Mandela: A Life Devoted to Change and Freedom

In order to achieve freedom, equality, and social justice, how much is a person willing to sacrifice? During the early 1900s, Britain colonized four colonies in Africa. Through a slow process between 1902 and 1910, the four colonies became a unified union. By May 1910, Britain passed the South Africa Act and the four colonies became one independent colony. It was formally named the Union of South Africa. While white South Africans rejoiced, black South Africans did not see hope in their future. Although black South Africans made up two-thirds of the population, the South African Parliament was controlled by extremist Afrikaners – people who favored white supremacy. Race and skin color determined one’s fate and destiny. White people were privileged with more opportunities and better treatment. After decades, South Africa’s segregation worsened. Freedom was limited for South Africans. By 1948, a fully structured system of segregation was established in South Africa, it was called apartheid. The new system led to greater oppression on black South Africans, which ended after a long and tiring movement led by a man named Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela.

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was born on July 18, 1918 in Mvezo, Cape Province, South Africa. Mandela’s name, Rolihlahla, perfectly defined Mandela’s personality and his destiny. His name means pulling the branch of a tree, a slang meaning troublemaker. When he was seven, his devout Christian parents sent Mandela to a local Methodist school. As a baptized Methodist, Mandela was given an English forename of “Nelson” by his teacher. Since then, he adopted the name “Nelson,” and became known as Nelson Mandela. During Mandela’s era, South Africa was governed by the apartheid government of the natio...

... middle of paper ...

...on. "I am Prepared to Die." Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory. 29 Mar. 2014 .

2. Mandela, Nelson. "Inaugural Speech, Pretoria [Mandela]- 5/10/94." Inaugural Speech, Pretoria [Mandela]- 5/10/94. University of Pennsylvania, n.d. Web. 29 Mar. 2014.

3. Mandela, Nelson. "Speech Delivered by Mr N R Mandela for the "Make Poverty History" Campaign." Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory. 29 Mar. 2014 .

4. Obama, Barack. "Remembering Nelson Mandela: Remarks by President Barack Obama." – Nelson Mandela Foundation. 30 Mar. 2014 .

5. Gaines, Ann. Nelson Mandela and apartheid in world history. Berkeley Heights, NJ: Enslow, 2001.