Nelson Mandela
Born and raised in South Africa. According to the Nelson Mandela Foundation, "Rolihlahla Mandela was born in Mvezo, Transkei, on July 18,1918 to parents Nonqaphi Nosekeni and Nkosi Mphakanyiswa Galda Mandela." Rolihlahla Mandela was raised in a home with a family that always worked towards bettering the future. Mandela’s childhood was peaceful, he spent time on cattle herding and other rural pursuits. He was one of thirteen children, and had three older brothers all who were of higher rank. Mandela's mother was a Methodist, and he followed in her footsteps by attending a Methodist missionary school. When he was just twelve years old his father passed away. Since Nkosi Mandela was the "principal counsellor to the Acting King of the Thembu people, Jongintaba Dalindyebo" (Nelson Mandela Foundation). The young Rolihlahla became a "ward of Jongintaba at the Great Place in Mqhekezweni" (Nelson Mandela Foundation).
From a child and during his education, he was able to establish firm beliefs and willpower to be able to help others by listening to his family. Nelson grew up looking at the struggles of his people and was determined to help. Nelson Mandela knew what he wanted to do from listening to experiences and decided to focus primarily on his education.
He attended primary school in Qunu where his teacher Miss Mdingane gave him the name Nelson, because she wanted to give all the school children Christian names. Intending to gain the skills needed to become a councillor for the Thembu royal house, he completed his "Junior Certificate at Clarkebury Boarding Institute land went on to Healdtown, a Wesleyan secondary school where he was enrolled" (Nelson Mandela Foundation). After secondary schooling he enrolled at un...
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... able to help his people in South Africa. Mandela is well known in his country as a hero for his courage to stand for what he believed in and endured years in prison to help his country towards freedom. Nelson Mandela accepted the challenge for freedom which was worth having and went for the greater good of his people. Nelson Mandela unfortunately passed away on December 5, 2013 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Penny Johnson).
Works Cited
Winfrey, Oprah. "Oprah Talks to Nelson Mandela". O Magazine. April 2001. Print.
Hadebe, Themba. "Nelson Mandela". New York Times. Accessed 04 April 2014. Web.
Johnson, Penny. "Nelson Mandela". History Heroes. Accessed 03 March 2014. Web.
"Nelson Mandela- Fact "nobelprize.org". Nobel Media. AB 2013. Web. 25 March 2014.
Nelson Mandela Foundation. "nelsonmandela.org". Accessed 26 March 2014. Web.
Rolihlahla attended primary school in Qunu, where his teacher, Miss Mdingane, gave him the name Nelson. Nelson went to Clarkebury Boarding Institute and completed his Junior Certificate. After that, he attended Healdtown, a Wesleyan secondary school of some repute, where he matriculated. Nelson then began his studies for a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University College of Fort Hare. As a result of joining a student protest, he was expelled from school. This resulted in him not completing his degree. Nelson Mandela Foundation.
In conclusion, Nelson Mandela devoted his life to the freedom of his people with little regret for the personal sacrifices he made. Nelson Mandela was determined to bring a better life to the people of South Africa. Amazingly he was able to preserve, bring justice to his people and put the healing of his nation in front of any bitterness he might feel towards the people that had treated the majority of the South African community with disrespect and cruelty. He believed ALL people should be given and basic human rights and encouraged his country to heal, not to hate.
His father, Mphakanyiswa, was the chief and his mother was the third out of Mphakanyiswa four wives. His father lost both his title and his money over an altercation with the local colonial magistrate. After his father’s death, from lung disease, he was adopted by Jongintaba Dalindyebo, a high-ranking Thembu regent who prepared him for tribal leadership. During his time with them he was provided with the best education blacks could receive. Not only was he provided with exceptional education, he was the first in his family to go to school. There he would be given his new name, Nelson. “ As was custom at the time, and probably due to the bias of the british educational system of south africa, Mandela teacher told him that his new first name would be Nelson.”He took English, Xhosa, History and Geography courses. He took a special interest in African history, when talking to his elders about the topic they told him how the white man had broke apart the brotherhood that had been shared amongst the
Nelson Mandela was born on July 18th, 1918 in Mvezo, Eastern Cape, South Africa. He is best known for his fight against apartheid and becoming the first black President of South Africa. Mandela was born into the Thembu people and was motivated to study law after experiencing the tribal democratic leadership. He joined the African National Congress in 1942 and participated in the organization of a many protests against apartheid. In 1952 “Mandela and Oliver Tambo started the first black law office in South Africa with the intent of fighting black injustice (Saunders, World Book 133)”. Mandela was arrested in 1962 and given a life sentence for charges for conspiring against the government. He was released in 1990 after serving 27 years. In 1993 he received the Nobel Peace Prize along with F. W. de Klerk for their contribution towards ending of apartheid and establishing multiracial elections. He was elected the first black President of South Africa in 1994. While in power he focused on fighting racism, inequality, and poverty in South Africa. Mandela retired his presidency in 1999 and made his last public appearance at the 2010 FIFA World Cup Final. Nelson Mandela died December 5th, 2013 in Johannesburg. Throughout his early life, his imprisonment, and his presidency, Nelson Mandela always stood for change.
