Mandela

Grand apartheid was established as South African policy in 1948 and thus a dark period of human existence arose with issues such as black oppression and white supremacy clouding people’s everyday lives within the country. Nelson Mandela is almost certainly the most renowned prisoner in the history of the world and ultimately became the president of South Africa in 1994 after apartheid was dismembered and after he was released from prison. Mandela was involved with the fight for the rights of his people and for general equality from the very beginning of apartheid. As well, Mandela was a figurehead for the people seeking equality throughout his life, whether it was in prison or as a part of the ANC (African National Congress). Nelson Mandela was considered a key to the ending of apartheid in South Africa because of his activism within the political system and because he was an inspiration to his people, and finally because he was a symbol of strength for the African people.

Nelson Mandela’s activism within the South African political system against apartheid from the beginning and thus was a key to ending apartheid. When apartheid was introduced in 1948, Mandela was part of a group called the African National Congress Youth Leag

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” In fact, he spoke these words as a challenge to an impartial courtroom where he knew that he would lose his case no matter what the real truth was. Throughout his career he was always vocal about his beliefs and his rights. It was speeches such as this and the knowledge that he would defend them till the end that inspired the people. Whether it was in his writing as a minor member of the ANC or as a speech later on in his life. When Mandela escaped South Africa and traveled to raise support for his cause he once said,

"At the beginning of June 1961, after long and anxious assessment of the South African situation, I and some colleagues came to the conclusion that as violence in this country was inevitable, it would be wrong and unrealistic for African leaders to continue preaching peace and non-violence at a time when the government met our peaceful demands with force. From this position, Mandela had some of his most historic and influential moments. Even small comments like "make every home, every shack or rickety structure a centre of learning. Mandela’s orations were powerful enough to touch the hearts of millions of South Africans searching for justice. Eventually Mandela was elected to join the ANC where he could make a real political difference. Nelson Mandela sacrificed his life and family for his people and to this day he remains South Africa’s most famous and beloved hero. This sort of activism throughout Mandela’s life was the cause for his popularity throughout his country and the world. Throughout all of these events and changes, there was one constant and this was the threats and attempts of the government to imprison the members of the ANC and ANCYL. He never once gave up believing that his country would some day be free of the oppression he was forced to live through. During his trials Mandela was once quoted as saying “I detest racialism, because I regard it as a barbaric thing, whether it comes from a black man or a white man. Mandela’s strength as a man deep in his beliefs was broadcast on a national stage as well as his will power.

Approximate Word count = 1311
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)

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