Nelson Mandela Speech

Nelson Mandela

He is known all over the world for doing many remarkable things. He promoted peaceful non-violent protests, became the first black president of South Africa, and worked to achieve human rights for everyone in South Africa. This man is Nelson Mandela and he was a big hero to many young and old people all over the world. We have all heard his name before, but may not know exactly what he did. Allow me to tell you the story and life of an outstanding hero of our world, Nelson Mandela.

Nelson Mandela was born on July 18, 1918 in Muezo, South Africa to his mother, Noqaphi Nusekeni, and his father, Gadla Henry Mphakanyiswa. His father was the tribal chief of the Xhosa-speaking Tembu people. He had 6 sisters and 3 brothers as well.

This league strived to work against the Apartheid System. The Apartheid System racially classified people into four groups. The groups were black, Indian, colored and white. This was a system in South Africa of discrimination and segregation based on race. A person’s race was determined by their ancestry, appearance, lifestyle and socioeconomic status. The Apartheid System dictated where one could work, live, socialize and use public services based on race.

In 1952, Mandela was elected president of the ANC. Four years later, he and 155 others were arrested for a peaceful demonstration. The case went on until 1961, when Mandela was found not guilty. One year before the verdict, the police had killed 70 protesters. These killings caused the ANC to be banned the following days after the killings.

In August of 1962, Mandela was arrested again after the police learned that he was running the ANC underground outside of South African territory. He was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison. While Mandela was in prison, everything that he had worked for became known worldwide and his reputation grew over the

The same year the de Klerk government in South Africa dropped the ban on the ANC. Through 1990-1993 there were negotiations between the ANC and other political parties to end the Apartheid System. In early 1991 they successfully ended the Apartheid System. Nelson Mandela, the founder of the ANC, was instrumental in allowing the country of South Africa to end racial discrimination and bring peace. This also stimulated the fight for human rights around the world. He was elected president of South Africa in 1994 and serviced until