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Nelson Mandela, A Brief History and Impact

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MEETING THE GREAT MAN Nelson Mandela 1918-2013 “I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.” Nelson Mandela was born on July 18, 1918 in a royal family of a tribe in a South African village in Mvezo, Thembu. Ever since he was a child, he would listen to the resistance war stories from his elders and dreamt with contributing to the cause of liberating his people. It was this way that he found the passion which, through the years, would …show more content…

After a democratic poll, they began preparations for an armed fight, creating The Umkhonto we Sizwe (Spear of the nation) also known as MK, a group of fighters that believed South Africa belonged to everyone who lived there, and not just for a group of black and white people. "Real leaders must be ready to sacrifice all for the freedom of their people." With the name David Motsomayi, on January 11, 1962, Nelson Mandela left South Africa secretly. He traveled through Africa and United Kingdom to gain support for the armed battle, but he was detained by two guards from Howick on August 5 when he was returning from KwaZuu-Natal. He had to complete a 5 year sentence for leaving the country illegally and for promoting strikes among the people. Even when Mandela was incarcerated, his colleagues were giving the movement pushes; but on January 1963, the police found an ANC secret hideout in Rivona, where planning documents for the guerrilla were found; that’s why, on that year, Mandela and some colleagues faced a trial known as the Rivona trial where he was sentenced for the rest of his life. Before entering jail, he had the opportunity to transmit to their people the integrity behind his actions: “I always expected my life would give me the opportunity to serve my people and make my humble contribution to the cause. This is what motivated me to

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