Nelson Mandela Prisoner to Freedom

543 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Life lesson of Nelson Mandela essay for Grade 4

“As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn’t leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I’d still be in prison” (Mandela). In recent times, since Mandela’s death, his renowned views on leadership have been of great debate around the world. To most, he was the first president of South Africa, a respected and courageous leader, but before that he was a convicted terrorist. His “hatred for the oppressor” taught him to forgive and forget and to emerge from prison as a better man. Twenty-seven years in prison didn’t change Mandela’s stance on racial oppression, and throughout his sentence, he became a martyr for equal rights and freedom.
Growing up in the Xhosas community, Mandela learned through observation. Like many others, “[his] life…was shaped by customs, rituals, and taboo” (Long Walk to Freedom). Being raised in a society full of corrupt government officials, Mandela leaned toward social equality even from an early age. In 1962, Mandela was arrested during the Rivonia Trial for a conspiracy of overthrowing the government. He was given a five year sentence at Pretoria as a local prisoner on November 7th for attempting to leave the country without his passport, and incitement. On May 27th 1963, Mandela was transferred to Robben Island, where he would spend eighteen years of his life imprisonment after being convicted of sabotage on June 11, 1964.
On Robben Island, Mandela was known by his prison numbers, “46664”. Every morning at dawn they would be woken to clean their cells, a duty made necessary because of the guard’s punishment of peeing on them through the vents. In an attempt of subtle sabotage Mandela decided to use his stature to lead his fellow inmates in a rebellion. “Comrad...

... middle of paper ...

... Walk to Freedom" N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Feb. 2014. .
"Oprah Interviews Nelson Mandela - Oprah.com." Oprah.com. Harpo, Inc., n.d. Web. 12 Feb. 2014. .
"Prison Timeline." Nelson Mandela Foundation. Nelson Mandela Foundation, n.d. Web. 08 Feb. 2014. .
"Robben Island Museum." History of Robben Island. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Feb. 2014..
"The Prisoner." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 08 Feb. 2014. .
Wooldridge, Mike. "Mandela Death: How He Survived 27 Years in Prison." BBC News. BBC, 10 Dec. 2013. Web. 08 Feb. 2014. .

Show More
Related

  • Descent Into Madness By Mike Rolland: Article Analysis

    131 Words  | 1 Pages

    Mark Colvin, a professor of sociology in the Department of Justice Studies at Kent University was hired to investigate the disturbance in 1980. He analyzes the social structure of the jail and how the deterioration of the administration led to the brutally hostile conditions of the penitentiary. The dispute is especially

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Stateville: The Penitentiary In Mass Society

    1180 Words  | 3 Pages

    Understanding the organization of prisons and how the are can is a very complex mechanism. In “Stateville: The penitentiary in Mass Society”, Jacobs seeks to understand the organization in the Stateville prison system, one of the world’s toughest prisons. Giving the history of the prison does this and how things ran under different wardens, and how things were coupled throughout different organizations. When looking at these things Jacobs also points out issues in the prison and how they happened under what type of organization. By doing this, Stateville is easily relatable to understand leadership and authority.

    Read More

  • Women, Crime, and Custody in Victorian England by Lucia Zedner

    1199 Words  | 3 Pages

    Morris, Norval, and David Rothman. The Oxford History of the Prison. New York: Oxford University Press, 1995.

    Read More

  • Elie Wiesel's Holocaust Experiences Portrayed in the 'Night'

    1637 Words  | 4 Pages

    Interview by Oprah Winfrey. Oprah. The Oprah Magazine, Nov. 2000. Web. 5 Apr. 2011.

    Read More

  • The Lord Of The Flies Quote Analysis

    654 Words  | 2 Pages

    The article reports that the “South African government imprisoned him for 27 years, but Mandela persevered. During his imprisonment, Mandela became a hero to people around the world and a symbol of the injustice of apartheid” (“Biography of Nelson Mandela”).

    Read More

  • Coretta Scott, Not Just the Wife of Martin Luther King Jr.

    1439 Words  | 3 Pages

    "Coretta Scott King Interview." -- Academy of Achievement. Academy of Achievement, n.d. Web. 02 Apr. 2014.

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Analysis Of Nelson Mandela's Speech

    500 Words  | 1 Pages

    He opens his speech with “I greet you all in the name of peace, democracy and freedom for all.” (Mandela)

    Read More

  • Nelson Mandela: The Art of Civil Disobedience

    824 Words  | 2 Pages

    Klerk, F.W. De. "Nelson Mandela - Biographical." Nobel Peace Prize 1993. Nobel Peace Prize, 2013. Web. 18 Dec. 2013. .

