Nelson Mandela Essay

"There is no easy walk to freedom anywhere, and many of us will have to pass through the valley of the shadow of death again and again before we reach the mountain top of our desires". These are the words of a man, Nelson Mandela, who fought for something that many would shy away from. He led the anti–apartheid movement, became the president of the African National Congress Youth League, and later became the president of South Africa winning the Nobel Peace Prize. 1942 started Nelson Mandela's participation in the racial oppression in South Africa. He joined the African National Congress (ANC), led by Anton Lembede. In 1944, Mandela joined up with Walter Sisulu, William Nkomo, Oliver R. Tambo, and Ashby P....show more content...

In Mandela's autobiography, Long Walk To Freedom, he described his arrest:

At 1:30 in the morning on 30 March I was awakened by sharp, unfriendly knocks at my door, the unmistakable signature of the police. 'The time has come,' I said to myself as I opened the door to find half–a–dozen armed security policemen. They turned the house upside down, taking virtually every piece of paper they could find. I was then arrested without a warrant, and given no opportunity to call my lawyer. They refused to inform my wife as to where I was being taken. I simply nodded at Winnie; it was no time for words of comfort.(pg.239)

While in prison many other ANC leaders were also found and arrested. They were all put on trial (Rivonia Trial) for sabotage, treason, and violent conspiracy. Mandela was sentenced to life in prison at the maximum security Robben Island Prison. Although in a maximum–security prison, Mandela was still able to keep in contact with the anti–apartheid movement secretly. For 18 years Mandela stayed at Robben Island, where he lived under harsh conditions with other political leaders. This time spent in the prison changed his attitude and made him become the great political leader that he is today. He realized that violence was not the answer to all his problems. Furthermore, many would think that this imprisonment would hurt the anti–apartheid movement, but in reality it helped much more. Many world leaders demanded that Mandela be

Essay On Nelson Mandela

1.Summarize biographical data

The Honourable Nelson Mandela transitioned from being a criminal to a white racist government to becoming the president to that same government and being a great influence on the lives of South African. He was a man of great patience and generosity therefore, he was capable of ending the Apartheid period. Born on July 18, 1918, into a small tribe of Thembu. He was a civil rights leader, who fought against apartheid, or racial discrimination against blacks, in South Africa. His name was Rolihlahla which meant trouble maker. He was adopted at 9 years by his father's friend. A teacher gave him the name Nelson when he was a child. Mandela studied law and opened South Africa's first black law firm. (South African...show more content...

Highlight major contributions of the person Recognized and honored as an activist (throughout his life) and the former first black president of South Africa (from the period 1994– 1999) the Honorable Nelson Mandela, contributed selflessly to ensuring that the citizens of South Africa were all treated equally, by working vigorously to ensure that the apartheid period had ended (Savastio, 2016). He operated as a "member of the African National Congress party that was constructed in the 1940s, where he assumed the role of a leader for both peaceful protests and armed resistance against the white minority's oppressive administration in a racially divided South Africa." (History.com Staff., 2009).

The Honourable Nelson Mandela became "involved in the movement against racial discrimination and constructed significant associations with black and white activists." (Jamieson ,2013). He promoted the importance of exercising peace by encouraging blacks not to react negatively against the white supremacy within the society of South Africa (Jamieson ,2013).

In reference to, History.com Staff. (2009) Nelson Mandela "established several organizations, consisting of the influential Nelson Mandela Foundation and The Elders, an independent group of public figures dedicated to addressing global issues and decreasing human depression. In the year 2002, he became a vocal advocate of AIDS awareness and treatment programs in a culture where the epidemic had been cloaked in stigma and

Nelson Mandela is an African American leader who fought for the rights of his people. Through trials and tribulations he stood his ground and kept on fighting.

Nelson was a born leader and utilized his talents at an early age. When he was younger he used to take care of his family and make sure everything went right through all the injustice that society bestowed onto his people. Throughout his life Nelson Mandela watched as his people were mistreated and with this in mind he decided to join the African National Congress in 1942. Nelson got involved with the {ANC} in a big way. He became one of the youth leaders on the National Executive Council. Nelson along with the other members of the {ANC} were making great strides...show more content...

Mandela had been imprisoned from 1962 to February 11th 1990.

