Nelson Mandela

Freedom Fighter

In modern times, such as today, most of the world’s society are living as equals, but this was not the case many years ago. Imagine not being able to sit on a bench, use public property or go to schools, just because of your skin tone. Just because of your skin tone, you could be paid less than a white person, even if it is the same job. This wasn’t a bad dream for the people of South Africa, it was reality. At that time, South Africa was facing unjust discrimination and racism. Black people faced many rules that we nowadays never think of them as "rules". This type of thing continued for a long time in South Africa, but no one was brave enough to go against it.

Nelson Mandela (http://im.in.com/connect/images/profile/dec2009/Nelson_Mandela_300.jpg)

For Nelson Mandela, he had enough, and he wasn't just going to obey these ridiculous rules and cruelty. He decided to take a stand for all of his people. Nelson Mandela (Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela) was born in Transkei, South Africa, on July 18th, 1918. He was a descendant of the Tembu Tribe, his father being the chief of that tribe. Mandela gained his education at the College of Fort Hare and also at the University of Witwatersrand. He pursued education in law and qualified in 1942. In 1944 he join the ANC (African National Congress), and became the leader of the organization. This organization was to fight against the rulings of the National Party's apartheid policies. Apartheid was a system based on racial discrimination and white-supremacy in South Africa. Mandela fought the National Party with all his effort, but in 1956, he was imprisoned for treason.

When Nelson Mandela was released in 1961, a year after the ANC was banned, he continued to fight for the freedom of his people. Mandela decided to set up a military wing within the ANC, which led to the formation of Umkhonto we Sizwe. He was arrested again in 1964 and given a life-sentence in jail, for attempting to overthrow the government with violence. Many of the members of the organization were also thrown in jail along with him.

Now you may think, how does getting into prison all the time make him a hero? It doesn't. What makes him a hero is his undying will to free his people from the society's discrimination. Even though the society keeps on going against his resistance, he still kept on pursuing the goal which he hopes to one day accomplish. During his time in prison, Mandela became well known throughout the country. Eventually, almost all of the black community were anxiously waiting for the day he was going to be released. While he himself is trapped, his hard work had been breaking down the bars that imprisoned the black community. Even in prison, he continued to stand as a symbol of hope, a door to freedom. When he was released in 1990, Mandela immediately threw himself into achieving his goal. His release meant for the people under the apartheid rulings that their long awaited freedom was near.

Freedom (http://www.knowaguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/freedom2.jpg)

After the many cruel years in prison, Nelson Mandela has finally outlawed the apartheid. He also gained the Nobel Peace Prize and was elected as the president of South Africa. Thanks to the sacrifices that Mandela endured, everyone in South Africa are now living as equals. His actions affected the entire world, and without him, racism would still be a common thing throughout the world. His hard work has given future generations new hope.