Nelson Mandela

1277 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Apartheid in south Africa 1940s and 1960s

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was a South African resistance leader who received a life sentence on Robben Island for opposing apartheid. Nelson Mandela personified struggle throughout his life. He is still leading the fight against apartheid after spending nearly three decades of his life behind bars. He has sacrificed his private life and his youth for his people, and remains South Africa's best known and loved hero.

Nelson Mandela was born in a village near Umtata in the Transkei on July 18, 1918. His father was the principal councilor to the Acting Paramount Chief of Thembuland. After his fathers death, the young Rolihlahla became the Paramount Chiefs ward to be groomed to assume high office. However,

influenced by the cases that came before the Chief s court, he was determined to become a lawyer. Hearing the elders stories of his ancestors struggles during the wars of resistance gave him dreams of making his own contribution to

the freedom struggle of his people (Ngubane).

	After receiving a primary education at a local mission school, Nelson Mandela was sent to Healdtown, a Wesleyan secondary school. He then enrolled at the University College of Fort Hare for the Bachelor of Arts Degree where he was

elected onto the Student's Representative Council. He was suspended from college for joining in a protest boycott. He went to Johannesburg where he entered politics by joining the African National Congress in 1942 (Woods).

	At the height of the Second World War, members of the African National Congress set themselves the task of transforming ANC into a mass movement. In September of 1944 they came together to form the African National Congress

Youth League. Mandela soon impressed his peers by his disciplined work and consistent effort and was elected to the Secretaryship of the Youth League in 1947 (Ngubane).

	By painstaking work, the ANCYL was able to get support for its policies amongst the ANC members. At the 1945 annual conference of the ANC, two of the leagues leaders, Anton Lembede and Ashby Mda, were elected onto the National

Executive Committee. Two years later another Youth League leader, Oliver R. Tambo became a member of the NEC

(Ngubane).

	The victory of the National Party which won the 1948 all-white elections on the platform of Apartheid, inspired ANCYL to create the Programme of Action. The Programme of ...

... middle of paper ...

...onference of the ANC held

inside South Africa after being banned for decades, Nelson Mandela was elected President of the ANC while his lifelong friend and colleague, Oliver Tambo, became the organization's National Chairperson (Ngubane).

	Mandela accepted the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of all South Africans who suffered and sacrificed so much to bring peace to their land. He was inaugurated as State President of South Africa on May 10, 1994.

	Nelson Mandela's life symbolizes the triumph of the human spirit over man's inhumanity to man. His struggle throughout life to do away with racism exemplifies his courage and heroics. South Africa is very fortunate to have a leader of that character. Without Mandela, blacks would still be opposed and would not have equal opportunities. They would not have a proper education or have any basic human rights.



Bibliography



"Apartheid." World Book Encyclopedia. 1988 ed., vol. 1,

pp. 563.



Ngubane, Jordan. "Mandela." McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of

World Biography. 1987 ed., vol. 7, pp. 132-133.



Woods, Donald. Biko. New York: Paddington Press LTD,

1978.

Show More
Related

  • Chris Mccandless Compare And Contrast

    580 Words  | 2 Pages

    goal and that was Mandela. Mandela was able to end the apartheid and became the first African

    Read More

  • Nelson Mandela's Use Of Civil Disobedience

    410 Words  | 1 Pages

    He joined the African National Congress in 1942 as a form of peaceful protests. The ANC’s goal was, “ to transform the ANC into a mass grassroots movement, deriving strength from millions. . . who had no voice under the current regime. . . [The ANC] officially adopted the Youth League's methods of boycott, strike, civil disobedience and noncooperation” (“Nelson Mandela Biography”). Mandela joined the ANC in order to peacefully remove the government’s racist policies. After he joined, Mandela spent lots of time going in and out of jail. However, he still persisted with making sure blacks gained rights. In 1991, he became president of the ANC and negotiated with President de Klerk for the country’s first multiracial elections. He succeeded. Years later, in 1994, Mandela became the first black president. When he became president, he sought to better the country and guarantee the blacks rights’. Two years after his presidency, Mandela “signed into law a new constitution for the nation, establishing a strong central government based on majority rule, and guaranteeing both the rights of minorities and the freedom of expression” (“Nelson Mandela Biography”). After defeating apartheid, he continued to make sure blacks rights were permanent. Similar to Transcendentalism, Mandela fought to establish blacks rights’ to allow everyone, not just whites, to be capable of discovering a higher truth among

