Nelson Mandela Biography
Attr: John Mathew Smith
| Born as | Rolihlahla Mandela |
| Occup. | Statesman |
| From | South Africa |
| Born | July 18, 1918
Mvezo, South Africa |
| Died | December 5, 2013
Johannesburg, South Africa |
| Cause | Respiratory Infection |
| Aged | 95 years |
Early Life
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was born on July 18, 1918, in the little town of Mvezo in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. His daddy, Gadla Henry Mphakanyiswa, was an essential member of the Thembu royal household and functioned as a chief in the town. His mother, Nosekeni Fanny, was the 3rd of Gadla's 4 spouses. Growing up, Mandela invested much of his youth herding livestock and exploring the countryside, which assisted instill in him a deep love for the land and its individuals.
Education
Mandela's father insisted that his son receive an education, and in 1925, he was registered at a local missionary school, where he was given the English name "Nelson". He continued his education at the Clarkebury Boarding Institute and the Healdtown Wesleyan College, two prestigious schools for black students at the time. Later on, Mandela enrolled at the University College of Fort Hare, where he studied law and fulfilled
Oliver Tambo and other future leaders of the African National Congress (ANC). However, in 1940, he and a number of other students were expelled for participating in a protest against the university's policies.
Early Career and Civil Rights Activism
After leaving Fort Hare, Mandela transferred to Johannesburg, where he worked numerous jobs and continued his research studies through correspondence courses. In 1944, he and a number of other young activists, consisting of
Oliver Tambo and Walter Sisulu, formed the ANC Youth League, which aimed to change the ANC into a more extreme and militant company to fight versus racial discrimination in South Africa.
In the 1940s and 1950s, Mandela ended up being significantly involved in the anti-apartheid movement as a civil liberties legal representative and an activist. In his law practice, he concentrated on offering legal services to blacks who were victims of South Africa's overbearing racial laws. In 1952, he and Tambo opened the first black law practice in South Africa.
Fight versus Apartheid and Imprisonment
In 1956, Mandela and 155 other activists were apprehended and charged with treason, however after a four-year-long trial, they were all acquitted. In 1960, after the Sharpeville massacre, where 69 black protesters were eliminated by the cops, the South African government stated a state of emergency situation and prohibited the ANC. Mandela, along with top ANC leaders, chose to form a military wing called Umkhonto we Sizwe (Spear of the Nation) to promote armed resistance against the apartheid federal government.
In 1962, Mandela explored Africa to amass assistance for the ANC and underwent military training in Algeria. On his go back to South Africa, he was detained and subsequently sentenced to 5 years in prison. In 1964, he and 7 other ANC leaders were founded guilty of sabotage and conspiracy to overthrow the federal government, resulting in a life sentence. Mandela was sent out to the infamous Robben Island prison, where he would invest 18 of his 27 years in prison.
Release and completion of Apartheid
In the 1980s, both domestic and international pressure for Mandela's release and completion of apartheid grew significantly. The South African government, led by President P.W. Botha and later on F.W. de Klerk, started working out with Mandela and other ANC leaders. In 1990, de Klerk lifted the ban on the ANC and released Mandela from jail.
Following his release, Mandela was elected as the president of the ANC, and he led the celebration through settlements with the government to end apartheid and establish a multiracial democracy in South Africa. In 1993, these efforts led to Mandela and de Klerk being collectively awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
Presidency and Later Life
In 1994, South Africa held its very first democratic elections, in which all residents, no matter race, were allowed to vote. The ANC won a bulk of votes, and on May 10, 1994, Nelson Mandela was inaugurated as South Africa's very first black president, serving one term up until 1999. Throughout his presidency, Mandela concentrated on national reconciliation and reconstructing the nation's facilities and economy, as well as attending to issues of racism, inequality, and institutionalized discrimination.
After leaving office, Mandela devoted his life to charity work, focusing on education and the fight against HIV/AIDS. He developed the Nelson Mandela Foundation and the Mandela Rhodes Scholarship, which supplies financial support to African students.
Death and Legacy
Nelson Mandela died on December 5, 2013, at the age of 95, after a long fight with a repeating lung infection. His death was mourned worldwide, and he is kept in mind for his undeviating dedication to human rights, justice, and equality. Today, Mandela is thought about an international symbol of peace and a worldwide icon for his role in taking apart apartheid and developing a democratic, multiracial South Africa.
Our collection contains 31 quotes who is written / told by Nelson, under the main topics:
Wisdom -
Politics -
Peace.
Related authors: Mangosuthu Buthelezi (Leader), Henry David Thoreau (Author), Steven Biko (Activist), Oliver Tambo (Politician), Ruth First (Activist), Leonard Peltier (Activist), Daisaku Ikeda (Writer), Kilari Anand Paul (Priest), Chelsea Clinton (Celebrity), Naomi Campbell (Model)
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