The Wisdom and Money Package | Story of Nelson Mandela

The Wisdom and Money Package

This is a dramatic and inspiring story about Nelson Mandela's encounter with a white professor named Peters during his law school days. The story highlights Mandela's calm and intelligent response to discriminatory behavior and how he handled difficult situations with grace and dignity. It is a powerful example of how intelligence goes beyond just being book smart and can have a profound impact on how we navigate through life. This story is a reminder of the importance of treating others with respect and not letting the actions of others define who we are.

Cast:

Nelson Mandela

Professor Peters

Narrator

Narrator:

We find ourselves at the university where Nelson Mandela, a young law student, encountered a white professor named Peters who harbored intense dislike towards him.

One day, Mr. Peters was having lunch in the dining room when Mandela came along with his tray and sat next to him. The professor uttered a discriminatory comment, "Mr. Mandela, you do not understand, a pig and a bird do not sit together to eat."

Mandela responded calmly, "You do not worry professor. I'll fly away," and went to sit at another table. This didn't sit well with Professor Peters, who wanted to take revenge on Mandela.

The following day, in class, Peters posed a question to Mandela.

Professor Peters:

"Mr. Mandela, if you were walking down the street and found a package, and within was a bag of wisdom and another bag with money, which one would you take?"

Mandela replied without hesitation, "The one with the money, of course."

Professor Peters:

"I, in your place, would have taken the wisdom."

Nelson Mandela shrugged and responded, “Each one takes what he doesn't have."

Professor Peters, by this time, was seething with fury. He wrote the word "IDIOT" on Mandela's exam sheet and gave it to him. Mandela took the exam sheet and sat down at his desk, trying hard to remain calm as he contemplated his next move.

After a few minutes, Mandela got up, walked up to Professor Peters, and told him in a dignified polite tone, "Mr. Peters, you signed your name on the sheet, but you forgot to give me my grade."

Professor Peters was taken aback and ashamed of his behavior. From that day on, he had newfound respect for Nelson Mandela.

Narrator:

The moral of the story is that intelligence is not just about being book smart, it is also about handling difficult situations with grace and dignity. So let us all take a lesson from Nelson Mandela and not let the actions of others define who we are.