Nelson+Mandela

Nelson Mandela was an anti-apartheid revolutionary, politician, and a philanthropist. He also was the president of South Africa from 1994-1999. He was born on July 18th, 1918 in Muezo, South Africa. He passed on December 5th, 2013 in Johannesburg, South Africa at 95 years old.

While he was growing up, Nelson Mandela was the first person in his family to ever attend school. He attended Clarkebury, which is a Wesleyan mission and the oldest educational center of the Thembu people. After studying at Clarkebury, he attended high school at Healdtown Methodist Boarding School. Here, he studied multiple subjects but was the most interested in history. Personally, I think this was the start of his interest in politics and current affairs. He started to learn about the apartheid and how it was affecting his people. He thought a change was needed.

While trying to enact change, Mandela was convicted of conspiracy to overthrow the state and was sentenced to life in jail. Throughout this time and later in his lifetime, he wrote books such as //A Long Walk to Freedom, Conversations With Myself, In His Own Words,// and many more. These books were reflections of his life experiences and his views on certain situations he encountered in his life. He had only been in jail for 27 years, however, prior to being elected president of South Africa in 1994. While he was in jail, he actually had an opportunity to get out of jail, in 1985. The president at the time, P.W. Botha had offered to let him free if he agreed to renounce armed struggle. Mandela declined, and stated "What freedom am I being offered while the organization of the people remains banned? Only free men can negotiate. A prisoner cannot enter into contracts." He was released soon after this offer, in 1990.

Once out of jail, he was elected president. Once he became president, Mandela eliminated the Apartheid laws from South Africa. By abolishing Apartheid in South Africa, people from all around that region really appreciated everything he had done for them. As Mandela once said, "I hate race discrimination most intensely and in all its manifestations. I have fought it all during my life; I fight it now, and will do so until the end of my days." This quote made by him just proves that he thought what was going on, meaning some people being against other people, was wrong. He knew that some human beings should NOT treat other human beings differently from one another.

After abolishing apartheid, he had to figure out a way to unite a country that was divided. His idea was that if the national rugby team was to win the 1995 World Cup, it may just reconnect the country. He felt this would help the blacks and whites of South Africa to unite together for a common goal. The team did win the World Cup and he was able to see the blacks and whites of the country celebrating the victory together. He used this type of an idea several times throughout his presidency to help eliminate the racial tension between blacks and whites. He was ecstatic seeing the people around him actually getting along for once, even though they were multiple different races. People from all over were inspired by Mandela and wanted to make a change somehow in this world, just as he did. He will forever be known to everyone in South Africa and around the world about what he has done for the people there. His stories and stories about him and his life will be shared for generations and generations. Nelson Mandela, was indeed, one of the most iconic people in our world and will be for many years to come.