One of the most African American leaders in history, Nelson Mandela was fearless, dedicated, and a symbol of African American pride. He fought to free those who have oppressed people of color. Mandela has ended the racial division and oppression by uniting a divided country and building a strong and free democracy. His attributes exemplify moral integrity and he has to be considered a national figure. His drive for true peace was an epic struggle from his early childhood to becoming South Africa’s president. Before bringing renewed hope and ultimate victory to the nation of South Africa it is important to understand his childhood, which set the groundwork for his influential actions.
Born in Transkei, South Africa as Nelson Rolihlahla Mendela on July 18, 1918, Mandela was the son of Chief Henry Mandela of the Tembu Tribe. Ironically, Rolihlahla, is interpreted prophetically as “troublemaker”. He embodied strong qualities and discipline, having graduated from the University of Fort Hare and the University of Witwatersrand. After joining a law firm, Mandela was constantly exposed to the inhumanities of apartheid and this motivated him to change the world. Later on in his life, Mandela had joined the African National Congress in 1944 and was appointed in charge of ruling against the National Parties apartheid policies in 1948. However, he went on trial for treason and was acquitted in 1961. After banning the African National Congress, Mandela advocated for a military but Mandela was arrested in 1962 and sentenced to five years of imprisonment for hard labor. He was later brought to trial for plotting to overthrow the government. While in prison, Mandela’s reputation grew and he became accepted as the most significant African leader in South Africa. He constantly refused to compromise his political position in return for freedom becoming a worldwide symbol of resistance to racism as an anti-apartheid movement grew stronger. Mandela chose to use passive resistance nonviolence in his uphill battle for freedom. "During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to the struggle of the African people. 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." Mandela became a prison bound martyr, during his three decades of confinement and eight since his release he brought about the unification of South Africa ending the struggle of Apartheid, and ultimately becoming the nation’s president.
Nelson Mandela not only encompassed patience, wisdom, and virtue he exemplified it. He was a visionary, who long after his retirement from presidency continues to play an important role in history. Mandela was one of the most influential people in history, whose lifelong dedication was to the fight against racial oppression in South Africa. He is considered by some to be the greatest moral and political leader in his changing of the nation to a multiracial government and majority rule. An inspirational hero who was the vital force in the fight for human rights and racial equality. Famously, Nelson Mandela was a man of conviction for freedom. A role model for today's troubled leaders. If everyone in the world was like him there would be no need for war.
Nelson Mandela is indisputably the most important inspirational leaders of the twenty century. Mandela struggled against the oppression, injustice and racism of South Africa's apartheid and refused to compromise with the evil he saw, even at the cost of his own personal freedom. With his remarkable ability to forgive his enemies he settled the animosity of future generations. Mandela remains a symbol of the fight against apartheid and a symbol for peace. I strongly admire Nelson Mandela for being a positive influence and becoming a symbol of freedom and independence. I respect him for his suffering to reach his ultimate while the movement was brutal and tough. I holder an even higher respect for Mandela because he had accomplished his goals without a militaristic activity. He encouraged me not to use violent methods but to strike only with civil disobedience. I support his cause to use passive resistance for freedom. I consider Mandela the greatest political hero of this century for letting his enemies’ dirt their hands in their own blood.
If there had been no Nelson Mandela in the course of history apartheid would not be gone. It wouldn’t be the strongest economy in Africa. Race antagonism would still exist and so would the widespread of acceptance by the world. In fact if there was no Mandela, whites would continue to dominate blacks, economically, socially, and politically. Africa wouldn’t be a nonracial democratic society instead it would be a ancient system where it would only preserve white rights and privileges. Africa would be divided and constant civil wars would occur. Instead there could have possibly been a reverse in time to slavery, to a time the land was owned by whites and only blacks would perform labor.
Bibliography
Hughes, Libby. Nelson Mandela:Voice of Freedom. Backinprint.com, 2000.
