The Role of Nelson Mandela in the Anti-Apartheid Movement

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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. As he said, quoting Marianne Williamson, “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?’ Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world… We are all meant to shine (Williamson).” Overall, he played a very important role in abolishing Apartheid in South Africa.

Mandela said in his autobiography, "I had no epiphany, no single revelation, no moment of truth, but a steady accumulation of a thousand slights, a thousand indignities, a thousand unremembered moments, produced in me an anger, a rebelliousness, a desire to fight the system that imprisoned my people. There was no particular day on which I said, ‘From henceforth I will devote myself to the liberation of my people’; instead, I simply found myself doing so, and could not do otherwise (Quote)." Just as he indicated, there was no one turning point in Mandela’s life, but rather many small things that led to his playing a part in the anti-apartheid movement.

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...

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...ly give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” He remained strong and ever constant in support of the anti-Apartheid movement.

Works Cited

"Quote by Nelson Mandela: "I Had No Epiphany, No Singular Revelation, No Mome..."" Goodreads.com. Goodreads.com. Web. 05 Oct. 2011. .

Williamson, Marianne. "Our Deepest Fear." Skydesigns.com. Skydesigns.com. Web. 05 Oct. 2011. .

A&E Television Networks. "Nelson Mandela Biography." Biography.com. A&E Television Networks, 2011. Web. 05 Oct. 2011. .

Robben Island." Islands of Infamy. Web. 5 Oct. 2011. .

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