's amazing how she could stand in front of us students and share her and Hector's story. One of the questions that she got asked was "do you forgive the people who shot your brother?" And her response was she does because there is no one to be angry at. She also said that "you have to forgive because forgiveness allows the soul to be free." This stayed in my mind because it made me think that you can't hold grudges and be angry with people forever. Also because there is no point in living your life hating other people for what has happened in the past you may as well move on with you life and be happy and free.
Ariana