Courage Of Nelson Mandela

1199 Words3 Pages

I am More than my Scars
“Courage [is] not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it” (Nelson Mandela). Nelson Mandela was president of South Africa and fought to end apartheid for his people. Unfair child labor practices drove Mother Jones to work to enact laws that prevented the abuse of children in the mills. Malala Yousafzai has created a movement to support girls’ education rights. These three individuals worked tirelessly for their causes despite the fear and resistance they faced. Mandela, Mother Jones, and Malala all had to persevere and overcome obstacles to enact change and achieve the human rights they promoted.
Nelson Mandela, as the committed president of South Africa, worked tirelessly to abolish apartheid, thereby making …show more content…

. .. Over the years, Mandela became the world’s best-known political prisoner, gaining international support for his fight against apartheid.” (Nelson Mandela introduction). Showing great courage in his efforts, Mandela never lost hope while in prison. After being released from his 27-year prison term, he went on to gain the trust of his country, becoming the first black South African president. By taking a stand against apartheid, Mandela demonstrated his great leadership. Mandela believed that everyone should be free, “It was during those long and lonely years that my hunger for the freedom of my own people became a hunger for the freedom of all people, white and black. I knew as well as I knew anything that the oppressor must be liberated just as surely as the oppressed” (Mandela). Mandela took action by …show more content…

Malala was not encouraged to go to school when she was young. Now, Malala hopes to give every single girl around the world an equal opportunity to get an education (The Malala Fund). Malala was discouraged from attending school, but that didn’t stop her from earning her education.Not only was she discouraged, but she was shot in the head, neck and shoulder by a gunman. She underwent multiple surgeries and months of rehabilitation. “I never heard him ask, ‘Who is Malala?’ And I didn’t hear the crack, crack, crack of the three bullets. The last thing I remember is thinking about my exam the next day. After that, everything went black” (Yousafzai 130). Although Malala was shot by the a member of the Taliban, she came back stronger than ever and is now speaking out across the world for girls educational rights. She tells her story not because it is unique, but because it is common. After her attack, she started speaking out to promote girls right to get an education. Malala went on to become the youngest Nobel Peace Prize winner. “‘They cannot stop me. I will get my education.’”(Yousafzai 83). Malala is strong and has persevered through difficult situations and yet they have not stopped her. She shows how determination can really make an impact in her fight for human

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