Nelson Mandela was the Man Who Changed South Africa

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How could a man become president of such a strong country after being imprisoned for nearly three decades and being a minority race? His name was Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela. He is a true inspiration to those who hear his story. Starting out as nothing more than a black man and ending as a person whose name is heard and recognized all over the world is something that just briefly explains Nelson Mandela’s life. As a true anti-apartheid Nelson Mandela did wonders for equality with much power even when imprisoned for nearly three decades. Nelson Mandela was a man admired by the world for his perseverance in his devotion to equality and becoming president after being incarcerated for 27 years meanwhile maintaining respect from the whole world.
Born on the 18th of July in the year 1918, Thembu of the Madiba clan accepted the first born son in the family by the name Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela. Having 13 brothers and sisters, Mandela seemed to be the trouble maker in the family. As Alex Perry states, “Rebellion was in his blood” (26). This trouble making characteristic seemed to be the result of his loathing toward the method of apartheid. Apartheid which translates to “apartness” was a system of racism in South Africa. Those who were black faced the worst of all the discrimination by not being allowed to own property rights in the majority of areas, denied the right to vote and have certain occupations. Most blacks weren’t even allowed matrimony to a white woman. These were the types of hardships that Nelson Mandela experienced and most of all, despised. As Mandela aged into maturity, he began to express his feeling on the government and their participation in apartheid. Mandela quite often expressed his views through the act of protes...

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...thing he sacrificed and worked for finally paid off. Helping Mandela on his autobiography, Rick Stengel said that “Through all Mandela’s great challenges, he never lost sight of his overarching goal: achieving freedom for his people and enlarging the circle of freedom for all” (Gibbs 1). Nelson Mandela was and still is a true inspiration to the world. The footprints he left on this Earth on December 5, 2013 sure did leave a mark. (Villarosa 44)

Works Cited

Gibbs, Nancy. "The Long Walk Comes To An End." Time (2013): 1. TOPICsearch. Web. 23 Jan. 2014.

Perry, Alex. "Protester." Time (2013): 26. TOPICsearch. Web. 23 Jan. 2014.

Smolowe, Jill, et al. "Nelson Mandela 1918--2013." People 20.26 (2013): 62. TOPICsearch. Web. 22 Jan. 2014.

"South African protest marchers whipped and tear gassed." Toronto Star (Canada) 28 Aug. 1985: Newspaper Source. Web. 22 Jan. 2014.

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