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The Fight Against Apartheid in South Africa
The Fight Against Apartheid in South Africa
Brief history of nelson mandela
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Nelson Mandela was a revolutionary that stood up against the apartheid, or racist, government. Mandela played the biggest role in the movement to overthrow the South African government. He led many protests and was thrown in prison for trying to overthrow the office. After all of Mandela’s hard work, he successfully overthrew the apartheid government and turned it around into a good, democratic government. Mandela later became South Africa’s first president in elections which all people could vote. Nelson Mandela had a great effect on his country as he took a stand and tried to overthrow the apartheid government and turn it into a democratic, non-racist country. Mandela had a willingness to fight against injustice and racism. In 1956, he stated ¨I detest racialism, because I regard it as a barbaric thing, whether it comes from a white man or a black man.¨ Mandela hated racism and racial discrimination so much that he went to prison for 27 years trying to end it. He could not go without standing up for what he truly believed in and he had to fight against racism and he had to put an end to it. If he saw discrimination or racism somewhere, he would instantly stop it. He also …show more content…
Mandela was willing to do anything to fight against injustice and racial discrimination. He was one of few people that did not bow to the government’s pressure to accept injustice as he kept fighting for the rights of all blacks in South Africa. He is a great influence on anybody who disagrees with the authority as he started many protests in his life and created groups to help it and also joined groups to stop racism, such as the ANC, or the African National Congress. It is important to take a stand against authority when it is what you believe in. Imagine if Nelson Mandela was still living and was still a part of the South African democratic
Nelson Mandela taught us that the humanity all of us share can help us transcend the sins some of us commit. There is no better example of the transformative power of tolerance and reconciliation than Nelson Mandela and his inspiring work in overthrowing the apartheid government in South Africa. He understood the power of words to change minds and the power of peaceful deeds to open hearts. His life reminds us that justice and tolerance can overcome even the greatest cruelty. Nelson Mandela faced one of the greatest evils of our time.
Nelson Mandela was born on July 18th, 1918 in Mvezo, Eastern Cape, South Africa. He is best known for his fight against apartheid and becoming the first black President of South Africa. Mandela was born into the Thembu people and was motivated to study law after experiencing the tribal democratic leadership. He joined the African National Congress in 1942 and participated in the organization of a many protests against apartheid. In 1952 “Mandela and Oliver Tambo started the first black law office in South Africa with the intent of fighting black injustice (Saunders, World Book 133)”. Mandela was arrested in 1962 and given a life sentence for charges for conspiring against the government. He was released in 1990 after serving 27 years. In 1993 he received the Nobel Peace Prize along with F. W. de Klerk for their contribution towards ending of apartheid and establishing multiracial elections. He was elected the first black President of South Africa in 1994. While in power he focused on fighting racism, inequality, and poverty in South Africa. Mandela retired his presidency in 1999 and made his last public appearance at the 2010 FIFA World Cup Final. Nelson Mandela died December 5th, 2013 in Johannesburg. Throughout his early life, his imprisonment, and his presidency, Nelson Mandela always stood for change.
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...
He fought for what he believed in, he was tenacious in doing so, and he stood up for true equality for all. Mandela is a man that I believe our current politics could learn a lot from. Our nation is so divided right now, that we need people like him to rise up and show the world that you can hold fast to your beliefs without ostracizing those around you.
He possessed the ability to negotiate with important business people and was a great public speaker. Although he was no perfect human being, he to had a weakness. He did not have the ability to remain loyal to the Anc. He was not able to say loyal to his organization. Besides that Nelson Mandela did many historical things for everyone. He was even awarded a nobel peace prize. He fought for the rights of children, equality for all, stood in the face of oppression and knocked it down. His fearlessness was what his people need. His couraged were what the children needed. A Role model, someone to look up to, someone they could aspire to be like when they got
Nelson Mandela once said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” The importance of an education is repeatedly shown through past and present events. Those who can’t afford an education do whatever it takes to try and learn. They know that it will lead to a better future for them. An education will not only lead to a job with more money, but it will also expand people’s minds. They will be able to create new ideas and inventions. The best way for us to change the world is through educating our youth. With a better education, they can become inspired to invent new things. Some could grow up to find cures to diseases. Educating the youth is the key to changing the world. The children of today are the leaders of tomorrow. The best way for us to give a good education to our youth is by refining our school system. We need to redefine the term ‘education.’ Teachers in classrooms change the world because they are teaching the future generation that will one day lead. If we want to change the world for the better, educating the youth is th...
