Nelson Mandela was the man who abolished Apartheid, freeing South Africa from the binds of racial segregation forever. However, it was not an easy road and Mandela needed patience, strength of character, focus, passion, understanding, perseverance, and most importantly, forgiveness, to achieve this. For more than forty years, black South Africans were subject to the harsh racial segregation of the Apartheid system; despite making up over 70% of South Africa’s population, they had little to no rights.
Mandela had a vision for South Africa, of which he was incredibly dedicated. During his famous speech entitled ‘I am Prepared to Die’ (1964), he stated,
"I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination.
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In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.” After his release from prison in 1990, he went to be elected the first black President of South Africa. The time in prison helped him to come to peace with himself and the people he was initially mad at; such as the South African Government.
“I always knew that deep down in every human heart, there is mercy and generosity … Even in the grimmest times in prison, when my comrades and I were pushed to our limits, I would see a glimmer of humanity in one of the guards, perhaps just for a second, but it was enough to reassure me and keep me going.”
(Long Walk to Freedom, Mandela, Nelson, 1995)
Nelson Mandela was an exceptional leader, as President he took South Africa to somewhere it had never been. He valued his time as President, because he knew his time was limited; often working days without a break. Each step of the way he took risks for the good of the people. When told he was ‘risking his political capital and his future as a leader’, he replied, “The day I am afraid to do that is the day I am no longer fit to lead.”
But it was not easy to fight for something that he loved, there were difficulties and pain in his life, he was arrested for the rebellious and spend over 20 years in the prison. While he is the prison, he was still fighting and praying for the for people who needs the equity. After 27 years of arresting , he was released and became the new president of the new South Africa. With all of these are enough to show he was a hard working man that doesn’t give up easily to fight for his ideas and justice of many non-white people. So “ Don’t give up “ is one of his characteristic , the next one will be
He was ready to flip the horrible page of his life and was prepared to unite the people of Africa. “But the day we had been fighting for, the day we were working for has arrived. Let us forget the past. Let us hold hands” Nelson Mandela. His words of encouragement and his pure hart made him the next great president of South Africa.
While in prison he was only allowed one visitor a year and could only write or receive a single letter every six months. Despite Mandela’s harsh imprisonment conditions he remained significant in leading the movement against apartheid. He was able to organize protests from his prison cell, and help rally activists to make gains in ending apartheid. Mandela received the Nobel Peace Prize Mandela was released from prison in 1990. After the ban from the African National Congress was lifted, Mandela joined and became the president. In 1993 Mandela and Frederik Willem de Klerk received the Nobel Peace Prize. Mandela was elected as South Africa’s first black president After huge political gains were made in the fight to end intense racial segregation, Mandela was elected as the first black President of South Africa. Mandela stressed peace and unity, encouraging Africans to forgive the white governments that had treated them so brutally. Mandela extended peace to whites, including his prison guards On the 20th anniversary of his prison release Mandela partook in a huge celebration held in his name. Even Mandela’s former prison guard was included in the celebration. At the age of 91 Mandela took this day to celebrate and further emphasize his message of peace to both blacks and whites. Mandela had a very long career, from the 1940s to the 1990s. It is important to remember that. He fought
Mandela was the president of South Africa. Nelson Mandela knew that his people needed a change and the way to get it was to speak up and ask for better treatment and for more attention to be brought to their problems. Nelson never decided to use force or power to get what he wanted. Instead, he decide to march, and make speeches about the things he thought were important. He used his words to show others that his needs were important and meaningful just like everyone else's.
But, if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.” Mandela did anything in his power possible to stop discrimination, and he did not mind if he would have to die to have a result for is
I have always thought that Nelson Mandela has been one of the most important people in history. I find it very fascinating that one man could end the Apartheid and that is why I want to find out more about this. South Africa is a country with a past of enforced racism and separation of its multi-racial community. The White Europeans invaded South Africa and started a political system known as 'Apartheid' (meaning 'apartness'). This system severely restricted the rights and lifestyle of the non-White inhabitants of the country forcing them to live separately from the White Europeans. I have chosen to investigate how the Apartheid affected people’s lives, and also how and why the Apartheid system rose and fell in South Africa.