Mandela is most noted for his roles as a peace maker and an activist on the fight for equality in his native country of Africa. He was selected as the former president of the National African Congress, and he also was the first ever Black President of S. Africa. His guiding philosophy and the things that Mandela stood for was equality amongst all people and justice in Africa. He wanted his people to have the right to vote and he wanted laws and rules to be fair and give the people of S. Africa a chance at a better life. The major obstacles of his life were imprisonment and the fact that the government tried to bribe him and force him to act and say things that went against his philosophy. Persistence and the will to keep on fighting helped Mandela get through hard times. The most noted measure of success would be receiving the Nobel Piece Prize in 1993. Nelson Mandela went through a lot of adversity and trauma in his life, but he kept on fighting and wouldn't let these adversities stand in his way of creating equality for his people in S. Africa.

In conclusion we all can learn from Mandela. His will power and determination to keep fighting for what is right can help us as a people in our everyday struggles. A great quote that Mandela lived by that's very useful is "this struggle is my life." He said this once he was elected

Nelson Mandela

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was a South African lawyer, politician, freedom fighter, president and peace ambassador. He was born on July 18, 1918 in Transkei, South Africa. His father was a tribal leader, Chief Henry Mandela of the Tembu Tribe who had 4 wives and Mandela was third wifes'son. Late his father died of Tuberclousis and that led to the next regent of the tribe to be his guardian. When he was growing he was attended Wesleyan mission school, where his teacher, named him Nelson. He then went to Clarkebury Bording Institute and accomplished his junior certificate in 2 years which would normally take three years; it was while he was there that he develop an interest in boxing and...show more content...

In 1948 Mandela became active in politics and was greatly involved in resistance against the apartheid policies of the ruling National Party. In 1952, he led a defiance campaign, and adoption of freedom was instigated. In 1955, formed congress of people charter which provided fundamental basis of anti–apartheid cause and together with his friend Oliver Tambo started a law firm; where they provided free or low cost legal counsel to many black who lacked attorney representative. In December 5, 1956 together with other 150 people, went on trial for treason, and was acquitted in 1961. After the banning of the ANC in 1960, Nelson Mandela argued for the setting up of a military wing within the ANC. In June 1961, the ANC executive considered his proposal on the use of violent tactics and agreed that those members who wished to involve themselves in Mandela's campaign would not be stopped from doing so by the ANC. This led to the formation of Umkhonto we Sizwe. He coordinated sabotage campaigns against military and governmental targets making possible for guerilla war. Mandela was arrested in 1962 after living on the run for seventeen months and after a tip off from United States criminal investigation agency (CIA). In 1963, when many other fellow leaders of the ANC and the Umkhonto we Sizwe were arrested, Mandela was brought to stand trial with them for plotting to overthrow the government by violence; was

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Impact Of Nelson Mandela

Among the millions of people who suffered under the system of apartheid was one who rose up and lead others to freedom. Nelson Mandela, through dedication and hard work, ended the systematic oppression of blacks in South Africa. Moreover, he left an indelible mark on the world by teaching others to fight for their dreams and his legacy continues to be an inspiration to others today.

Nelson Mandela was closely affected to racism, being an African born during the start of racial segregation in the late 1910's, which meant he wanted to put an end to all this. As stated in Andries Nel's article, "South Africa," Mandela, being an educated Black frustrated by the fact that Whites didn't treat his peers as equals, joined organizations such as the...show more content...

Since Mandela made such a significant impact on South Africa, he eventually became symbolized as many things. Ultimately, Mandela became the symbol of the anti–Apartheid movement among the international and black South African community, and since racial segregation had been around in South Africa since the 1940s, having it come to an end was a great weight lifted off the shoulders of all black South Africans. Throughout the 1960s, Mandela continued to play a key leadership role, inspiring activists and helping formulate strategies for overcoming the apartheid government. As said in Jason Beaubien's article, "Nelson Mandela, Inspiration to the World, Dies at 95," Mandela still continued to lead an example by continuing to fight for justice for all and aimed towards reaching out to his South African people to make a prosperous country, even during his presidential stance. By being the leader he was, Nelson Mandela always found ways to influence those around him and impact people's lives in a positive way, which all of us will never forget. Mandela once said, "It is better to lead from behind and to put others in front especially when you celebrate victory when nice things occur. You take the front line when there is danger. Then people will appreciate your

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Nelson Mandela was the first black president for South Africa. By the time Nelson Mandela was in college, he was a tall, good–humored young man. His laugh came easily, and he was highly intelligent. He was also an excellent athlete. During his second year of college, he participated in a student strike to protest the poor conditions at school. When he refused to apologize to the school authorities, he was expelled. This was Nelson's first real experience of standing up against authority. After being expelled from school, Nelson made his way to Johannesburg the "City of Gold" everything was wonderful because it was a wealthy city, but the nice parks, theaters, and schools were only for the use of the white residents, so like...show more content...

