Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela was born on July 18, 1918 in a small village in the city of Transkei in South Africa. He was originally named “Rolihlahla”, which means trouble-maker in his native language: Xhosa. When he was a young child, his father lost his title as a counselor to tribal chiefs, causing him to also lose his fortune. Due to this loss, the Mandela family moved to an even smaller village named Qunu, which was north of Mvezo. They lived only on local harvest, because that was all they could afford at the time. Mandela and the young boys living in the village played games made from materials they found outside, such as clay and sticks. (“Nelson Mandela” The Biography Channel website. N.p.) He went to primary school, where his teacher Miss Mdingane gave him the name Nelson, sticking to the custom of all boys having Christian names. ("The Life & Times of Nelson Mandela” Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory. N.p.) He was baptized in the Methodist church, and the first one in his family to attend school. Nelson lost his father at the young age of nine to tuberculosis. (“Nelson Mandela” Famous People. N.p.) He was adopted by Chief Jongintaba Dalindyebo soon after, moving to the provincial capital of Thembuland, which was the royal chief’s home. He was immediately considered equal to his other two children, resulting in the growth of his responsibilities and social status. He enrolled at the University College of Fort Hare. There he studied English, Xhosa, history, and geography. Nelson Mandela became extremely interested in African history; learning and realizing how South Africans’ lives seemed relatively more peaceful before white people came. (“Nelson Mandela” The Biography Channel website. N.p.) In 1948, apartheid became the government policy in South Africa. Under the system of apartheid, non-white people, called Bantu (black), mixed, or Indian groups, had very few rights. This racial segregation included laws against the marriage of mixed races. In 1950, “pass-laws” were enforced that required all black individuals to carry identification at all times. Three years later, the provision of separate transportation and other public facilities for non- whites was introduced under the Separate Amenities Act of 1953. Apartheid was growing even further, and the government later segregated the population into different areas based on ethnicity. Education was restricted for Bantu children, and all but five universities were allowing enrollment of only white students. (“Apartheid” The Hutchinson Dictionary of Ideas. N.p.) “From 1961 to 1994, more than 3.5 million people were forcibly removed from their homes and deposited in the Bantustans, where they were plunged into poverty and hopelessness.” (“Apartheid” History Education. N.p.) Nelson Mandela strongly believed that segregation was unfair, and in 1944 he joined the African National Congress. They began leading resistance against the government, calling for equality and justice for everyone. He started up the Youth League, and encouraged people who had no voice under the regime to speak up and show their strength. Nelson Mandela led a campaign of peaceful protest against the South African government and its policies for twenty years. (“Nelson Mandela” The Biography Channel website. N.p.) Nelson Mandela and the rest of the league noticed that this was having very little effect on the restrictive and exclusionary ways of the government. In 1949, the African National Congress supported and accepted the Youth League’s method: to lead a boycott of strikes and non-cooperation. It was during this time that he joined together with Oliver Tambo to create the law firm Mandela and Tambo, which provided non-whites with free legal counsel. Meanwhile, the ANC and Youth League were continuing their protest, not giving up on their hope for freedom and a democratic, fair government, and in 1956, “Nelson Mandela and 150 others were arrested and charged with treason for their political advocacy.” They were later acquitted. The harsh regulations that apartheid enforced were not loosening, and many people joined together in Mandela’s fight. In 1961, not long after his first arrest, he held a three-day strike, causing his five year imprisonment. Two years later, he was brought to trial again, his punishment much more severe. He and ten other members of the ANC were sentenced to a lifetime in prison for many political offences, including sabotage. (“Nelson Mandela” The Biography Channel website. N.p.) During Nelson Mandela’s trial, he gave a moving statement- making it clear that he was not remorseful of his actions. The statement also claimed he was not going to back down from his strong beliefs against apartheid. His words were as follows: “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 in which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.” This quote was very inspirational to many South Africans, showing them that there was someone who cared enough, and was so persistent in pursuing a fight for equality that they would sacrifice their life. Apartheid started to seem very weak against so many South Africans under the leadership of Nelson Mandela. (“Nelson Mandela Speeches” Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia. N.p.) Apartheid was beginning to fall apart. In 1989, President F.W. Klerk did away with most apartheid restrictions, and one year later lifted the ban on the ANC. Later in that year Nelson Mandela was released from prison, after being held for a total of twenty-seven years. This release was monumental, and celebrated by millions. However, “Democracy did not emerge spontaneously; it had to be built laboriously, brick by brick.” (“South Africa- Overcoming Apartheid, Building Democracy. Multimedia Resources. N.p.) Egypt’s president, Hosni Mubarak, said to Nelson, “The decision to release you is a victory for human rights everywhere.” (Molinski. N.p.) Representative John Lewis reportedly stated, “Mr. Mandela has emerged as a symbol, not just in South Africa, but in the rest of the world.” (Molinski. N.p.) On February 11, 1990 Mr. Mandela gave an impactful speech called “Now is the Time to Intensify the Struggle.” His