Nelson Mandela was prepared to die. He was a man that authorities disliked, yet people loved because he formed a difference in the world. He was the first accused and wanted his voice to be heard. On April 20th, 1964, Nelson Mandela said a powerful speech delivering the dangers of violence and injustice. With the words Mandela spoke, he was capable to captivate the people’s attention, reveal the unknown secrets, share personal stories, and answer unanswered questions to the people of the world and his home, South Africa; people were shocked that a man like Mandela would be standing in a court full of white people, expressing his thoughts and feelings to fight for his country, and put the truth down.
Nelson Mandela was a great leader during a time of oppression towards nonwhites in South Africa. He led a peaceful resistance to end apartheid in his country, which led to his first arrest and time doing hard labor (Pechey, 2008). This strategy was not working and Mandela approved of tactics involving violence against the government in order to end apartheid and to create a democracy that would grant rights to all people regardless of their race. His shift from a peaceful resistance to a violent one was justified and modern ethical thinkers would have approved of the shift as well.
His goals were to establish peace and equality throughout South Africa, and to put an end to the apartheid system. A change was desperately needed, so Mandela created and became a part of many resistance movements. One of those movements included the African National Congress which was an organization that worked to establish human rights for blacks in South Africa without using violence ( Ryan 1). Mandela became a very influential leader of the African National Congress. Also, he started his own defiance campaigns that was made to overthrow the racist government.
The life story of Nelson Mandela has long become a legend, a story that transcends race, borders, culture, or language. He is one of the greatest leaders to ever step foot on this Earth. He was willing to give up his own personal freedoms for the good of his people. Still, his decisions at major points in his lifetime hold lessons for individuals who are inspired of becoming good leaders. Many leaders are inspired by the actions and decision-makings abilities of Mandela. He kept the interest of others before his own. This is what made Nelson Mandela a great leader, and worthy of winning a Nobel Prize. From the decisions he made, and his life experiences while fighting for human rights, one can conclude that Mandela is truly
Religion and politics is what he lived for. Mandela is all about democracy, equality, and tolerance. He was the first black president of South Africa and the president elected in that country's first free election. (The Hollowverse). Mandela joined the African National Congress (ANC) and worked with fellow party members, including Oliver Tambo, to establish its youth league, the ANCYL.
Nelson Mandela was a man who learned from his previously violent ways and thoroughly used peace to his advantage in his fight against apartheid, and in the leading of South Africa. Nelson Mandela grew up as a peaceful person and in 1943 went to law school for his degree. While in law school, he got very interested in politics and joined a radical protest group, the African National Congress (The ANC). The ANC got into a lot of trouble with the government for their ideas about a place without apartheid. Mandela was arrested in 1963 and sentenced to life in prison. The government let him out of
Nelson Mandela devoted his life advocating for human rights. He served 27 years in prison but thrived following his release. Mandela became the first black president of South Africa and proceeded to inspire thousands with his speeches. During this time South Africa faced the challenges of overcoming the legacy of the Apartheid. Inequality, racism, and poverty would have to end in order for the country to prevail. He made people realize, “Dealing with these challenges also means accepting the facts of our history” (Mandela 3). Mandela faced the problems within his society head-on. In addition to this, he was willing to accept the country's flaws and the country was far from reaching its fullest potential. He was able to help his country gain a safe water
Nelson is an individual who fought through many hardships, but was also faced with decisions that affected his future, his family, and his livelihood. As we look at Nelson deeper, we can see many interesting points. He was opened to new ideas and beliefs through his experiences in the schools of Heraldtown and Fort Hare, but knew there was something better. He decided to travel to Johannesburg to find new and greater opportunities. While, in Johannesburg, he believed education would be a key asset. While working for a small firm, he took classes at University of South Africa and eventually Wits University. Here is where his mind and social life flourished. He interacted with great minds and influential political individuals. He talked to many Africans without proper education, who contained more knowledge and better social skills than many Africans with education. But, he still persisted in acquiring his B.A. Wits University brought his life to new extents. He was also talking to Indians, Coloureds, and whites for the first time in his life and Becoming friends with many more prominent African individuals. Nelson soon joined the ANC and became very prominent in the fight for freedom. Nelson was always open to listening to new ideas, but when his was just starting his fight. He believed that just Africans
From 1964 to 1982, Mandela was kept in a maximum-security prison. In 1988, he was hospitalized for tuberculosis. Amidst increasing global pressures, the South African government under President F.W. de Klerk released Mandela from prison on February 11, 1990. On March 2, Mandela was chosen deputy president of the ANC, and he replaced the president in July 1991. Mandela and de Klerk worked to end apartheid and bring about a peaceful transition to nonracial democracy in South Africa.