Part 2: Dinner with Mandela

Deeply personal accounts reveal Nelson Mandela’s true magic as a leader finding common ground and bridging divides.

What is it like to have dinner with Nelson Mandela when he wants to ask you something? Wilmot James knows and shares stories about working with the extraordinary Mandela: editing his speeches, running constitutional workshops, writing immigration policies, and bringing warring parties together to fulfill a vision for South Africa’s future. Wilmot’s deeply personal accounts reveal the magic of Mandela in a new way, deepening our understanding of his empathy and moral clarity as a global leader, qualities once revealed when Mandela served his opponent a cup of tea. Mandela aspired to set an example while building a new democratic nation. Time with Mandela reminds us of what it meant for him to go 27 years without hearing a child while imprisoned. For Wilmot, Mandela’s force was so strong that, even at his funeral, he bridged divides and brought peace.

REELBLUE AND COCOON AUDIO

IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE PANDEMIC CENTER AND THE BROWN POLITICAL REVIEW

PRESENT LISTENING TO SHADOWS

PRODUCTION ASSISTANCE BENTLEY HOLT, ALICE IM AND CLARA BAISINGER-ROSEN

PRODUCTION SUPPORT JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER JR. LIBRARY

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS JENNIFER GALVIN AND BART WARSHAW

ILLUSTRATION BY ROKIA WHITEHOUSE, LYDIA SMITHEY AND ORLA MAXWELL

SOUND DESIGN AND AUDIO MIXING BY BART WARSHAW

EDITED BY JENNIFER GALVIN AND BART WARSHAW

WRITTEN BY WILMOT JAMES AND JENNIFER GALVIN

NARRATED BY WILMOT JAMES

DIRECTED AND PRODUCED BY JENNIFER GALVIN

SPECIAL THANKS TO JENNIFER NUZZO AND JESSIE GRAHAM

MUSIC BY BLUEDOT AUDIO