He was told to stay away from meetings of more than three people. He was also not allowed to leave Johannes city

Nelson Mandela was the first black president for South Africa. By the time Nelson Mandela was in college, he was a tall, good–humored young man. His laugh came easily, and he was highly intelligent. He was also an excellent athlete. During his second year of college, he participated in a student strike to protest the poor conditions at school. When he refused to apologize to the school authorities, he was expelled. This was Nelson's first real experience of standing up against authority. After being expelled from school, Nelson made his way to Johannesburg the "City of Gold" everything was wonderful because it was a wealthy city, but the nice parks, theaters, and schools were only for the use of the white residents, so like all other Johannesburg black people. He was forced to live in a township on the outskirts of the city. The city he lived in wasn't the best neighborhood. Almost nobody had electricity, indoor toilets, or even garbage collection. Nelson was determined to return to college and become a lawyer, so that he could try and change his society for the better.

He also married young woman named Evelyn. Then he had three children. Mandela's hatred Get

Nelson Mandela Essay

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was a South African resistance leader who received a life sentence on Robben Island for opposing apartheid. Nelson Mandela personified struggle throughout his life. He is still leading the fight against apartheid after spending nearly three decades of his life behind bars. He has sacrificed his private life and his youth for his people, and remains South Africa's best known and loved hero.

Nelson Mandela was born in a village near Umtata in the Transkei on July 18, 1918. His father was the principal councilor to the Acting Paramount Chief of Thembuland. After his fathers death, the young Rolihlahla became the Paramount Chiefs ward to be groomed to assume high office. However,

influenced by the cases that came...show more content...

In 1950, Mandela was elected to the NEC at national conference (Apartheid).

	The ANCYL programme aimed at attaining full citizenship and direct parliamentary representation for all South Africans. In policy documents of which Mandela was an important co–author, the ANCYL paid special attention to the redistribution of the land, trade union rights, education and culture. The ANCYL strived to free education for all children, as well as mass education for adults (Woods).

	When the ANC launched its Campaign for the Defiance of Unjust Laws in 1952, Mandela was elected National Volunteer–in–Chief. Mandela traveled the country organizing resistance to discriminatory legislation. Mandela was

convicted of contravening the Suppression of Communism Act and given a suspended prison sentence. Shortly after the campaign ended, he was also prohibited from attending gatherings and confined to Johannesburg for six months (Ngubane).

	During this period of restrictions, Mandela wrote the attorneys admission examination and was admitted to the profession. He opened a

practice in Johannesburg, in partnership with Oliver Tambo. In recognition of his outstanding contribution during the Defiance Campaign, Mandela had been elected to the presidency of both the Youth League and the ANC at the end of 1952 (Woods).

	Their professional status did not earn them any leniency toward the brutal apartheid laws. The

Nelson Mandela and Leadership Essay

Nelson Mandela was the man who abolished Apartheid, freeing South Africa from the binds of racial segregation forever. However, it was not an easy road and Mandela needed patience, strength of character, focus, passion, understanding, perseverance, and most importantly, forgiveness, to achieve this. For more than forty years, black South Africans were subject to the harsh racial segregation of the Apartheid system; despite making up over 70% of South Africa's population, they had little to no rights.

Mandela had a vision for South Africa, of which he was incredibly dedicated. During his famous speech entitled 'I am Prepared to Die' (1964), he stated,

"I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination....show more content... In the fell clutch of circumstance I have not winced nor cried aloud. Under the bludgeonings of chance My head is bloody, but unbowed. Beyond this place of wrath and tears Looms but the Horror of the shade, And yet the menace of the years Finds and shall find me unafraid. It matters not how strait the gate, How charged with punishments the scroll, I am the master of my fate:

I am the captain of my soul." After his release from prison in 1990, he went to be elected the first black President of South Africa. The time in prison helped him to come to peace with himself and the people he was initially mad at; such as the South African Government. "I always knew that deep down in every human heart, there is mercy and generosity ... Even in the grimmest times in prison, when my comrades and I were pushed to our limits, I would see a glimmer of humanity in one of the guards, perhaps just for a second, but it was enough to reassure me and keep me going."

Nelson Mandela was an exceptional leader, as President he took South Africa to somewhere it had never been. He valued his time as President, because he knew his time was limited; often working days without a break. Each step of the way he took risks for the good of the people. When told he was 'risking his political capital and his future as a leader', he replied, "The day I am afraid to do that is the day I am no longer fit to lead."

