Nelson Mandela was born on July 18, 1918 in the Eastern Cape of South Africa (Williams and Hermann, 2012). After hearing the stories of his ancestor’s bravery, he was inspired and he dreamed of making his own impact to his people for freedom. (Venter, 2012).
I believe that Nelson Mandela was a freedom fighter and not a terrorist. Sometimes the definitions of those two words may get mixed up and it is quite hard to identify the difference between the two, especially in this case. A terrorist deliberately targets the lives of innocent people for political reasons whereas a freedom fighter takes part in a violent struggle to achieve freedom, they do not aim at the lives of the public. If you were to look at the two definitions, I believe that Nelson Mandela should be classified as a freedom fighter as he did not target the lives of people; he fought for the freedom of the people of South Africa.
In 1944 he joined the African National Congress (A political party made to unite all African people and give everyone equal human rights) (Unwembi, 2011) and was the leader of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the rebellious part of ANC. Even though Umkhonto we Sizwe set up a series of attacks, they were fighting for equal rights and freedom against apartheid as apartheid had dived South Africa into races and eventually had given the ‘White South Africa’ control over the whole of South Africa. They also made new laws to create segregation. (Brain, 2011)
Umkhonto we Sizwe said “The time comes in the life of any nation when there remain only two choices - submit or fight. That time has now come to South Africa. We shall not submit and we have no choice but to hit back by all means in our power in defence of our people, our future, and our freedom.” This quote shows that they were fighting for freedom; they had sacrificed everything, knowing the consequences that could occur they still fought for the rights for their people.
Bibliography
- Unwembi (2011) African National Congress, URL: http://www.anc.org.za/show.php?id=172 Accessed: 18/11/12
-Marshall Brain(2011) August 5: Mandela Was Arrested, URL: http://history.howstuffworks.com/african-history/nelson-mandela.htm Accessed: 18/11/12
By Becky Jones
Bibliography: - Unwembi (2011) African National Congress, URL: http://www.anc.org.za/show.php?id=172 Accessed: 18/11/12 -Marshall Brain(2011) August 5: Mandela Was Arrested, URL: http://history.howstuffworks.com/african-history/nelson-mandela.htm Accessed: 18/11/12 By Becky Jones
You May Also Find These Documents Helpful
-
Nelson Mandela was born July 18, 1918 in a small village in southern Africa and named Rolihlahla Mandela. In a country controlled by a white government, he was extremely fortunate to become the first of his family to attend school. Since his name meant “troublemaker,” his school teacher decided to call him Nelson hoping that he would not cause trouble with a new name. Little did she know that in a few years he would become one of the greatest troublemakers in history; a man who would change the racial ideals of the ruling white minority.…
- 173 Words
- 1 Page
Satisfactory Essays -
When Mandela became part of the African National Congress, he made a very courageous decision to fight against apartheid. Apartheid was supported by the government, as it was a system which allowed white members of the South African government to have more superiority over African citizens. Mandela risked his reputation and life to stand up for people who did not gain anything from apartheid. Nelson Mandela passed the test because he could have easily allowed apartheid to continue in South Africa, but instead he stood up for all of the people who were suffering from the…
- 616 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
The years somewhere around 1951 and 1960 were difficult times, both for South Africa and for the ANC. More youthful anti-apartheid activists, including Mandela, were going to the perspective that peaceful exhibits against apartheid did not work, since they permitted the South African government to react with violence against Africans. In spite of the fact that Mandela was prepared to attempt each technique to get rid of apartheid peacefully, he started to feel that peaceful resistance would not change conditions at…
- 82 Words
- 1 Page
Satisfactory Essays -
He was born on July 18 1918 in Mvezo of South Africa. His birth name was Rolihlahla but he got his nickname from a teacher at his school. Nelson was a member of Thimbu royalty and his father was chief of the city. Nelson attended school and later college ta Fort Hare and the University of Witwatersrand, there he got his law degree.…
- 189 Words
- 1 Page
Good Essays -
He believed that Government policy had created an atmosphere in which “violence by the African people had become inevitable” and that “unless reasonable leadership was given…to control the feelings of [the]people”, “there would be outbreaks of terrorism which would produce…hostility between the various races.” No other way was open to the African people, to fight “in their struggle against the principle of White Supremacy.” He refused to acknowledge the decree that the ANC was an “unlawful organization” and said the acceptance of such a decree would be “equivalent to accepting the silencing of the Africans for all time”. Mandela was not a violent man and did not resort to violence lightly, but it seemed to be the only way to accomplish the ANC’s goals, as “all lawful modes of expressing opposition to this principle had been closed by legislation.” Mandela did not want an “international war and tried to avoid it to the last minute”, but also stated that his ideals were “worth dying for”. It was degrading for the African people to be thought of as a “separate breed” and “the fight against poverty and lack of human dignity” “was real and not imaginary.” To say differently was demeaning. The enforcement of apartheid lead to terrible conditions for blacks and “to a breakdown in moral standards” resulting in “growing violence.” Mandela and the ANC leaders were attracted to communism for the simple fact that “for decades [the] communists were the only political group in South Africa who were prepared to treat Africans and human beings and their…
- 665 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
