Talk:I Am Prepared to Die

Recommend rethinking title of this article
I am very glad to see that various editors have run with the idea of an article on this important speech.

It is very lyrical to use this line from the speech for the article's title, but I have to question how practical it is. Certainly if I were searching for information on this speech on the internet (or specifically on Wikipedia), I would type in "Rivonia Speech" as the search term -- that is the title I know it by. The thought of typing in "I am prepared to die" would just never have occurred to me....

So my recommendation is to rename the article "Rivonia Speech". Nandt1 (talk) 00:17, 8 December 2013 (UTC)
 * Several published works refer to the speech with this name, so as long as the other possible search items are redirected I think this title is the correct one.User:Maunus ·ʍaunus·snunɐw· 20:54, 8 December 2013 (UTC)
 * It is easy enough to create a redirect named Rivonia Speech. Helen  Online  09:40, 8 December 2013 (UTC)


 * Helen, thanks. I think I can say that I work hard as an editor, but I have not learnt how to do redirects.  Could you perhaps handle that?  Most grateful if you could take care of it.  Nandt1 (talk) 12:27, 8 December 2013 (UTC)


 * It is done already (the Rivonia Speech link is blue not red). I also created a Rivonia Trial Speech redirect. Helen  Online  12:37, 8 December 2013 (UTC)

RqImg
If there's a photo or a court room artist representation of the speech, that would be a good picture to add. -- 65.94.78.9 (talk) 06:26, 9 December 2013 (UTC)
 * I looked but couldn't find one.User:Maunus ·ʍaunus·snunɐw· 06:27, 9 December 2013 (UTC)
 * It is only in recent times that cameras have been allowed in South African courts, and then only under exceptional circumstances. Roger (Dodger67) (talk) 08:35, 9 December 2013 (UTC)

Speech duration
This article and others state that Mandela's opening speech lasted four hours. In contrast, the full transcript of the speech linked to in the External links section states; "The court proceedings at the Rivonia Trial were recorded by the State on dictabelt for which there is now no playback equipment. Mandela's statement from the dock was digitised with the assistance of the British Library, and this digital recording is now in the custody of the National Archives of South Africa. This recording was used to transcribe this speech. The speech is approximately 176 minutes long." (Emphasis mine.) nagualdesign (talk) 06:51, 11 December 2013 (UTC)
 * The BBC also says that the speech lasted 3 hours, so I've made changes to this and other articles. nagualdesign (talk) 07:02, 11 December 2013 (UTC)
 * Several reliable sources say 4 hours, but they are witnesses remembering it. The transcription of the recording is probably to be considered more accurate.User:Maunus ·ʍaunus·snunɐw· 13:59, 11 December 2013 (UTC)

Were they in fact charged with treason?
Our text says yes, but other sources say not. I would suggest we aim to follow the official charge sheet -- preferably word-for-word -- rather than supplying our own paraphrases or "interpretations". Would someone know how to access the official document? Citing it would lend the necessary authority. Nandt1 (talk) 23:39, 16 December 2013 (UTC)


 * They were primarily charged with sabotage and furthering Communism (source). The indictment mentions "violent revolution". There was an earlier treason trial. Helen  Online  07:49, 17 December 2013 (UTC)


 * Thanks. Helpful to get the treason point sorted out and also to have access to the primary sources here.  Nandt1 (talk) 20:59, 17 December 2013 (UTC)

Was the death penalty sought?
We offer two different answers. Please see Talk Page for the Rivonia Trial article for details. Nandt1 (talk) 00:24, 19 December 2013 (UTC)

A Commons file used on this page or its Wikidata item has been nominated for deletion
The following Wikimedia Commons file used on this page or its Wikidata item has been nominated for deletion: Participate in the deletion discussion at the. —Community Tech bot (talk) 07:52, 3 October 2022 (UTC)
 * Rivonia treason trial.jpg