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Nelson Mandela Essays

Nelson Mandela According to ANC.org, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was born in a small village near the city of Umtata in the province of Transkei on July 18, 1918. With his father being the principal councilor to the Acting Paramount Chief of Thembuland he was groomed from even a young age to become somebody of importance (par 8). Little did the Paramount Chief know what he really did when he made Nelson his apprentice after the death of his father, it started a young Mandela onto his journey to become...show more content...

However, influenced by the cases that came before the Chief's court, he determined to become a lawyer. Hearing the elder's stories of his ancestors' valor during the wars of the resistance in defense of their fatherland, he dreamed also of making his own contribution to the freedom struggle of his people. (ANC, par 8)

According to ANC.org, later on, during his early years at the University College of Fort hare where he was studied for a Bachelor of Arts degree, he was suspended for knowingly joining in on a protest boycott (par 9). He never did return to that university. According to Kent Rasmussen in Modern African Political Leaders, in late 1961, after painfully having to agree with his comrades that peaceful change was far from possible, he assisted in forming an extremely militant group within the African National Congress (ANC), called Umkhonto we Sizwe (Spear of the Nation), after his previous paramilitary wing he had helped set up, the ANC Youth League, failed to get the desired effect (113). While he was imprisoned, eventually he was able to meet with the other convicts but soon enough he was doing more than just conversing with them, he began teaching the young captives all he knew. According to Kent Rasmussen in Modern African Political Leaders, Mandela

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On the night of his electoral victory, following the first democratic election in South Africa after years of racist oligarchy, Nelson Mandela began his victory address in a conventional style: "My fellow South Africans– the people of South Africa" (Guardian

3 May 1994 cited in Billig 1997:97). He went on to describe the new South Africa, "the type of South Africa we can build". From his message it was clear that the country he spoke of had a unique, identifiable and addressable people: "The speech appealed to 'us', the people, the country, the nation.

South Africa is called the 'Rainbow Nation'. This is because of its multicultural diversity, after different groups came here in previous centuries. We are called the Rainbow nation...show more content... Discourse and systems of representations construct places from which individuals can position themselves and from which they can speak (Woodward 1997: 36). It involves both the use of language, of signs and images which stand for or represent things (Hall1997: 15). Representation is the link between concepts and language which enables us to refer to either the 'real' world of objects, people or events, or indeed to imaginary worlds of fictional objects, people and events (Hall 1997:17). When considering the ways in which the images and language actively construct meaning in Generations, it must be remembered that the programme does not operate in isolation. This means that there is already an existing set of assumptions, 'common–knowledge', 'commonsense', general knowledge, widespread beliefs and popular attitudes which both the producers and receivers of the programme possess before creating, and engaging respectively, in the text of Generations. Representation is also ideological because of the types of stereotypes created and the choices made as to which features and ways of understanding the social world to exclude or include (Briggs and Cobley 1998:279).

The story's revolving around characters from different colour groups, very much fits into the ideals of a 'rainbow nation'. The variety of

Nelson Mandela

The Statue of Liberty, the Eiffel Tower, and the Great Pyramids; these are some of the most recognizable cultural icons in the world today. A cultural icon can be a symbol, logo, picture, name, face, person, building or other image that is readily recognized and generally represents an object or concept with great cultural significance to a wide cultural group (Wikipedia). Abraham Lincoln and George Washington are examples of individuals who are important cultural icons to many Americans. Another person who is considered a cultural icon is Nelson Mandela; an individual who took a stand against apartheid in South Africa and established great strides toward racial equality in that part of the world. Mandela is considered as cultural icon...show more content...

This method of fundraising increased his opportunities for worldwide reach. For example, to celebrate Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday, a global text message campaign was orchestrated to allow people around the world to wish Mr. Mandela a happy birthday and donate to his cause. Their messages appeared onscreen at a fundraising concert, with a portion of the proceeds going to help fund an HIV/AIDS cure. "More than 100,000 text messages from twenty–eight countries were received and posted at the concert (Sybase). "Messages eventually came in from virtually every country on earth" through message services or the organization's website (Sybase). As a result, more than $150,000 was raised to directly support activities to fight HIV/AIDS, and Mandela became even more internationally known. This supports Mandela's case for being a cultural icon because the more he attained worldwide recognition; the more he was seen as a significant representative of his culture. Most countries have many holidays or days of recognition to celebrate the accomplishments of national leaders. For example, in the United States, we recognize the birthdays of presidents Abraham Lincoln and George Washington, and we have a Martin Luther King Day to honor Mr. King's fight for civil rights in our country. However, few leaders have an internationally–recognized day set aside in their honor each year. Nelson Mandela is one of those leaders, as July

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