Who was Nelson Mandela?

Sitara Nair

Nelson Mandela was born on July 18, 1918, in a tribal clan in South Africa’s eastern Cape. His parents, Nonqaphi Nosekeni and Nkosi Mphakanyiswa Gadla Mandela, initially named him Rolihlahla Mandela, but his primary school teacher renamed Nelson under the custom of Christianizing all schoolchildren. Later, he attended the University College of Fort Hare and the University of Witwatersrand. In 1942, he began studying law, and by 1944, he joined the African National Congress (ANC) to help fight against unfair laws. From 1956 to 1961, he was put on trial for treason because he resisted the National Party’s apartheid laws, but in 1961, he was found not guilty.

After his trial, Mandela suggested creating a military group within the ANC, which led to much conflict. The ANC did not stop people who supported his campaign, which led to the formation of Umkhonto we Sizwe, a group that stood by Mandela. He was sent to prison for five years, and many Umkhonto we Sizwe members were also arrested. Later, on June 12, 1964, he was sentenced to life in prison for trying to overthrow the government.

Because of civil rights protests in South Africa, Mandela was finally released from prison on February 11, 1990. He never gave up on his goals and worked hard to unite people. He later became South Africa’s president in 1994. Sadly, on December 5, 2013, Nelson Mandela passed away due to a respiratory infection. He was a great leader because he was strong, stood up for what was right, and helped unite South Africa.

Mr. Mandela was an admired man, he fought for equality, not only his own but also that of all the people surrounding him. He was powerful, and being in prison for 27 years made him come out stronger to reunite his country. He had many admirable qualities: bravery, kindness, and faith. He made people feel safe under his leadership, and they were inspired. He spoke with tenderness and love, never favoring one person over another because he made racial distinctions. Mandela was also a man of forgiveness; he did not hold grudges against white people because he knew hatred would only perpetuate further divisiveness. He was wise to know when to step forward and when to hold back. He even used rugby, one of the few sports still predominantly occupied by white South Africans, to unite people across different races.

After 27 years in prison, Nelson Mandela was to learn important life lessons that molded him into the brave leader he became. He realized that his fight was not just for himself but for the millions of Black South Africans who faced oppression. Even while imprisoned, Mandela led a movement for civil disobedience that pressured South African officials to improve conditions on Robben Island.

As mentioned earlier, Mandela used rugby, a sport dominated by white South Africans, to bring people together. In one of the major Rugby World Cups, he shook hands with a white player in front of millions and spread a strong message of unity amongst the people. He asked the white captains to teach them how to play the sport to little children, which further broke barriers of racism amongst the people. His leadership brought South Africa out of segregation laws.

Nelson Mandela's life and legacy serve as an inspiration to people across the globe. His firm stand for justice, equality, and unity changed South Africa and set an example for future generations. His strength, wisdom, and forgiveness proved that true leadership brings people together. His impact will never be forgotten.