The Legend Of Nelson Mandela

1635 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Life and works of nelson mandela

Many of us look at successful people and admire or look up to them, but we never really look into what it took to succeed. The Matthew effect teaches us that there are many attributions to one’s success. Similar to the lawyer referenced in Outliers Joe Flom, who grew up in great depression but, used education as an escape route. Mandela grew up in an era called apartheid which limited black South Africans from enjoying basic human rights. He had a poor household, but he did well in school and took advantage of the opportunities given to him. Nelson Mandela became a successful politician, leader and a legend to many, as a result of the 10,000 plus hours he spent working while he was incarcerated. Upon his release, Nelson worked on only four …show more content…

What is a legend? I define a legend as an admirable person, who has a positive influence. Legends die, but their legacies live on. Nelson’s article, “Nelson Mandela’s two bodies”, best describes this. It explains how South Africa found such security in the role he played as a leader. On December 5th, 2013, Nelson Mandela’s physical body died, but what lived on was liberation, freedom and equality among all races, all of which still stand today. That’s what makes him a legend. It was interesting learning the truth about the origin of his name. Mandela notes that, ”The name Nelson is a Christian name given to me on the first day of school. My birth name that was given to him by his father was Rolihlahla. Which means “ pulling the branch of a tree” but its colloquial meaning would be “trouble maker”(Mandela 20). Thank God for the teacher who gave him the name Nelson, for she ridded us of a trouble maker. To be honest Nelson did stir up some trouble in the eyes of the white government, but his trouble had a good …show more content…

I had the opportunity to, visit the Robben Island prison where Nelson Mandela was incarcerated. That to me at six years old was not really a fun trip. However, when the travel agent told us that there is going to be a surprise guest for us when we arrive at Robben Island, I was pretty excited. I hoped that it would be Nelson himself. Instead it was another prisoner who was incarcerated at the same time as Nelson and had known him personally. Now, what I wanted to know was why was he not as famous as Nelson I had not and even heard of. There were many people who went to jail at that time and sought or liberation and freedom. It was much more personal for Nelson, therefore he worked harder than others to achieve this goal. Like Joe Flom’s friend who applied for the same job position as Joe did. They had the same opportunity but, only Joe was

Show More
Related

  • 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

  • Nelson Mandela

    2786 Words  | 6 Pages

    Excuse me sir, may I see your pass?" These words mean very little to most Americans; however these words struck fear in the hearts of black South Africans during the times of apartheid. While apartheid was being practiced, blacks were restricted in the jobs they could hold, facilities they could use, as well as the places they could be, and all blacks had to carry passes for identification purposes. If the passes were not in order, the carrier was subject to arrest. Through these terrifying times, one man rose above all the rest in the effort to combat this terrible practice of apartheid. This man was Nelson Mandela; a man who was so dedicated to the overthrow of apartheid that he was willing to spend twenty-seven years of his live in prison for the cause. Mandela's rise to the South African presidency, after his release is well documented, but in order to truly understand Mandela, one must examine his life before his prison term, and rise to the presidency. When analyzing Mandela's life from this point of view, several questions come to the forefront. First of all, what was the extent of the apartheid laws which Mandela and the people of South Africa were facing? Secondly, what tactics did Mandela use to combat this practice of apartheid? Thirdly, what factors played a motivating force in the life of Mandela? And finally, what impact does the life of Nelson Mandela have on the rest of the world? After carefully answering each of these questions, one can easily see that Nelson Mandela was a man shaped by apartheid into a staunch nationalist that served as an example for his people and the world.

    Read More

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

    697 Words  | 2 Pages

    Transition to 1st main point: First, let’s talk about the childhood and education of Mandela

    Read More

  • Nelson Mandela: The Art of Civil Disobedience

    824 Words  | 2 Pages

    Nelson Mandela: The Art of Civil Disobedience Have you ever wondered what it was like to make a difference and even change something in your country? How would you feel if you were considered a hero by your people? Civil disobedience is a form of protest that uses a law to show that it is not needed. The protestors intentionally violate a law that they are protesting against (Suber). For example, Rosa Parks used civil disobedience by sitting at the front of the bus because she believed that all people are the same and deserved equal rights.

    Read More

  • Nelson Mandela's Long Walk To Freedom

    2182 Words  | 5 Pages

    Nelson Mandela in his book, Long Walk to Freedom argues through the first five parts that a black individual must deal, coop, and grow through a society that is hindering their lives' with apartheid and suppression of their rightful land. Rolihlanla Mphakanyiswa or clan name, Madiba was born on July 18, 1918 in a simple village of Mvezo, which was not accustomed to the happenings of South Africa as a whole. His father was an respected man who led a good life, but lost it because of a dispute with the magistrate. While, his mother was a hard-working woman full of daily choirs. His childhood was full of playing games with fellow children and having fun. In school, Mandela was given his English name of Nelson. After his father's death, he moved to love with a regent, who was a well-off individual and owed Nelson's father for a previous favor. The next several years were full of schooling for Nelson. These schools opened Nelson's eyes to many things, which we will discuss later. He and the regent's son, Justice decided to travel to Johannesburg and see what work they could find. They left on their journey without the regent's permission, but eventually escaped his power and settled down in the town. In Johannesburg, Nelson settled down in a law firm as an assistant and went to University of South Africa and Witwatersrand University to further his law education. Witswatersrand University brought many new ideas to Nelson and awakened a spirit inside of him.

