Nelson Mandela

      “Deep within the history of the 20th century pop-culture, America has always had a fascination with our caped crusaders” (Hogue). Adam Hogue’s essay, “Why Do Americans Love Superheroes So Much,” argued that America has been and still does look up to superheroes. He emphasized how these fictional characters have made such a deep impact in Americans’ lives by acting as role models who inspire others. Superheroes are fictional, but there are also heroes in the real world as well. One characteristic that heroes portray is the ability to help people who are in need. So, a firefighter who saves people from a burning building, and a surgeon who saves someone’s life can both be considered heroes. To me, however, a hero must stand up for his or her beliefs and fight for what is right. The actions he or she takes, should make a positive change in the world that benefits other people. This positive change should be long-lasting and make a powerful impact on the person he or she inspires. He or she should be trustworthy to all, and brave when they take action. A true hero is someone who stays loyal to his or her people and is courageous while fighting for the justice of everyone.

Nelson Mandela was a political activist who became the first black president of South Africa.https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mandela_1991.jpg     Nelson Mandela, the first black South African president is one such person who possessed these traits. He possessed these traits throughout his life, from a young age, until death. Mandela was born on July 18, 1918, in Mvezo, South Africa, in a small Thembu village. He was appointed as the next chief of his tribe, the Thembu, so was sent off to boarding school to receive a proper education. Later on, he became interested in political affairs and gave up his title as chief to become a lawyer in Johannesburg. He thought that becoming a lawyer would allow him to get more involved in politics. While he was practicing law in Johannesburg, he joined the ANC (African National Congress) which was a political party that fought for racial equality. He decided to quit his job as a lawyer to pursue his passion as a political activist, for the cause of racial equality in South Africa. He realized that everyone in South Africa was living under an apartheid government that discriminated colored people. Thus, he started to lead protests against the government to fight for justice. On account of his actions, the government sentenced him to life imprisonment in 1964. After he lost his trial, he spent 27 years in prison. He was released on February 11, 1990, at the age of 71 due to the “Free Mandela” international act where people from around the world protested to have Mandela freed from prison. After he was released, Mandela negotiated with the new president F.W de Klerk for equal rights for all, and received a joint Nobel Peace Prize with de Klerk in 1993 for his beneficial actions towards society. On April 27, 1994, Mandela was elected as the first black president of South Africa and resigned at the end of his first term in 1999. After having suffered many illnesses, Nelson Mandela died from a lung infection on December 5, 2013, at the age of 95.  So, a hero, like Mandela, must possess allegiance to everyone whom he or she is supported by. This includes keeping up his or her word, and not betraying anyone. He or she must be courageous to face any obstacles that get in his or her way. Thus, Nelson Mandela is a hero worthy of emulation due to his loyalty to the people of his country and political party, and his courage when he fought for justice for his people.

Nelson Mandela took part in political discussions in the ANC.https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:ANC_leader.jpg     Nelson Mandela always stuck to his beliefs and political party, and never betrayed his supporters because of the enormous amount of loyalty he displayed for his values and his people, and is thus a true hero. In a biography about him, Nelson Mandela chose his politics over his family, in order to stand by his beliefs and political party: “A year earlier, in December 1955, Evelyn had confronted Nelson with an either-or choice: Choose family or choose politics. Much as he loved his children, Mandela could not make this choice. He had tried to explain to Evelyn that ANC’s struggle for freedom in South Africa was not just an activity that he could pick up or put down. It was his ‘lifework,’ ‘an essential and fundamental part’ of his being. Sometime after  to Evelyn left, Mandela filed for a divorce" (Gormley 142). Mandela’s love for politics got in the way of his love for his family. He chose to go with politics after this decision had stumped him for a long time. Even though he had to divorce his wife for it, Mandela continued to strive for his goal of racial equality through politics. His loyalty to his politics was more important than his family as he wanted to fight for racial equality for everyone in South Africa, which includes his family. Thus, he was faithful to the ANC and his fellow politicians, refusing to give up his fight for the cause. Mandela was tested on his allegiance to his supporters when he received the offer to be released from prison early: “The South African government periodically made conditional offers of freedom to Mandela, most notably in 1976, on the condition that he recognize the newly independent—and highly controversial—status of the Transkei Bantustan and agree to reside there. An offer made in 1985 required that he renounce the use of violence. Mandela refused both offers, the second on the premise that only free men were able to engage in such negotiations and, as a prisoner, he was not a free man”(EBSCOHOST Britannica). Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years, and the government only started reconsidering his release during the international “Free Mandela” movement. During his time in prison, he had created a community with his fellow prisoners who stood by the same beliefs as he did. Mandela had also received multiple offers to be released from the prison. When he got these offers, he turned it down as he did not want to betray the people who were imprisoned with him. He was loyal to his fellow prisoners which showed his good morality. Nelson Mandela was someone who was always trustworthy to his people, was always there for them when they needed him, and would never let them down. His loyalty to these people and his beliefs earned him the title of a hero.

