Nelson Mandela
Rolihlahla Mandela was born on July 18, 1918 in Mvezo, Transkei in South Africa. At a very young age his name was changed to Nelson, as it was customary to give children a Christian name. As a teenager Mandela had friends protesting imperialism, he avoided any involvement. As he matured he began to learn the inequalities that blacks in South Africa were dealing with everyday of their lives. One of the first things he did to fight racism and inequality was joining the ANC, African National Congress. The ANC was an organization that helped fight against apartheid and racism in the nation of South Africa. When he became an adult he started to rebel against the South African government, he started to become a voice for all the black South Africans suffering. He was then imprisoned for “sabotage” and conspiracy to overthrow the South African government. He was arrested in the year 1962. The police told Nelson Mandela that he was under arrest for inciting workers’ strikes and leaving the country without the permission of the government. He was then sentenced to 5 years in prison.
While he was serving his time in prison, there were documents found talking of conspiracy. Mandela’s name was listed on the document and as a result him and the others (except one) were all sentenced to life in prison. For 18 years Mandela and his fellow revolutionists were imprisoned in a prison on Robben Island. Nelson Mandela was classified as a Class D prisoner. A Class D prisoner was the lowest grade of prisoner. He had even less rights than the other prisoners on Robben Island. He was only allowed one letter every 6 months. In 1988 Mandela was moved to Victor Verster Prison. He spent time there until 1990.
During his time in prison, Mandela was a voice to people all over the world. He would write letters, and make many speeches from prison that inspired many people looking for hope. In 1990 President F.W. de Klerk released Mandela and the other prisoners. After Mandela was freed from prison, he began to play a large role in ending the Apartheid. In 1994 Nelson Mandela ran in and won the 1994 South African elections. He was the first black president of South Africa and became a symbol of moral courage for everyone.
While he was serving his time in prison, there were documents found talking of conspiracy. Mandela’s name was listed on the document and as a result him and the others (except one) were all sentenced to life in prison. For 18 years Mandela and his fellow revolutionists were imprisoned in a prison on Robben Island. Nelson Mandela was classified as a Class D prisoner. A Class D prisoner was the lowest grade of prisoner. He had even less rights than the other prisoners on Robben Island. He was only allowed one letter every 6 months. In 1988 Mandela was moved to Victor Verster Prison. He spent time there until 1990.
During his time in prison, Mandela was a voice to people all over the world. He would write letters, and make many speeches from prison that inspired many people looking for hope. In 1990 President F.W. de Klerk released Mandela and the other prisoners. After Mandela was freed from prison, he began to play a large role in ending the Apartheid. In 1994 Nelson Mandela ran in and won the 1994 South African elections. He was the first black president of South Africa and became a symbol of moral courage for everyone.
Mandela passed away in his South Africa on December 5, 2013. He had been battling a lung infection for several years. He was one of the few people with great moral courage. He fought for what he believed in and as a result he made a real change in the world and in his surroundings. He went from being a prisoner, to the first black president of the nation of South Africa. People today can learn from the moral courage of Nelson R. Mandela.
QUOTES BY MANDELA:
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
“When a man is denied the right to live the life he believes in, he has no choice but to become an outlaw.”
“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”
QUOTES BY MANDELA:
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
“When a man is denied the right to live the life he believes in, he has no choice but to become an outlaw.”
“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”