In the end Mandela’s brutality turned out to be justifiable in order to be able to confront the Apartheid government of South Africa. The brutality did not come at the right time in the war but it did come with the intent to stop a war without harming the civilians. Mandela wanted to eradicate the war within those humans who did not govern South African in the best interest for everyone. To Mandela bringing an end to unfairness was something one should fight for. Mandela needed security for his people for the civilians and the only way to do that was to use violence in an intelligent manner. There were many sacrifices and many death but Mandela provided his country with a brighter future brining in justice.
In conclusion, Nelson Mandela was a prominent leader of South Africa who had made many changes for the Africans as a whole of South Africa. Mandela did what he had to for the humanity of people no matter the outcome of the thorough situations and circumstances he was put in. Mandela never let what was meant to be his downfall change his mind set or his push and his motivation to what his bigger picture and his bigger
“The time comes in the life of any nation when there remain only two choices: submit or fight” (“Nelson Mandela”). Nelson Mandela took the chance and fought for his rights and freedom. Mandela has gone through many troubles in his life since the day he was born. A young man that had no shoes till he approached the age of sixteen, and then transformed into a great political leader of his country. Mandela’s life is an impressing story to be told!
The primary concept is set on the idea of Nelson Mandela's principles, what Nelson Mandela stood for when he stated that ''Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world” (ref), therefore the main theme is: Education, is it connecting the dots by enriching your people or is it causing separation. We use this particular trope, which is the Nelson Mandela Bridge, to show the correlation it has with Nelson Mandela ideals and principles of the rainbow nation (ref), on how the bridge can be seen as a symbol that should connect the one to the other. All the races in South Africa should in actual fact unify to create this picture of the rainbow nation, but because of what is currently happening in the State of South
Nelson Mandela played an important role in the abolition of Apartheid. He helped start and lead some of the riots and protests that led to black rights, and he spent a long time in prison to pay for it. He inspired many people. As he said, quoting Marianne Williamson, “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?’ Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world… We are all meant to shine (Williamson).” Overall, he played a very important role in abolishing Apartheid in South Africa.
“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.
The division between white and blacks in South Africa bothered Nelson because he believed everyone should have equal rights. Nelson was known for bringing peace to the now ended apartheid and fought for human rights globally. He was involved in many peaceful protests to put an end into the apartheid even though white people were disgusted with his actions. ANCYL participated in many differences sources of protesting such as boycotts, strikes, civil disobedience and other forms of peaceful protesting (“NM and ANC”,
Nelson Mandela in his book, Long Walk to Freedom argues through the first five parts that a black individual must deal, coop, and grow through a society that is hindering their lives' with apartheid and suppression of their rightful land. Rolihlanla Mphakanyiswa or clan name, Madiba was born on July 18, 1918 in a simple village of Mvezo, which was not accustomed to the happenings of South Africa as a whole. His father was an respected man who led a good life, but lost it because of a dispute with the magistrate. While, his mother was a hard-working woman full of daily choirs. His childhood was full of playing games with fellow children and having fun. In school, Mandela was given his English name of Nelson. After his father's death, he moved to love with a regent, who was a well-off individual and owed Nelson's father for a previous favor. The next several years were full of schooling for Nelson. These schools opened Nelson's eyes to many things, which we will discuss later. He and the regent's son, Justice decided to travel to Johannesburg and see what work they could find. They left on their journey without the regent's permission, but eventually escaped his power and settled down in the town. In Johannesburg, Nelson settled down in a law firm as an assistant and went to University of South Africa and Witwatersrand University to further his law education. Witswatersrand University brought many new ideas to Nelson and awakened a spirit inside of him.
In conclusion, Mandela is a symbol of peace and bringing people together regardless of race, language, and religion. Unlike other political leaders in his country who used power to discriminate and violate the human rights, he brought the country into a state of harmony and peace.