    Read More

  • Nelson Mandela

    2152 Words  | 5 Pages

    Activist, lawyer, father, prisoner, survivor, president, the face of equality. Nelson Mandela has an inspiring story of fighting Apartheid forces and surviving a long prison sentence all in the name of freedom and equal rights. Through Nelson Mandela’s constant fight for freedom of the African people from white apartheid forces, he was dominated by the corrupt government. After uprising numerous riots against apartheid forces, Mandela was sent to jail for twenty-seven years revealing the cruelty that humans can possess. With the strong will power and complete support of the African people, Mandela survived his prison sentence and became the first democratically elected president of South Africa exposing the strength in human nature by showing that humans can persevere through tough times. Mandela left a profound impact on the African people by saving them from corrupt Apartheid rule and bringing a democratic government. Thus teaching the world that in an event where a body of people is suppressed, they will inevitably rebel by any means necessary to gain their freedom.

    Read More

  • Nelson Mandela's Long Walk To Freedom

    2182 Words  | 5 Pages

    Nelson Mandela in his book, Long Walk to Freedom argues through the first five parts that a black individual must deal, coop, and grow through a society that is hindering their lives' with apartheid and suppression of their rightful land. Rolihlanla Mphakanyiswa or clan name, Madiba was born on July 18, 1918 in a simple village of Mvezo, which was not accustomed to the happenings of South Africa as a whole. His father was an respected man who led a good life, but lost it because of a dispute with the magistrate. While, his mother was a hard-working woman full of daily choirs. His childhood was full of playing games with fellow children and having fun. In school, Mandela was given his English name of Nelson. After his father's death, he moved to love with a regent, who was a well-off individual and owed Nelson's father for a previous favor. The next several years were full of schooling for Nelson. These schools opened Nelson's eyes to many things, which we will discuss later. He and the regent's son, Justice decided to travel to Johannesburg and see what work they could find. They left on their journey without the regent's permission, but eventually escaped his power and settled down in the town. In Johannesburg, Nelson settled down in a law firm as an assistant and went to University of South Africa and Witwatersrand University to further his law education. Witswatersrand University brought many new ideas to Nelson and awakened a spirit inside of him.

    Read More

  • Annotated Bibliography Annotated Bibliography Introduction To Nelson Mandela

    784 Words  | 2 Pages

    Nelson Mandela taught us that the humanity all of us share can help us transcend the sins some of us commit. There is no better example of the transformative power of tolerance and reconciliation than Nelson Mandela and his inspiring work in overthrowing the apartheid government in South Africa. He understood the power of words to change minds and the power of peaceful deeds to open hearts. His life reminds us that justice and tolerance can overcome even the greatest cruelty. Nelson Mandela faced one of the greatest evils of our time.

    Read More

  • Imprisonment is Ineffective as Punishment

    1773 Words  | 4 Pages

    The Prison Reform Trust. (2013) Prison: the facts Bromley Briefings Summer. Available from: http://www.prisonreformtrust.org.uk/Portals/0/Documents/Prisonthefacts.pdf [Accessed 01 January 2014].

    Read More

  • Nelson Mandela's Life

    897 Words  | 2 Pages

    Born on July 18, 1918, Nelson Mandela grew up like many other children in his tribe. He was born in Mvezo, South Africa and had no shoes till he was sixteen. “On the first day of classes I sported my new boots. I had never worn boots before of any kind” (“Nelson Mandela”). When Mandela wore his new boots to class, his class mates were amused because of the way he walked in them. A few students actually stood up and embarrassed him in the presence of the class. “The country boy is not used to wearing shoes” (“Nelson Mandela”). Although he was embarrassed, he moved on, lived his life and went to Fort Hare University, but because of tradition his Chief stopped his studies and prepared an arranged marriage. Mandela was not interested in the girl his chief chose, so he decided to avoid the marriage. “But he was no Democrat and did not think worthwhile to consult me about a wife. He selected a girl, fat and dignified” (“Nelson Mandela”).

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay On Nelson Mandela

    1116 Words  | 3 Pages

    In conclusion, Nelson Mandela was a prominent leader of South Africa who had made many changes for the Africans as a whole of South Africa. Mandela did what he had to for the humanity of people no matter the outcome of the thorough situations and circumstances he was put in. Mandela never let what was meant to be his downfall change his mind set or his push and his motivation to what his bigger picture and his bigger

    Read More

  • Nelson Mandela Interview Questions And Interview

    1075 Words  | 3 Pages

    {Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was a tremendous political activist in the late 1960’s. He was a lawyer and a member of the ANC who strongly disagreed with the apartheid regime; he used his talents for speaking and his courage to help change the unfair laws which oppressed blacks in South Africa.

    Read More

More about Nelson Mandela Prisoner to Freedom

Open Document