How Nelson Mandela Transformed South Africa
Since 2010, the world has been celebrating Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela every July 18th, as the day known as Nelson Mandela Day. Police brutality towards black minorities is a current problem which even affects developed countries such as the United States. Donald Trump’s presidency is of no help to this problem, with his hateful speeches targeting those minorities. Racism and violence are both still very present, it is important to be reminded by inspiring figures such as Mandela how important it is to fight for peace and equality. Accordingly, Nelson Mandela’s courage brought justice to his country and greatly improved South Africa overall.
First, Nelson Mandela fought for equality amongst South Africans
…show more content…
The actions he took throughout his political career were all based on this conviction he had. Also, even though Mandela fought against the white minority ruling over the black community, he did not consider white people to be inferior, as he says in this declaration: “I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities.” Mandela’s goal was not switching the black and white community’s social ranks, but to put them on the same level, despite what one group did to the other in the past. In addition, Nelson Mandela gave a voice to South Africa’s black community, by becoming the first black president of South Africa. During the ANCYL’s Defiance campaign, Mandela and his team demanded the abolishment of the law that only allowed the white minority to vote during elections and from there on, many changes were made which allowed him to rule the country. Furthermore, he was the key to the …show more content…
When elected, Mandela could have sought revenge and rally dark skinned people or encourage them to take action against light skinned people, but he did exactly the opposite. The civil war predicted by many political analysts and experts never happened, because Mandela knew they had to forgive to allow South Africa to move forward. Moreover, during his presidency, Mandela worked towards bettering his country by signing the Freedom Charter in 1955, a document containing a new set of principles that would redefine South Africa’s image. In addition to the new set of values found in the charter, the equal share of the country’s natural resources as well as access to education and work for all was promised. Not to mention that the economy of the country continued to grow, slowly yet surely, despite the sudden change of power. South Africans salaries increased: there used to be twelve percent of workers paid two dollars a day and after the abolishment of the apartheid, it went down to five percent. Over the course of ten years, inflation dropped from ten percent to five percent. The country’s budget deficit fell from eight percent to 1.5 percent. Additionally, under his political party, the sanctions imposed were lifted and South Africa started building international relations. Due to the white regime, many countries refused to do business with South Africa
He joined the African National Congress in 1942 as a form of peaceful protests. The ANC’s goal was, “ to transform the ANC into a mass grassroots movement, deriving strength from millions. . . who had no voice under the current regime. . . [The ANC] officially adopted the Youth League's methods of boycott, strike, civil disobedience and noncooperation” (“Nelson Mandela Biography”). Mandela joined the ANC in order to peacefully remove the government’s racist policies. After he joined, Mandela spent lots of time going in and out of jail. However, he still persisted with making sure blacks gained rights. In 1991, he became president of the ANC and negotiated with President de Klerk for the country’s first multiracial elections. He succeeded. Years later, in 1994, Mandela became the first black president. When he became president, he sought to better the country and guarantee the blacks rights’. Two years after his presidency, Mandela “signed into law a new constitution for the nation, establishing a strong central government based on majority rule, and guaranteeing both the rights of minorities and the freedom of expression” (“Nelson Mandela Biography”). After defeating apartheid, he continued to make sure blacks rights were permanent. Similar to Transcendentalism, Mandela fought to establish blacks rights’ to allow everyone, not just whites, to be capable of discovering a higher truth among
Some might argue it was because he wanted to secure the supposed superiority of the White minority. It ended within 50 years of starting. This essay is going to explain how Nelson Mandela, once just a member. of a small Black tribe in the depths of South Africa, fought Apartheid. to become a worldwide figurehead for non-
Rolihlahla Mandela also known as Nelson Mandela is an illustrious politician and a really good role model to everyone. He stood up to racism without using racism or violence. Nelson is also a symbol of global peacemaking and accomplished many things during his lifetime. Nelson Mandela is a VERY inspirational man. Even though the beginning of his life wasn’t as great as most people, he went through all those tough times without giving up.
Nelson Mandela has just gotten out of prison and is speaking to a rally of ANC supporters in Cape Town urging a continued struggle for racial equality and a government not dominated by any one race, black or white. Mandela is using the built up passion and anger from years of oppression to instill a resolve in the ANC members and others who are fighting for equality in South Africa. Calm Logic Despite his time in prison, Nelson Mandela was very calm and forgiving about his time there. He opens his speech with “I greet you all in the name of peace, democracy and freedom for all.”
To understand Mandela’s role in civil disobedience, one must first have the knowledge of his personal life. Mandela was born in the town of Transkei, South Africa into a royal family on July 18,1918 (Klerk). Even though Mandela was born into a royal family, he still noticed the ugly treatment of people in South Africa based on their racial background. Mr. Mandela was educated at the University of Fort Hare and the University of Witwatersrand. Both of these universities are located in South Africa, though Fort Ware is in Eastern Cape while Witwatersrand is located in the capital (Klerk, F). While a student in college Mandela was sent home for protesting against the strict policies of the university with several other classmates. Like many col...