    Read More

  • The Ending of White Minority and Nelson Mandela

    1723 Words  | 4 Pages

    Some might argue it was because he wanted to secure the supposed superiority of the White minority. It ended within 50 years of starting. This essay is going to explain how Nelson Mandela, once just a member. of a small Black tribe in the depths of South Africa, fought Apartheid. to become a worldwide figurehead for non-

    Read More

  • Psychobiography on Nelson Mandela

    2013 Words  | 5 Pages

    Nelson Mandela was a well-known South African politician, philanthropist, and an anti-apartheid revolutionary, born on eighteenth of July 1918. He served as the South African President from the year 1944 to 1999. He is known as the first South African chief executive, and also the first person to be elected in a free and Democratic election. After he was elected, the government of Nelson Mandela focused on dismantling and destroying the widely spread legacy of apartheid that was reigning in South Africa. He tackled these issues by dealing with institutionalised racism, inequality, and poverty. He also made an effort to foster racial reconciliation (Downing & Jr, 1992). He served as the African National Congress President, as a democratic and an African nationalist, from the year 1991 to 1997. Nelson Mandela was appointed the Secretary General from 1998 to 1999, of the Movement of Non-Alignment. Mandela studied Law when he attended the University of Witwatersrand and Fort Hare University. He got involved in anti-colonial politics at the time he lived in Johannesburg. He joined the ANC and later became a founding and prominent member of the Youth league. Nelson Mandela came to power after the National party of South Africa. He ascended to grea...

    Read More

  • An Outline for a Speech on The Life of Nelson Mandela

    697 Words  | 2 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Mandela's Unrecognized Struggle Against Apartheid

    1718 Words  | 4 Pages

    When discussing Nelson Mandela, it is important to start with his early life, as this period of his life was instrumental in forming his personal ideals. He was born on July 18th, 1918, into the Thembu tribe in South Africa. Within the tribe, and the city Mveso, his family was essentially royalty, and his father served as chief. His mother was his father’s third wife, and had thirteen children total. Mandela was born with the name Rolihlahla, and after his father died, he was adopted at the age of nine by a high-ranking regent of Thembu named Jongintaba Dalindyebo. (“Nelson Mandela”). Eventually, Mandela would become well-known in South Africa by his clan name: Madiba. (Jason Straziuso). This name was considered a sign of respect, and shows how loved Mandela was, even early on. According to History.com: “The first in his family to receive a formal education, Mandela completed his primary studies at a local missionary school. There, a teacher dubbed him Nelson as part of a common practice of

    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

  • 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

  • Nelson Mandela's Life

    897 Words  | 2 Pages

    Mandela escaped north to Johannesburg and then fled to Alexandra, where he met Walter Sisulu. He involved Mandela in politics. Sisulu introduced him to the African National Congress (ANC). Soon after that, Mandela was appointed volunteer-in-chief for a resistance campaign in 1952. Mandela began to quarrel for the black rights as the days went by. He became invol...

    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

  • One of the Greatest Leaders: Nelson Mandela

    2310 Words  | 5 Pages

    Nelson Mandela is one of the greatest ethical and political leaders in recent history. Nelson Mandela dedicated his life to the fight against the racial oppression of the apartheid regime in South Africa. In doing so, he became the first democratically chosen black president of South Africa. Nelson Mandela’s life is a blue print for the development of a leader who fought against discrimination and aimed to build fairness and justice, and by doing so, acquired the ultimate achievement: equality for South Africa.

    Read More

  • Nelson Mandela Hero Essay

    796 Words  | 2 Pages

    Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was born on July 18, 1918 into a noble family, in a South

    Read More

  • The Leadership of Nelson Mandela

    2391 Words  | 5 Pages

    This assay will be analysing on one of African president ever recognized as dedicated leader; who dedicated his entire life fighting for freedom of his nation. Rolihlahla Mandela was born in Transkei in a small rural community in the easterner cape of South Africa. On 18july 1918 and named Nelson by one of his teachers, Mandela led the struggle to reinstate the apartheid rule of South Africa against racial discrimination. As well know as a democratic leader he was incarcerated for 27 years. Has been awarded the Nobel peace prize in 1993 and 1994 Nelson Mandela been voted as South Africa first black president. (BBC news-Mandela’s life and times2008)

    Read More

  • Essay On Nelson Mandela

    653 Words  | 2 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • The Role of Nelson Mandela in the Anti-Apartheid Movement

    1155 Words  | 3 Pages

    Nelson Mandela played an important role in the abolition of Apartheid. He helped start and lead some of the riots and protests that led to black rights, and he spent a long time in prison to pay for it. He inspired many people. He said, quoting Marianne Williamson, “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

    Read More

More about Nelson Mandela

Open Document