"Real leaders must be ready to sacrifice all for the freedom of their people." Those were the words of Nelson Mandela, one of the most influential leaders of the twentieth century. Winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993, Mandela was best known for his efforts to end apartheid, a racial system that separated groups of individuals by race and deprived people of color from full citizenship. (http://sites.psu.edu/leadership/2014/01/24/leadership-traits-in-nelson-mandela/) As the first black president of South America, he was an international advocate for human rights. Mandela helped to unite South Africa as it dismantled apartheid, the cruel system of white minority rule. He symbolized for all of Africa a commitment to democracy and freedom. …show more content…
http://www.europeanbusinessreview.com/?p=477 For 20 years, Mandela directed peaceful, nonviolent acts of defiance against the South African government and its racist policies, including the 1952 Defiance Campaign and the 1955 Congress of the People. In 1956, Mandela and 150 others were arrested and charged with treason for their political advocacy. http://www.biography.com/people/nelson-mandela-9397017#mandelas-imprisonment
Inspired by Gandhi’s successful opposition to British colonial rule in India, Mandela was at first highly committed to non-violence. But the government’s harsh measures against non-violent opposition drew him over time into various forms of targeted sabotage, resulting in numerous arrests. In 1961, Mandela co-founded a militant wing, in partnership with the South African Communist Party, and was eventually convicted of treason and sentenced him to life in prison.
…show more content…
Through his Reconstruction and Development Plan, the South African government funded the creation of jobs, housing and basic health care. In 1996, 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. By the 1999 general election, Nelson Mandela had retired from active politics. He continued to maintain a busy schedule, however, raising money to build schools and clinics in South Africa's rural heartland through his foundation, and serving as a mediator in Burundi's civil war. He also published a number of books on his life and struggles, among them No Easy Walk to Freedom; Nelson Mandela: The Struggle is my Life; and Nelson Mandela's Favorite African Folktales.
Mandela was diagnosed and treated for prostate cancer in 2001. In June 2004, at the age of 85, he announced his formal retirement from public life and returned to his native village of
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
...a stood for change throughout his whole life, no matter what hardships he encountered. Mandela continued to help the world after his presidency through humanitarian causes by creating the Nelson Mandela Foundation, which focused on rural development, school building and battling HIV/AIDS. Mandela has become widely known as the “father of the nation” in South Africa, where many regard him as a national hero. Nelson Mandela has also been called one of the greatest humans of the past century.
He possessed the ability to negotiate with important business people and was a great public speaker. Although he was no perfect human being, he to had a weakness. He did not have the ability to remain loyal to the Anc. He was not able to say loyal to his organization. Besides that Nelson Mandela did many historical things for everyone. He was even awarded a nobel peace prize. He fought for the rights of children, equality for all, stood in the face of oppression and knocked it down. His fearlessness was what his people need. His couraged were what the children needed. A Role model, someone to look up to, someone they could aspire to be like when they got
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...
Most people have heard the name Nelson Mandela from recent news, but many of them haven't heard his whole story. Mandela not only had a monumental impact on South Africa's history, but also helped to shape the country into what it is today. He's not only had a significant influence on his country, but also the world. From early on, he dreamed of helping the South African people fight for their freedom. This dream definitely became reality. Mandela and the legacy he left behind will be remembered for years to come.
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.
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...
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.
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.
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
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.
“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.
In conclusion, Mandela is a symbol of peace and bringing people together regardless of race, language, and religion. Unlike other political leaders in his country who used power to discriminate and violate the human rights, he brought the country into a state of harmony and peace.
Nelson Mandela (1918-2013) was the revolutionary political leader and former president, who helped bring an end to apartheid in South Africa. He devoted his life to democracy and social justice, and received more than 250 honours for it, perhaps the most important one is the Nobel
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was an honored world leader for his audacity and intelligence. He had dignity and a beautiful smile, alongside a sense of humor. He was a symbol of democracy and freedom for South Africa. He was known for his fights against racial inequality and atrocious government. He went through many obstacles but successfully overcame them.