He co-founded and became the leader of Umkhonto we Sizwe ("Spear of the Nation") in 1961 (Nelson Mandela Biography: bio.com). This organization was aimed at forcing the South African governments to recognize the rights of black people in the country (Nelson Mandela: history.com). Another organization that Mandela was a big part of when involved in politics was the ANC Youth League. The aim of this was to excite the youth to join the rest of the blacks in fighting against the segregation in the country (UMkhonto WeSizwe). Nelson Mandela worked for twenty years with nonviolent protesting against the South African government and its racist policies (Biography of Nelson Mandela). After all of his accomplishments, Mandela's life was a wild rollercoaster of positives and…
- 871 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
As a result of his opposition campaign and a nonviolent revolution; he was imprisoned for more than 20 years. In 1990, he was released from prison. In 1994, he became president of the new South Africa after fair elections were held for the first time. This article is very important and very beneficial to my research because it proves that taking risks is worth everything. This article is reliable because it is from an educational…
- 869 Words
- 4 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
Although originally committed to nonviolent protest, in association with the SACP he co-founded the militant Umkhonto we Sizwe in 1961, leading a sabotage campaign against the government. In 1962, he was arrested, convicted of conspiracy to overthrow the state, and sentenced to life imprisonment. An international campaign protested for his release, which was granted in 1990 amid rapidly rising civil conflict. Mandela joined negotiations with President F. W. de Klerk to abolish apartheid and establish multiracial elections in 1994, in which he led the ANC to victory and became South Africa's first black president. While continuing with the former government's economic liberalism, his administration introduced measures to encourage land reform, combat poverty, and expand healthcare services.…
- 964 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
Segregation and racial discrimination in South Africa affected Mandela even in his early years; in pre-school, he was forced to abandon his given name, ‘Rolihlahla,’ and adopt a Christian name; Nelson. (History.com Staff, n.d.). Drawing on this, it is suggested that Mandela’s rise to prominence began with his unique education in Law at the University at Witwatersrand, early 1940’s. This education provided a background to the racist mindset of the majority of Southern Africa through studies of history (descent of slaves and white supremacy). This degree also equipped him with key understandings of politics, and the skillset he would later require in his years as an Influential member of the ANC. (Kramer, 2003)…
- 1005 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Nelson Mandela was born in Mvezo, South Africa in July 18,1918. He was named Rolihlahla at birth by his father who was the principal counselor to the acting king of the Thembu people, Jongintaba. After his father’s death, he became the ward of the Jongintaba. He was raised in a relatively…
- 1563 Words
- 7 Pages
Good Essays -
At the age of 24 he joined the ANC (African National Congress), it was a “group that sought to establish social and political rights for blacks in South Africa” (Nelson Mandela par. 3). Mandela and his close friend Sisulu founded the “ANC Youth League”. This group just like Marther Luther King Jr. did nonviolent protest to get there point across the government. Because of this many protester were beaten by police and jailed for defying South Africa’s government, this include Mandela as well. After he was release he continue on with his campaign even though he was forbidden to from attend or doing public speaking. Things got worse after the death of 69 protesters who were unarmed were killed by police. The horrific massacre made Mandela decide…
- 191 Words
- 1 Page
Good Essays -
Nelson Mandela joined the African National Congress (ANC) in 1944 to fight the apartheid system in South Africa. To understand what the African National Congress is, it defines as “a national liberation movement” (“What is the ANC?” 1). Basically, Africans wanted to see a change in political, social, and economic circumstances, but they found themselves struggling because of racism, oppression, and apartheid. My own view, however, it is very difficult to imagine what the South Africans had gone through and the time of when the apartheid had started in 1948. Nelson Mandela was involved in activities with the group, such as non-violent acts of defiance like boycotts and civil disobedience (“Mandela:The face of the fight against apartheid” 1).…
- 804 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
Winnie Mandela was born on September 26, 1936, in Bizana in the Transkei district of South Africa. Winnie worked for the rights of the people under the apartheid system. She has accomplished many things throughout her life and she continues to do so. These accomplishments, however, did not come so easily.…
- 172 Words
- 1 Page
Satisfactory Essays -
Nelson Mandela was the dreamer, with a dream to destroy the apartheid and earn equal rights. He was not a selfish man by any means, and wanted to save the other South African’s suffrage. In the 1900’s when Mandela began his pursuit, the citizens of South Africa were living under a skewed government. A white supremacy was running the black majority, and segregating laws were being passed to diminish any power given to black South Africans. By the mid 1950’s, the government had made it illegal for a white to get married to someone of an opposing race.…
- 1212 Words
- 5 Pages
Better Essays -
Nelson Mandela was born on July 18, 1918 in Transkei, South Africa. He was educated at the University College of Fort Hare and the University of Witwatersrand and qualified in law in 1942. In 1944, he joined the African National Congress (ANC) and became one of the many to engage in the resistance against Apartheid and the unjust white supremacy. In 1952, he earned the role of ANC deputy national president, and advocated nonviolent procedures towards Apartheid. From 1956 to 1961, he was arrested by the police and went on trial for treason, and fortunately was acquitted in 1961. After his release, he learned of several peaceful demonstrators being massacred, and so, he considered the use of guerrilla warfare and other violent tactics on…
- 1391 Words
- 6 Pages
Good Essays