A parallel universe is said to be identical to ours. In 1954, a young Princeton University doctoral applicant named Hugh Everett III concocted a radical thought: That there exist parallel universes, precisely like our universe. That theory today is a connection to the conspiracy called the Mandela effect. The Mandela effect is a compelling, staggering, and mind-blowing psychological phenomenon that leads to the theory of a parallel universe. The Mandela effect is ironically named after Nelson Mandela, whose death was widely misremembered. Although many facts have surfaced to support the parallel theory and that the Mandela effect is a direct link to a multi-universe, there are also facts that falsify this
Nelson Mandela was a well-known South African politician, philanthropist, and an anti-apartheid revolutionary, born on eighteenth of July 1918. He served as the South African President from the year 1944 to 1999. He is known as the first South African chief executive, and also the first person to be elected in a free and Democratic election. After he was elected, the government of Nelson Mandela focused on dismantling and destroying the widely spread legacy of apartheid that was reigning in South Africa. He tackled these issues by dealing with institutionalised racism, inequality, and poverty. He also made an effort to foster racial reconciliation (Downing & Jr, 1992). He served as the African National Congress President, as a democratic and an African nationalist, from the year 1991 to 1997. Nelson Mandela was appointed the Secretary General from 1998 to 1999, of the Movement of Non-Alignment. Mandela studied Law when he attended the University of Witwatersrand and Fort Hare University. He got involved in anti-colonial politics at the time he lived in Johannesburg. He joined the ANC and later became a founding and prominent member of the Youth league. Nelson Mandela came to power after the National party of South Africa. He ascended to grea...
Nelson Mandela’s commitment to politics and the ANC grew stronger after the 1948 election victory of the Afrikaner dominated National Party, which formed a formal system of racial classification and segregation “apartheid” which restricted non whites basic rights and barred them from government.
Nelson Mandela was and will continue to be one of the most influential people throughout history. The mistreatment he endured, the struggles he encountered, and the racial discrimination he faced did not stop him from accomplishing the goal he set forth for him and his people. Nelson Mandela, Rolihlahla, was the son of a chief of the Madiba clan. After his father's death he was sent to live with Jongintaba Dalindyebo, a high-ranking Thembu regent, who provided him with the best education blacks could receive. After protesting local injustices in his community he fled to Johannesburg to escape an arranged marriage. During his time there he became involved in the movement against racial discrimination , he was later arrested in which in time
Activist, lawyer, father, prisoner, survivor, president, the face of equality. Nelson Mandela has an inspiring story of fighting Apartheid forces and surviving a long prison sentence all in the name of freedom and equal rights. Through Nelson Mandela’s constant fight for freedom of the African people from white apartheid forces, he was dominated by the corrupt government. After uprising numerous riots against apartheid forces, Mandela was sent to jail for twenty-seven years revealing the cruelty that humans can possess. With the strong will power and complete support of the African people, Mandela survived his prison sentence and became the first democratically elected president of South Africa exposing the strength in human nature by showing that humans can persevere through tough times. Mandela left a profound impact on the African people by saving them from corrupt Apartheid rule and bringing a democratic government. Thus teaching the world that in an event where a body of people is suppressed, they will inevitably rebel by any means necessary to gain their freedom.
Supporting fact one: Whilst president of the African National Congress’ youth league (ANCYL), during which his political party stated: “All people, irrespective of the national group they belong to and irrespective of the color of their skin, who have made South Africa their home, are entitled to live a full and free life.” (http://www.morningsidecenter.org/teachable-moment/lessons/nelson-mandela-fight-against-apartheid)
There are many types of people in the world. Some of them are negative and some are positive. Negative people seem to have an endless impact on the people they influence. Negative people plant their venom in the lives of families, friends, communities, countries, and sometimes, even the world, which can make healing difficult and almost impossible because, in many cases, negativity breeds more negativity. However, all people are not negative people, and many people take time to build up others who are less fortunate than they are but who deserve the same opportunities they have. Nelson Mandela is one of these positive people. Mandela contributed to ending
“To deny people their right to human rights is to challenge their very humanity. To impose on them a wretched life of hunger and deprivation is to dehumanize them. But such has been the terrible fate of all black persons in our country under the system of apartheid (“In Nelson Mandela’s own words”). Nelson Mandela was a moral compass symbolizing the struggle against racial oppression. Nelson Mandela emerged from prison after twenty-seven years to lead his country to justice. For twenty-seven years he sat in a cell because he believed in a country without apartheid, a country with freedom and human rights. He fought for a country where all people were equal, treated with respect and given equal opportunity. Nelson Mandela looms large in the actions of activists and politicians. He inspired music and movies, and swayed the mind of powerful leaders. Making him an influential person who affected American culture.
He quoted “Real leaders must be ready to sacrifice all for the freedom of their people” (Mandela, n.p.). Nelson Mandela wasted no time in prison; he earned his bachelor of law degree from the University of London Correspondence Program. When he was released in 1990, within a year, he was announced the president of the ANC forming a youth league also known as ANCYL-African National Congress Youth League. Also, as challenging as this was, Mandela tried making elections racially undivided and this was a nonsuccess. Anarchy broke out amongst the southern black Africans because they wanted all the power instead of sharing power with the whites, which is what the whites intended. Understanding Mandela, he wanted a peaceful movement and was elected president on May 10, 1994.
In 1993, he became the president of South Africa after a long journey of seeking freedom and equality among his people. Under his power, his country attained democratic government without discrimination between the white and black people. He had never talked about racism during his presidential time and had never responded harshly against any racism action. He had very successful time in leading South Africa until he retired because of his health bad condition. Finally, he died in 2013, but he remained in our heart as strong leader, peaceful person, and free man.