opening statement, “I greet you all in the name of peace, democracy, and freedom for all.” He continued to say later on, “My salutations will be incomplete without expressing my deep appreciation for the strength given to me during my long and lonely years in prison by my beloved wife and family. I am convinced that your pain and suffering was far greater than my own.” This quote shows selflessness and his sincere gratitude towards everyone who supported him while he was imprisoned. Nelson Mandela maintained a positive attitude, even during rough times- shown by this quote especially: “Today the majority of South Africans, black and white, recognize that apartheid has no future. Our march to freedom is irreversible. We must not allow fear to stand in our way.” (“Nelson Mandela Speeches” Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia. N.p.) Things were looking up for South Africans, and they could finally see a bright future, after a long struggle. On July 7, 1991, the first national conference of the ANC took place, and Nelson Mandela was elected President, his friend and colleague, Oliver Tambo sharing the joy, and becoming the National Chairperson. Talks between Mr. Mandela and De Klerk helped to form the Government of National Unity at the Johannesburg World Trade Center. Racial equality and freedom for all people finally existed. (Bolden, n.p.) In 1993, Nelson Mandela and De Klerk shared the Nobel Peace Prize. He accepted it on behalf of all South Africans who suffered and sacrificed to bring peace to their land. A year later, South Africa held it’s presidential election. “There was no doubt who the ANC would choose to become president when Parliament met in Cape Town on May 9th.” (Parkin. N.p.) At 77 years old, Nelson Mandela was elected president. In 1996, he won approval for a new constitution that gave full rights to all races. (“Nelson Mandela.” The Biography Channel website. N.p.) Mandela, certainly overcome with a feeling of relief and success, said: “We are moved by a sense of joy and exhilaration when the grass turns green and the flowers bloom.” (“Nelson Mandela Speeches” Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia. N.p.) After a long and certainly prosperous journey, Nelson Mandela retired from politics in 1999. He went on to start the Mandela Foundation, raising money to build schools and clinics all around South Africa. There was even a hospital created in South Africa, helping many children in South Africa. “The Nelson Mandela Children 's Hospital honors Mr. Nelson Mandela 's life-long commitment to children. In his words, this hospital will be a "credible demonstration of the commitment of African leaders to place the rights of children at the forefront".” (Nelson Mandela’s Children’s Hospital. N.p.) He has published several books on his life and endurances, including No Easy Walk to Freedom; Nelson Mandela: The Struggle is my Life; and Nelson Mandela’s Favorite African Folktales.” (“Nelson Mandela.” The Biography Channel website. N.p.) In 2001, he was diagnosed and treated for prostate cancer and in June 2004, at age 85, he formally retired from public life. He returned to his home village of Qunu. He has since been committed to fighting against AIDS, the disease that took his own son’s life, Makgatho Mandela, in 2005. In 2010, he made a public appearance at the World Cup in his home country of South Africa- an experience I’m sure he couldn’t have imagined having twenty years earlier when apartheid was on going. The First Lady of the United States, Mrs. Michelle Obama, met Mr. Mandela during her trip to South Africa in 2011. (“Nelson Mandela” The Biography Channel website. N.p.) “In photos taken of the private 20-minute visit between members of Mandela’s extended family and Obama, her mother, daughters, niece and nephew, he is sitting on his couch holding a book of his quotations that he is signing for the first lady.” (Thompson, n.p.) Although Mr. Mandela is currently retired, many people still look at him as an inspiration, and this will continue for many generations to come. There is an ongoing effort to make his birthday an international holiday- the point being to encourage people to be as giving and selfless as he was. A statement was given saying: “Mr. Mandela gave sixty-seven years of his life, fighting for the rights of humanity. All we are asking is that everyone gives sixty-seven minutes of their time, whether it is supporting your chosen charity or serving your local community.” Mandela has had an influence on people all over the world, here and afar, inspiring equality and freedom. (“Nelson Mandela” The Biography Channel website. N.p.)

Works Cited
Bio. “Nelson Mandela Biography” The Biography Channel. 17 January 2013. http://www.biography.com/people/nelson-mandela-9397017. Web.
“Biography” Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory. 07 March 2013. http://www.nelsonmandela.org/content/page/biography. Web.
“Nelson Mandela” The Famous People. 08 March 2013. http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/nelson-mandela-59.php.
“Mandela, Nelson (Speeches)” Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia. Grolier Online, 2013. Web. 17 Jan 2013.
Molinksi, Michael. “World Hails Mandela Release.” UPI’s 20th Century Top Stories. February 12 1990: n.p. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 17 Jan 2013
“Mandela, Nelson (1918-)” The New Book of Knowledge. Grolier Online, 2013. Web. 17 Jan 2013
“Apartheid.” The Hutchinson Dictionary of Ideas. 2004: n.p. SIRS Renaissance. Web. 17 Jan 2013.
“Apartheid.” History.com 08 March 2013 http://www.history.com/topics/apartheid
“Nelson Mandela” NOVA Online. 07 March 2013. http://novaonline.nvcc.edu/eli/evans/HIS135/Events/mandela94.htm
“Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital” Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund. 08 March 2013 <http:www.nelsonmandelachildrensfund.com/nelson-mandela-childrens-hospital.php.>
Thompson, Krissah. “First Lady Michelle Obama Visits Ex-President Nelson Mandela in South Africa” World News. 08 March 2013.

Cited: February 12 1990: n.p. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 17 Jan 2013 “Mandela, Nelson (1918-)” The New Book of Knowledge