Nelson Mandela Essay - 920 Words

As Nelson Mandela said, â€Å"Everyone can rise above their circumstances and achieve success if they are dedicated to and passionate about what they do.† A champion of civil rights, a voice for the oppressed, and a strong anti-apartheid activist, Nelson Mandela is one of the most revered and recognizable names from recent years. He dedicated his entire life to serving others, both in his personal and political life. There were social, economic, and cultural influences on Nelson Mandela which affected his lifetime achievements. Nelson Mandela, originally named Rolihlahla Mandela, was born in the South African village of Mvezo on July 18, 1918. Some might wonder how Nelson stemmed from Rolihlahla: â€Å"a teacher dubbed him Nelson as part of a†¦show more content†¦He knew that peaceful protests weren’t going to achieve what they’d hope to accomplish. The government banned the ANC, and Nelson had evaded the government for seventeen months until he was captured and sentenced to life in prison. According to the Merriam Webster Dictionary, apartheid is â€Å"racial segregation; specifically: a former policy of segregation and political and economic discrimination against non-European groups in the Republic of South Africa.† Apartheid was first introduced in 1948 after the National Party controlled most of the government. This system of segregation prevented the majority, Africans, from having the same rights and privileges as the minority, whites. Once this system was put in place, Mandela concentrated all of his efforts on eradicating apartheid, hence the participation in the ANC and the creation of the Spear of the Nation branch. Although unthinkable and atrocious, the implementation of apartheid allowed Mandela’s name to be known. Without it, he wouldn’t be the hero he is today. Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for twenty-seven years; it was during this time that he wrote his autobiography Long Walk to Freedom which extensively explained his efforts to overthrow apartheid and the minority-ruling government. Once he was released in 1990, he immediately began to bargain with the Nationalist Party to officially end apartheid and have a multiracialShow MoreRelated NELSON MANDELA Essays619 Words   |  3 Pages Nelson Mandela 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 decidedRead MoreEssay on Nelson Mandela777 Words   |  4 PagesNelson Mandela A transformationals Mandela, Nelson Rolihlahla, South Africas first black president. Mandela was widely revered by blacks throughout Africa as a symbol of black liberation. He gained almost legendary status through the 1980s as South Africas leading antiapartheid figure, assuming the forefront of the black struggle after his release from prison. Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was born July 18, 1918 near Umtata in Transkei, in the Eastern Cape, into the royal family of the TembuRead MoreNelson Mandela Essays957 Words   |  4 PagesNelson 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. 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As the leader of South Africas anti-apartheid movement, Mandela was a key player in helping to move his country toward multiracial government and majority rule. Rolihlahla Mandela was born deep in the black homeland of TranskeiRead More Nelson Mandela Essay1269 Words   |  6 Pages 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 Africas best known and loved hero. Nelson Mandela was born in a village near Umtata in the Transkei on July 18, 1918Read MoreNelson Mandela Essay1465 Words   |  6 PagesNelson 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 schoolRead MoreEssay On Nelson Mandela1243 Words   |  5 Pages1. 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 SouthRead More Nelson Mandela Essay2142 Words   |  9 Pages lawyer, father, prisoner, survivor, president, the face of equality. Nelson Mandela has an inspiring story of fighting Apartheid forces and surviving a long prison sentence all in the name of freedom and equal rights. Through Nelson Mandela’s constant fight for freedom of the African people from white apartheid forces, he was dominated by the corrupt government. After uprising numerous riots against apartheid forces, Mandela was sent to jail for twenty-seven y ears revealing the cruelty that humansRead MoreBiography of Nelson Mandela Essay833 Words   |  4 PagesOn 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: â€Å"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 , â€Å"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: â€Å"The speech