Nelson Mandela was a very inspiring man who did many extraordinary things , but he came from humble beginnings. Rolihlahla Mandela was born in a clan in Mvezo Transkei, on July 18, 1918. Nelson was not his real name.
When Mandela went to elementary school, his teacher was told to give all the children ‘Christian” names so Rolihlahla become Nelson. Mandela received higher education at Clarkebury Boarding Institution where he earned his junior degree. He later went on to Wesleyan a secondary school, and finally moved to University College of Fort Hare. Mandela’s education was cut short because he joined in a student protest. He finished his bachelor’s degree at the University of South Africa. When Mandela went back home, he was told a wife would be arranged for him, thus, he fled to Johannesburg, where he became a mine officer in 1941.
When Mandela was a young man, apartheid was put into place. The word apartheid means “the state if being apart” which is what the law did. This law separated blacks and whites from buses, hospitals and shops. These laws were very radical; they removed all non-white political representatives from their positions.
Mandela was very involved in politics. His first big move was joining the African National Congress. Mandela worked his way up the radical political ladder at the African National Congress Youth League while working in the ANC. Mandela was chosen as National Volunteer in Chief of the Defiance Campaign in 1952. While still Chief, he worked closely with the ANC and also with a new ally, the South African Indian Congress.
The people of the African National Congress Youth League were charged with civil disobedience because of the link to the ANC and South African Indian Congress. Mandela and 19 others were charged with Suppression of Communism Act. They were sentenced to nine months in hard labor and two years suspension.
After the suspension, Mandela was arrested again along with 156 other activists in a countrywide round up. This arrest led to the Treason Trail where 28 were accused, but were then acquitted. Nelson was arrested again, again for protesting a passed law.
Soon the ANC and Pan Africanist Congress were banned and in 1962, Mandela left the country under a different name to go to Morocco and Ethiopia to receive military training. When coming back into the country Mandela was caught by the government. He was charged with illegally leaving the country and encouraging strikes. When facing the death penalty at the end of the trial, Mandela gave his famous speech saying; “I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.”
The apartheid law was the main reason why Mandela was prepare to die. Along with six others, Mandela was sentenced to life in prison on Robben Island for protesting again. Later he was transferred to Pollsmoor Prison in Cape Town due to health issues. Nelson was released on Feb. 11, 1990. Nine days after being released from prison the ANS and PAC were unbanned. Three years later Mandela won the Noble Peace Prize.
A year after he was awarded, Mandela became South African’s first democratically elected president. The main policy Mandela’s one term is known for is ending the apartheid. He only served one term as president so he could continue to work on his foundations, which he did until the end of his life on Dec. 5. The foundations Mandela created are the following: The Nelson Mandela Foundation, Nelson Mandela Children’s Foundation and the Mandela Rhodes Foundation.
On Dec. 10 President Obama went to Johannesburg for Mandela’s memorial. A few other United States leaders were there including: Bill Clinton, Jimmy Carter and George W. Bush. Mandela will always be remembered for his contributions to human kind.