Mandela, Nelson. A Long Walk to Freedom. 1st. Back Bay Books, 1995.
Thompson, Leonard. A History of South Africa. 3rd. Yale University Press, 2001.
BBC News, "Profile: Nelson Mandela." 1 June 2004 April 10 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/1454208.stm>.
Born in Transkei, South Africa as Nelson Rolihlahla Mendela on July 18, 1918, Mandela was the son of Chief Henry Mandela of the Tembu Tribe. Ironically, Rolihlahla, is interpreted prophetically as “troublemaker”. He embodied strong qualities and discipline, having graduated from the University of Fort Hare and the University of Witwatersrand. After joining a law firm, Mandela was constantly exposed to the inhumanities of apartheid and this motivated him to change the world. Later on in his life, Mandela had joined the African National Congress in 1944 and was appointed in charge of ruling against the National Parties apartheid policies in 1948. However, he went on trial for treason and was acquitted in 1961. After banning the African National Congress, Mandela advocated for a military but Mandela was arrested in 1962 and sentenced to five years of imprisonment for hard labor. He was later brought to trial for plotting to overthrow the government. While in prison, Mandela’s reputation grew and he became accepted as the most significant African leader in South Africa. He constantly refused to compromise his political position in return for freedom becoming a worldwide symbol of resistance to racism as an anti-apartheid movement grew stronger. Mandela chose to use passive resistance nonviolence in his uphill battle for freedom. "During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to the struggle of the African people. 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." Mandela became a prison bound martyr, during his three decades of confinement and eight since his release he brought about the unification of South Africa ending the struggle of Apartheid, and ultimately becoming the nation’s president.
Nelson Mandela not only encompassed patience, wisdom, and virtue he exemplified it. He was a visionary, who long after his retirement from presidency continues to play an important role in history. Mandela was one of the most influential people in history, whose lifelong dedication was to the fight against racial oppression in South Africa. He is considered by some to be the greatest moral and political leader in his changing of the nation to a multiracial government and majority rule. An inspirational hero who was the vital force in the fight for human rights and racial equality. Famously, Nelson Mandela was a man of conviction for freedom. A role model for today's troubled leaders. If everyone in the world was like him there would be no need for war.
Nelson Mandela is indisputably the most important inspirational leaders of the twenty century. Mandela struggled against the oppression, injustice and racism of South Africa's apartheid and refused to compromise with the evil he saw, even at the cost of his own personal freedom. With his remarkable ability to forgive his enemies he settled the animosity of future generations. Mandela remains a symbol of the fight against apartheid and a symbol for peace. I strongly admire Nelson Mandela for being a positive influence and becoming a symbol of freedom and independence. I respect him for his suffering to reach his ultimate while the movement was brutal and tough. I holder an even higher respect for Mandela because he had accomplished his goals without a militaristic activity. He encouraged me not to use violent methods but to strike only with civil disobedience. I support his cause to use passive resistance for freedom. I consider Mandela the greatest political hero of this century for letting his enemies’ dirt their hands in their own blood.
If there had been no Nelson Mandela in the course of history apartheid would not be gone. It wouldn’t be the strongest economy in Africa. Race antagonism would still exist and so would the widespread of acceptance by the world. In fact if there was no Mandela, whites would continue to dominate blacks, economically, socially, and politically. Africa wouldn’t be a nonracial democratic society instead it would be a ancient system where it would only preserve white rights and privileges. Africa would be divided and constant civil wars would occur. Instead there could have possibly been a reverse in time to slavery, to a time the land was owned by whites and only blacks would perform labor.
Bibliography
Hughes, Libby. Nelson Mandela:Voice of Freedom. Backinprint.com, 2000.
Mandela, Nelson. A Long Walk to Freedom. 1st. Back Bay Books, 1995.
Thompson, Leonard. A History of South Africa. 3rd. Yale University Press, 2001.
BBC News, "Profile: Nelson Mandela." 1 June 2004 April 10 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/1454208.stm>.
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