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History of Nelson Mandela(essay)
nelson mandela and the anti apartheid movement
brief history of nelson mandela
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Apartheid activist Nelson Mandela once said that “there is no passion to be found playing small - in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.” This relates to civil disobedience because it shows that a life that is less then what you should have or want should not make a person content (Mandela). Civil disobedience is a form of protest where protestors violate a law to prove a point that they feel a certain law is wrong and show how they feel. Most activists that practice civil disobedience are calm, thoughtful, and understand the legal penalties (Suber). The purpose of civil disobedience is often to change laws and protect the rights of some group or people. It also represents an important concept that sometimes …show more content…
Nelson Mandela was born July 18, 1918, into a royal family who spoke Xhosa and were a Thembu tribe in the South African village of Mvezo. His father, Gadla Henry Mphakanyiswa, served as chief there during his life. His mother, Nosekeni Fanny, was the third wive out of four, who gave birth to nine daughters and four sons. After the death of his father in 1927, Nelson Mandela, who was nine years old, became known by his birth name and was adopted (Mandela). He eventually became the ward of the Paramount Chief and ended up going to a local mission primary school and that was where he was given the name Nelson. He enrolled at the university of Fort Hare in 1939 (Johnson).The next year, he and other students, including Oliver Tambo a friend and business partner of his, got sent home for participating in a boycott against the university policies. Upon returning home he learned that his guardian had planned an arranged marriage for him and fled to Johannesburg. He became a law clerk while completing his bachelor’s degree (Nelson). Nelson Mandela was married three times in his life and had six children which includes four girls and two boys. His daughter, Makaziwe had died as an infant in 1948; his son, Madiba Thembekile ended up dying in a car accident in 1969; and his other son Makgatho Lewanika had died of an AIDS-related illness in 2005 …show more content…
Nelson Mandela, who was part of the ANC tried to tour the country and encourage people to take part in civil disobedience to stop the law. He was arrested, with others, and convicted even though they had "advised their followers to adopt a peaceful course of action and to avoid all violence". He ended up getting a suspended sentence and had his movements forbidden (Johnson). During a raid on a farm in Rivona, the government found evidence of the ANC’s plan and charged Nelson Mandela and eight co-defendants with trying to overthrow the government. The ensuing trial that became known as the Rivonia trial was one of Nelson Mandela central roles against apartheid (Delviscio). His inspiration for protesting apartheid is, as he said, that“[I]t would be wrong and unrealistic for African leaders to continue preaching peace and nonviolence at a time when the government met our peaceful demands with force. It was only when all else had failed, when all channels of peaceful protest had been barred to us, that the decision was made to embark on violent forms of political struggle.” Nelson Mandela was also a part of MK and under his plan, MK launched a sabotage campaign against the government, which had recently declared South Africa a republic that was withdrawn from the British Commonwealth (Johnson). Nelson
Civil disobedience is the refusal to follow or demand laws or rules. Taking a stand on issues of justice in society may be important or redundant to many individuals. In my case, taking a stand on issues of justice is important. Individuals take a stand on justice so they can change issues, speak for people who can’t speak for themselves, and fight for what they believe in.
Civil disobedience is the refusal to obey certain laws, but in a peaceful form of political protests. Martin Luther King Jr. is the best example of a form of civil disobedience for the Civil rights Movement and many more through the late 1950s to the late 1960s. ‘’Martin Luther King Jr. used the power of words and acts of nonviolent resistance, such as protest, grassroots organizing, and civil disobedience.’’
Civil Disobedience is a deliberate violation against the law in order to invoke change against a government policy. Civil disobedience can come in the form of running a red light or j-walking, or in more noticeable methods such as riots. Coined by American author and poet Henry David Thoreau, the term has developed to define the act of disobeying a law one sees as unfit or unjust. Usually the purpose of civil disobedience is to gain public attention to a perceived injustice and appeal to or gain support from the public in a non-violent way. The idea is to force the government to negotiate or else continue with the unwanted behavior; or in simpler terms, to “clog the machine” (“Civil Disobedience”). It is believed by many that the act of civil disobedience is justifiable in a democratic government like that of the United States. A Democracy is defined as a form of government controlled by elected representatives or by the people themselves. However, in order to have a stable government, it must be built on a stable society. Societal welfare is the general good for the public and how its members take action to provide opportunities and minimum standards. According to societal welfare, which is the sake of the emotional and physical well-being of the community, the laws must be abided and civil disobedience is morally unjust in our society. Once any member of the society questions the affairs of the state, the state may be given up for lost (“Jean Jacques Rousseau”).
