Nelson Mandela

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Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, born on July 18, 1918 at the Mvesto in Transkei, South Africa, was a civil right activist, world leader and a writer. He became very involved in the anti-apartheid movement (“Nelson Mandela Biography”). Apartheid is a policy or system of segregation or discrimination on grounds of race. Mandela is best known for becoming the first black president of South Africa from 1994 until 1999 (“Nelson Mandela Biography”). Nelson Mandela had a very positive influence, not only on his homeland country of South Africa, but also around the whole entire world.
The racial segregation in South Africa determined where a person could live, work and even attend school. It even determined who could vote and who could not; only whites were allowed to cast their ballots. Tribal homelands called Bantustans were set aside for a place where blacks could live since the majority of the country was reserved for whites (The Book of Knowledge). The apartheid in South Africa led to the formation of the African National Congress (ANC) and the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) (“Nelson Mandela”). The ANC was a national liberation movement established in 1912 to unite black citizens and effect social, political, and economic change (“F.W. de Klerk”). The ANC adopted the ANCYL’s plan to achieve full citizenship for all South Africans through boycotts, strikes, civil disobediences, and other nonviolent methods (“Nelson Mandela”). In the 1950s, Mandela was arrested and imprisoned multiple times due to his involvement in the ANC. The Congress was outlawed in 1960 and went underground. While in hiding, Mandela became the leader in the struggle for majority rule (“Nelson Mandela (1918-)”).
On June 12, 1964, (“F.W. de Klerk”) Mand...

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...served in his country no matter what race they were. He spent twenty-seven years in jail fighting the government but in the end it all paid off as Mandela defeated the apartheid. Mandela also became a famous, influential activist to many people worldwide. Without Nelson Mandela fighting for equal rights in South Africa, who knows what the country would be like today.

Works Cited

“About the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory.” Nelson Mandela Foundation. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Mar. 2014.
“F.W. de Klerk.” Biography.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Mar. 2014.
“Mandela, Nelson.” Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia. Grolier Online, 2014. Web. 18 Mar. 2014.
“Mandela, Nelson (1918-).” The New Book of Knowledge: n. pag. Grolier Online. Web. 18 Mar. 2013.
“Nelson Mandela.” History Channel. N.p., 2014. Web. 18 Mar. 2014.
“Nelson Mandela Biography.” Biography.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Mar. 2014.

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