Research Paper On Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela: An Inspiration to All

Would you ever believe that a great world hero, an inspiration to all, was on the United States terrorist watch list? Up until 2008, Nelson Mandela was listed on the terrorist list because the political party he was a member of was considered a gang. The ANC (African National Congress) was viewed as a threatening group who were unpredictable. However, Nelson Mandela and the ANC were only looking out for the good of South Africa. Nelson Mandela has greatly impacted South Africa by striving to improve difficult living conditions, protesting with peace not violence, and educating South Africans on how to make their country strong.

Throughout his life, Nelson Mandela worked to accomplish his goal that

In 1952, Nelson joined the ANC campaign to stop unjust laws and discrimination policies. This movement also produced the Freedom Charter, which was ratified by Congress in 1955. Mandela later opened a black law firm which offered a free or low cost consultation to those who could not collect enough money (History.com Staff “Mandela”). Nearly every day, Nelson risked his safety by joining societies that were considered to be illegal by the government. He made those choices with the well-being of his people in mind. Nelson risked all he had, including his life, for his people because he cared so greatly for them. Mandela expressed that he yearned for equality for all races, not just Africans; “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…” (Purcell, Ed). This quote displays that Mandela was not fighting for black rights just because it was his own race. He would have fought for any race’s freedom because he craved equality for everyone all over the world.

During the time Mandela was in jail, there was an international outcry against South Africa’s racist ways. Mandela was powerful even though he was restricted in prison (History.com Staff

were more compelling. Gandhi was not as powerful as Mandela because he did not have a lot of political knowledge and often took breaks from his work for many years at a time (History.com Staff “Gandhi”). When Nelson Mandela was locked up for seventeen years, he spent his time studying with the limited tools he had. He never took a break from politics. Although Martin Luther King Jr. was a great leader for African Americans, unlike Mandela he did not address equality for all races. He described the idea of black people being treated fairly yet he did not mention black people treating all other races with respect as well (History.com Staff “Luther”). Mandela craved equality for all races. He wanted black people to treat white people with as much respect as white people treat black people. In Mandela’s mind, equality and the absence of segregation would only be reached if all races respected one