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.
“The time comes in the life of any nation when there remain only two choices: submit or fight” (“Nelson Mandela”). Nelson Mandela took the chance and fought for his rights and freedom. Mandela has gone through many troubles in his life since the day he was born. A young man that had no shoes till he approached the age of sixteen, and then transformed into a great political leader of his country. Mandela’s life is an impressing story to be told!
"Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela." Encyclopedia of World Biography. Detroit: Gale, 1998. Gale Biography In Context. Web. 11 Mar. 2012.
Nelson Mandela was born 1918 into a Royal family in a South African village, after the death of his father he was groomed into the role within the tribal leadership. He was the first in his family to receive formal education, he excelled in boxing, track and as well as academics. He attended the elite University of fort Hare, the only western style higher learning institute in South Africa at the time.
Perhaps the first seed was planted in his heart when Mandela’s father died and he went to live with Chief Jongintaba Dalindyebo, the acting regent of the Tembu people. Mandela was nine years old at the time, and when he was given the opportunity for higher education, he took an interest in the history of South Africa. He began learning about how the Afr...
The first black president of South Africa was known as mister Nelson Mandela. He was born on July 18th, 1918 in Mvezo, Transkei, South Africa. He died on December 5th, 2013. He was born with the name Rolihlahla Mandela but was changed by one of his school teachers to Nelson. He grew up with his mom, dad, six sisters and three brothers. Nelson had been married three times in his life. First to Evelyn Mase in 1944, then to Winnie Madikizela-Mandela in 1958, then to Graça Machel in 1998. He had six children in his lifetime. He had four girls and two sons. Two of the girls were both named Makaziwe, and the other two were named Zenani and Zindziswa. His two sons were named Makgatho and Madiba. Nelson didn’t only have those children but then had four stepchildren after marrying Graça Machel.
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.
“To deny people their right to human rights is to challenge their very humanity. To impose on them a wretched life of hunger and deprivation is to dehumanize them. But such has been the terrible fate of all black persons in our country under the system of apartheid (“In Nelson Mandela’s own words”). Nelson Mandela was a moral compass symbolizing the struggle against racial oppression. Nelson Mandela emerged from prison after twenty-seven years to lead his country to justice. For twenty-seven years he sat in a cell because he believed in a country without apartheid, a country with freedom and human rights. He fought for a country where all people were equal, treated with respect and given equal opportunity. Nelson Mandela looms large in the actions of activists and politicians. He inspired music and movies, and swayed the mind of powerful leaders. Making him an influential person who affected American culture.
Nelson Mandela’s was born in July, 1918 in a small village in South Africa called Qunu, in the Transkei province. His name, Nelson, was given to him during his first day in school at the age of seven. At the time, he was the first of his family to get an education, but African students were given british names. The education in African schools was all related to british culture and thought. Nelson believed that British life was the reigning culture outside of his tribal life. Before Nelson went to school, he grew up in an African tribe; he was born into the tribal clan called Madiba. The clan is part of the Thembu people and a Xhosas speaking community. When Nelson was nine years old his father, who was a tribal chief, passed away and Nelson became the foster son of the paramount Thembu chief, the Regent. The Regent and his family trained Nelson for leadership. Nelson was being groomed to be an advisor to the future tribal chief when he became older. He was influenced by the trials he saw in his tribe led by the chief. Being raised in the traditional African tribal culture protected him from racial discrimination, and later on being confronted with the prejudice apartheid regime in the world outside the clan; it influenced...
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was born on July 18, 1918 into a noble family, in a South
He was the president of South Africa, and his full name is Nelson Rolihlaha Mandela. He was born in town called Mvezo, which is fallen in Transkei region. He belongs to Madiba clan. He was from high standard family, and his father was the chief of his town. He was the first member of his family who had been educated in Qunu, and it was missionary school. People stated to call him Nelson because his teacher could not pronounce his original name, which is Rolihlaha. After his father’s death, a man who had a high-ranking position in his city adopted Nelson Mandela. His name was Jongintaba, and Mandela learned a lot of things about to be a leader from this man. Then, he joined Fort Hare University, and it was in 1939. During that he met his friend Oliver Tambo. While they were in the university, they had some political activity. For instance, they protest against the policies of the university at that time, so they dismissed out of the university. Years later, he graduated for Law School, and he got his certification from University of Witwatersand. After his graduation, Mandala worked in different places before be a member of African National Congress. In 1944 he go married and had for children, but 1958 he divorced from his wife Evelyn Mase.