A Long Walk to Freedom - 22 March 2013

Marilyn Roman
Miss Barkman
House Greyjoy
22 March 2013
Long Walk To Freedom Nelson Mandela, an anti-apartheid activist, knows that there is no easy walk to freedom. Since his birth in 1918, Mandela has constantly been involved in his country’s politics and more importantly, civil rights. Mandela’s constant participation in Africa’s government later helped make him president of Africa in 1994. Yet his involvement did not stop there and after his presidency he continued to be a hero for black South Africans. A recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize and an activist in the rights of non-white South Africans, Nelson Mandela has shown determination, bravery and fearlessness throughout his entire lifetime.
Although Mandela faced many challenges he was always determined to overcome them. Throughout his whole entire life Mandela was a supporter and constantly fought for the end of apartheid. He regularly participated in rallies and campaigns, “trying to build support for the nonviolent means of protest against the discriminatory laws” (“Mandela, Nelson” 1). This constant participation in trying to end apartheid, for good, landed him in prison. However, during his time in prison, Mandela, although he could not really do anything, “retained a wide support among South Africa’s black population, and his imprisonment became a cause celebre among the international community that condemned apartheid” (“Mandela, Nelson” 2). Because of this, Mandela became known worldwide, as a hero, for trying to bring equality to South Africa’s injustice government.
Furthermore, even though there were times during the course of Mandela’s lifetime where he could have been afraid, Mandela has always managed to keep a straight face and tackle challenges without any fear. While raising support for antiapartheid and being an active participant, Mandela dealt with many people who disagreed with his views. Because of his activism in getting the injustice law acquitted he was a “…frequent target of the authorities” (“Mandela, Nelson” 2). The hate by high officials that Mandela received banned him from many places and events. In 1964 Mandela was arrested. With all the charges he faced, Mandela never once showed a hint of fear and seemed to accept that he could go to prison for life. While in prison Mandela, “became the leading symbol of South Africa’s oppressed black majority” (“Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela” 1). Even then Mandela showed no emotion despite being presented an offer of freedom. If he accepted the offer it required that he abandoned the use of violence. Mandela declined stating that “…only free men were able to engage in such negotiations and, as a prisoner, he was not a free man” (“Mandela, Nelson” 1). Nelson Mandela’s fearlessness of the impact his actions could cause asserts that he is a hero because of his willingness to put others before himself and with that he “embodies the hopes of millions” (“Remarks Prior To Discussion” 1).
Nelson Mandela has stood up for the rights of non-white South Africans his entire life. No matter what he faced or how risky the task was he was set on achieving it. Nevertheless, there were some people, mostly high authorities, who stood in the way of this. In Addition while just being aganist apartheid made Mandela disliked by many citizens who approved of apartheid, “His antiapartheid activism made him a frequent target of the authorities” (“Mandela, Nelson” 2). In the late forties Mandela became involved in the African National Congress, a group that supported equality for all black South Africans. During his time in the African National Congress, a massacre erupted in a town, Sharpeville that left many members of the African National Congress dead. Angered by the deaths, he “decided to adopt a policy of armed resistance” (Ryan 2). Later on, Mandela was tried and prisoned for sabotage. Yet after serving twenty seven years in prison “Mandela immediately started to rally support and raise funds for the South African civil rights movement” (“Mandela, Nelson” 3). Mandela’s bravery proves him to be a hero because in the face of danger he pushes through it without ever thinking about the consequences or what could happen.
A man who not only is selfless but caring, Nelson Mandela proved to be the definition of a hero because of his determination, fearlessness, and bravery. Despite all the challenges and hardships he tackled he managed to overcome them. Even though when overcoming those challenges came with a price. Nelson Mandela’s continuous struggles not only prove him to be a human being but a hero who willingly sacrifices himself for others with the hope he is improving the lives around him.