Nelson Mandela was born in Mvezo, a village in the Transkei, on July 18, 1918. The definition of Rolihlahla actually means “pulling the branch of a tree”. After the passing away of Nelson’s father’s in the year 1927, Mandela became the ward of Jongintaba Dalindyebo, the Paramount Chief, to be developed to grasp his place in high office. As a result of listening to the elder’s stories of his ancestor’s valor during the resistance wars, he aspired too of creating his own significant addition to the freedom tribulation of his people. He then enrolled at the University College of Fort Hare; there he was elected onto the Students’ Representative Council. He was suspended from college for being involved in a protest boycott, and it was an action such as this that gave some people the impression that Nelson Mandela was a trouble maker. Mr. Mandela had gotten acquainted with Walter Sisulu in 1941 and it was he, Sisulu, who arranged for Nelson to do articles at Lazar Sidelsky’s law firm. Mandela completed his Bachelor of Arts degree through the University of South Africa in 1942.While studying Nelson made his venture into politics, and joined the African National Congress in 1943.
Civil disobedience, is often the last step that people take to bring attention to a topic or subject that they feel strongly about. Every day is full of unjust rulings that may not be to everyone’s liking. Many people fight for what they believe in even if the outcome is bleak. You are your own self and you will always have your opinion that may not match all other citizen’s. Civil disobedience has escalated to a majority of non- violent protesting, although there are some cases including violence. It is a form of rebelling against what they feel is unfair or unconstitutional. Showing civil disobedience is an act that you must be willing to accept the legal consequences, which may include incarceration.
At the suggestion of one of his father’s friends, Mandela was baptized in the Methodist Church; He went on to become the first in his family to attend school. As was custom at the time, and probably due to the bias of the British educational system in South Africa, Mandela’s teacher told him that his new first name would be Nelson. When Mandela was nine years old, his father died of lung disease, causing his life to change dramatically. Mandela was given the same status and responsibilities as the regent’s two other children, his son and oldest child, Justice and daughter Nomafu. When Mandela sixteen, it was time for him to partake in the traditional African circumcision ritual to mark his entrance into manhood. In his second year at Fort Hare. Mandela was elected to the student representative council. When Mandela returned home, the regent was furious, telling him unequivocally that he would have to recant his decision and go back to school in the fall. Mandela soon became actively involved in the anti-apartheid movement, joining the African National Congress in 1942. In 1956, Mandela and 150 others were arrested and charged with treason for their political advocacy (they were eventually acquitted). It wasn’t
To understand Mandela’s role in civil disobedience, one must first have the knowledge of his personal life. Mandela was born in the town of Transkei, South Africa into a royal family on July 18,1918 (Klerk). Even though Mandela was born into a royal family, he still noticed the ugly treatment of people in South Africa based on their racial background. Mr. Mandela was educated at the University of Fort Hare and the University of Witwatersrand. Both of these universities are located in South Africa, though Fort Ware is in Eastern Cape while Witwatersrand is located in the capital (Klerk, F). While a student in college Mandela was sent home for protesting against the strict policies of the university with several other classmates. Like many col...
The definition of civil disobedience is a form of protest in which protesters deliberately violate the law (Suber, 1999). Civil disobedience can be shown in many different ways and is also used for many different reasons. Civil disobedience can be caused by democracy, used for murder excuses, government hacking, deportation and equal rights. Some say there is no way to justify civil disobedience while others think it is necessary in some cases. People choose civil disobedience because they feel it's the best way to get the attention they need for their cause. These people see it as the practical way to go about fighting for their cause without actually using violence. While some people who act upon civil disobedience do turn to violence, that doesn't mean that want to, they just think it's their only option.
The practice of civil disobedience has long been discussed as to whether it inspires true social change, or only creates conflict within society. The peaceful resistance of Martin Luther King Jr. can be used as a primary example supporting the positive effects of civil disobedience. While the morality of his actions against the previous law of segregation can be debated, the positive influence of ending segregation is undeniable (Bill of Rights Institute). However, King’s methods of achieving this change, such as peaceful protesting and marches, should not be confused with the non-peaceful rejection of laws. While riots and violence encourage hate and separation, civil disobedience displays how society could function peacefully without the laws being opposed (Bill of Rights Institute). It is then demonstrated that the peaceful resistance to laws, or civil disobedience, positively impacts a free society.
Civil disobedience is an active resistance to an unjust law found in a society. This purposeful violation of a law has influenced many changes in societies throughout history and around the world. Some view civil disobedience as having a negative impact on a free society with resistances disturbing the normal order of their lives, but actually the protests are only making the world a better, more equal place for everyone living there. Civil disobedience also establishes the idea that change can take place and be effective with the absence of violence.
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”).
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.
The next several years, Nelson met many new political friends and began his involvement in the ANC. Also during this time, he met Evelyn and they became married. Gradually Nelson's political involvement grew and his family life declined. Nelson and his good friend, Oliver Tambo opened a law firm, which took up most of Nelson's time. Evelyn mothered two of Nelson's children, but the gradually grew apart. Now, Nelson was an influential political individual and bans and jailing began to follow him around. One day, a young woman came into his life by the name of Winnie and they got married. Winnie gave birth to two more of Nelson's children. As time passed, Nelson's spirit for freedom grew more and more each day. Though his life was full of bannings and jailings, he never gave up his fight, but he knew that the south African government was becoming agitated with him and the ANC. The South African government became ...
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