     Nelson Mandela displayed courage by standing up to the apartheid government, while knowing the consequences he would face for his actions, thus making him worthy of leadership and the title of a hero. He took the risk of using violence against the government to fight for equality, which demonstrated his courageous acts: “After the massacre of unarmed black South Africans by police forces at Sharpeville in 1960 and the subsequent banning of the ANC, Mandela abandoned his nonviolent stance and began advocating acts of sabotage against the South African regime. He went underground (during which time he became known as the Black Pimpernel for his ability to evade capture) and was one of the founders of Umkhonto we Sizwe (“Spear of the Nation”), the military wing of the ANC. In 1962 he went to Algeria for training in guerrilla warfare and sabotage, returning to South Africa later that year. On August 5, shortly after his return, Mandela was arrested at a road block in Natal; he was subsequently sentenced to five years in prison” (EBSCOHOST Britannica). Mandela’s use of sabotage caused him to risk everything for the benefit of his people. He risked his life, and he risked getting caught by the government. Mandela felt that if he had to use violence to benefit his people, then he would use violence. His fearless acts that threatened the government exhibited his boldness, since he fought for his own and everyone else’s justice from the apartheid government, despite knowing the repercussions of his actions. Nelson Mandela decided to speak out to the judge and his accusers about the faults of the apartheid government as his defense speech in court: “In the next few weeks, as the defendants and their lawyers worked to prepare their case, Mandela was convinced that he would receive the death sentence. He told his friends he would use the court to accuse the apartheid government, letting the world outside South Africa judge who was guilty. He planned to give a speech from the dock that would sum up his view of injustice in South Africa. He would express his ideals for the democratic, multiracial country that South Africa could become” (Gormley 172). Mandela felt that he would be held in prison for an unfair reason and wanted to speak out to the government. He knew that by doing this, he would most likely receive the death sentence, but he was willing to die for his values. He decided to give his defense speech that he had planned, which had moved and inspired many people, including his accuser. His valiant act of reciting this speech caused him to narrowly escape death and was given the sentence of life imprisonment instead. Nelson Mandela displayed his courage through various ways. His courage is what kept him motivated and strong to fight for himself and his people, which truly proclaimed him as a gallant individual.

Mandela casting his vote in 1994.https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mandela_voting_in_1994.jpg     Nelson Mandela proved himself as a true hero through his courageous acts performed to fight for equality against the government, and his undying loyalty to his people and supporters. By remaining confident in himself and bravely fighting for justice, Mandela was able to publicize this societal issue and persuaded more people to join him in his fight. He needed to let others know how the apartheid government was treating everyone, and convinced others to take part in protesting for equal rights. He was trustworthy to his supporters and fighters and never let them down, and was never afraid to receive punishments for his actions. Mandela only wanted to achieve his goal of obtaining justice for all people and to make a difference in the world, which he was able to do after all of his efforts. The final few words of his defense speech when he was on trial were very inspirational and truly demonstrated his heroism: “Fischer feared that these final words amounted to an invitation to the judge to sentence him to death. Mandela spoke them anyway: ‘I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons will live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But...if it needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die’” (Gormley 174). These few words not only changed the views of racial discrimination of many people in that courtroom, but also stood out in the world, which were later used to propel the international “Free Mandela” campaign.

Nelson Mandela inspires me because I strongly believe in equal rights, and he is someone who I look up to as a role model who achieved his goal. He has taught me that standing up for the right thing is important, and that I must not be afraid to face the consequences of my actions. His method of how he continuously fought to reach success motivates me to do the same in my community. Recently, some of my friends and I painted a mural that protested gun rights and school shooting, and the mural was displayed at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. If it weren’t for Mandela’s inspirational impact on me, I never would have had the courage to stand up for something that I believe in. Adam Hogue argued that Americans looked up to fictional superheroes as role models. In a way, Hogue was right, but there are people in the world who deserve the title of a hero, who are not fictional characters. Although Mandela may not have had a cape or powers like a traditional superhero, his voice and actions were all he needed to prove his heroism and to change the world for the better.

Works Cited

Editors, History.com. “Nelson Mandela.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 9 Nov. 2009, www.history.com/topics/africa/nelson-mandela.

Gormley, Beatrice. Nelson Mandela: South African Revolutionary. Aladdin, 2016.

Hoguie. “Why Do Americans Love Superheroes So Much?” Mic, Mic Network Inc., 25 Oct. 2015, mic.com/articles/48431/why-do-americans-love-superheroes-so-much#.wapJcrVRw.

“Mandela, Nelson.” Britannica Biographies, Mar. 2012, p. 1. EBSCOhost,

search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=b6h&AN=32417081&site=brc-live.

"Nelson Mandela." Gale Student Resources in Context, Gale, 2018. Student Resources In Context,https://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/HGAERS187133864/SUIC?u=powa9245&sid=SUIC&xid=64316e8d. Accessed 6 Jan. 2019.

“The O'Malley Archives.” Document 11: Second Letter from Nelson Mandela to Hendrik Verwoerd, 26 June 1961 - The O'Malley Archives, omalley.nelsonmandela.org/omalley/index.php/site/q/03lv01538/04lv01600/05lv01617/06lv01623.htm.