    Read More

  • Annotated Bibliography Annotated Bibliography Introduction To Nelson Mandela

    784 Words  | 2 Pages

    This source really answers one of my questions that I'll use in the essay: What motivated Mandela to achieve his goal? It really goes to the point of how prison really motivated him and backs it up with things he did there, such as listening to stories of people who were highly educated and who were widely traveled and experienced. Annotated Bibliography Entry Source #3 But almost from the start, violence flared up between the Mandela's African National Congress (ANC) and the mainly Zulu Inkatha Freedom Party with suspicions of a third force sponsored by the white minority government at work. Mandela was 7 years old when his mother enrolled him at the Clarke-Bury Missionary School in South Africa's Eastern Cape province.

    Read More

  • Nelson Mandela's Life

    897 Words  | 2 Pages

    Born on July 18, 1918, Nelson Mandela grew up like many other children in his tribe. He was born in Mvezo, South Africa and had no shoes till he was sixteen. “On the first day of classes I sported my new boots. I had never worn boots before of any kind” (“Nelson Mandela”). When Mandela wore his new boots to class, his class mates were amused because of the way he walked in them. A few students actually stood up and embarrassed him in the presence of the class. “The country boy is not used to wearing shoes” (“Nelson Mandela”). Although he was embarrassed, he moved on, lived his life and went to Fort Hare University, but because of tradition his Chief stopped his studies and prepared an arranged marriage. Mandela was not interested in the girl his chief chose, so he decided to avoid the marriage. “But he was no Democrat and did not think worthwhile to consult me about a wife. He selected a girl, fat and dignified” (“Nelson Mandela”).

    Read More

  • Nelson Mandela or Rolihlahla: Pulling the Branch of a Tree

    781 Words  | 2 Pages

    Nelson Mandela once said, “To be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others” (brainyquotes.com). Rolihlahla, the name he was given at birth, means pulling the branch of a tree. This name was appropriate for him, as he believed in “shaking things up” for the right cause. His influence was great in creating equality for all people, of all races in South Africa. Mandela was an extraordinary leader throughout his life because he practiced the most significant qualities of a leader including determination, intelligence, situational skills, sacrifice, and vision.

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay On Nelson Mandela

    1116 Words  | 3 Pages

    There are many types of people in the world. Some of them are negative and some are positive. Negative people seem to have an endless impact on the people they influence. Negative people plant their venom in the lives of families, friends, communities, countries, and sometimes, even the world, which can make healing difficult and almost impossible because, in many cases, negativity breeds more negativity. However, all people are not negative people, and many people take time to build up others who are less fortunate than they are but who deserve the same opportunities they have. Nelson Mandela is one of these positive people. Mandela contributed to ending

    Read More

  • Essay And Contributions Of Nelson Mandela And The Nobel Peace Prize

    862 Words  | 2 Pages

    Imagine being a black individual living in a South African society where whites thrived in numerous aspects of life while those who were colored were treated very poorly and inferior. This would have been the current situation in the country if it wasn’t for one individual who completely turned the entire nation from a place of inequality and injustice to a land of prosperity and hope. This person was able to suffer through racism, which included being wrongfully imprisoned for nearly 27 years, to ensure that his country would someday view everyone as equal regardless of their skin color. This person, who utterly reshaped the entire nation of South Africa for the better of colored individuals, was Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela.

    Read More

  • One of the Greatest Leaders: Nelson Mandela

    2310 Words  | 5 Pages

    Nelson Mandela’s was born in July, 1918 in a small village in South Africa called Qunu, in the Transkei province. His name, Nelson, was given to him during his first day in school at the age of seven. At the time, he was the first of his family to get an education, but African students were given british names. The education in African schools was all related to british culture and thought. Nelson believed that British life was the reigning culture outside of his tribal life. Before Nelson went to school, he grew up in an African tribe; he was born into the tribal clan called Madiba. The clan is part of the Thembu people and a Xhosas speaking community. When Nelson was nine years old his father, who was a tribal chief, passed away and Nelson became the foster son of the paramount Thembu chief, the Regent. The Regent and his family trained Nelson for leadership. Nelson was being groomed to be an advisor to the future tribal chief when he became older. He was influenced by the trials he saw in his tribe led by the chief. Being raised in the traditional African tribal culture protected him from racial discrimination, and later on being confronted with the prejudice apartheid regime in the world outside the clan; it influenced...

    Read More

  • The Leadership of Nelson Mandela

    2391 Words  | 5 Pages

    Mr. Nelson Mandela Charismatic personality he’s self determined, sense of humour, integrity, strong minded, intelligence, empathy, self nelson Mandela charisma encouraged people by changing their goals, values, need beliefs and objective he bring about this change by attempt to south Africa people self idea specifically make the people feel valued and personal identity the lack of resentment over cruel treatment received. Nelson Mandela spiritual strengths beliefs which show the integrity and willingness never to give up (BBC news – Mandela’s life and times 2008)

    Read More

  • The Legacy of Nelson Mandela

    1222 Words  | 3 Pages

    “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.

    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

    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...

    Read More

More about The Legend Of Nelson Mandela

Open Document