Life and times of Nelson Mandela

A short written summery of the first ever Africa President in South Africa.

"I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear."

- Nelson Mandela 

Born July 18th 1918 in a South African village Nelson Mandela was first in his family to attend school. A young talented student who showed rebellious tendency's early on. He was expelled from his university for a boycott he participated in for the institution. It was expect Mandela would become Chief of his tribe like his father but instead he chose to study law. 

In 1944 Mandela joins the ANC ( African National Congress), he wanted to give equal rights to all citizens throughout the entire country. With part of his party Mandela created the ANC Youth League / ANCYL, this league used methods like boycotts, strikes and civil disobedience. Then in 1948 the National party was elected to government and following that instituted a legal system of racial segregation called apartheid. Meanwhile Mandela and the ANCYL continued their non violent protests agents raciest policies. For example in 1950 Mandela host his own defiance campaign and 1955's Congress of the People. He also practiced being a lawyer for mistreated black south Africans by opening the country's first black law practice. 

Mandela was quickly becoming an enemy of the government and was targeted whenever possible. At the end of 1956 Mandela and a group of about 150 protesters were arrested on the suspicion of treason because of their methods. After a long trial the group was set free. It was around this time that a separate group of protesters suggested the peaceful approach was not working. This group formed the Pen-activious congress in 1959. Soon Mandela changed his approach and agreed that armed conflict was the only way to end apartheid rule. 

Mandela helped to find a military offshoot of the ANC which specialized in sabotage and guerrilla warfare. Not long after on Aug 5th 1962 Mandela was arrested for striking from the prior year. Although he was sentenced to 5 years in prison he wound up spending the next 27 years of his life in jail. This is because while serving his 5 years Mandela was charged with Sabotage, treason, and violent rebellion sentencing him to a life in prison and barley escaped the death penalty.  

Mandela's first years in prison where spent at a place called Robin Island but he was transferred in 1982 due to being treated poorly as a black prisoner. However he did manager to earn a bachelor of law degree though a correspondence program. During this time Mandela's profile grew and he became a international symbol of anti apartheid resistance. On more than one occasion the government offered Mandela his freedom in exchange for the abandonment of his beliefs, each time he refused. After much negotiation Mandela was finally released of Feb 11th 1990 at the age of 72 by the country's new president. 

Mandela then became president of the ANC and helped negotiate the end of all apartheid laws. And on June 17th 1991 Population Registration Act was repealed which meant that separate racial groups were no longer separated. This marked the beginning of the end of all apartheid rule in South Africa. The country came together for it's first ever Democratic election on April 7th 1994 with the ANC taking 62% of the vote. And on May 10th 1994 Nelson Mandela was sworn in as the first black president of South Africa. He spent his term rebuilding the economy and uniting the country. He even used the country's nation Rugby team as rally point for all citizens and as a way to bring the country onto the world stage in a positive light.

When his term ended in 1999 Mandela retired from active politics. Despite leaving lime light in 2004 Mandela connived a group of world leaders called "The Elders" in 2007.  The group aimed to resolve world problems such as poverty, AIDS, and climate change. Among his many honors he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993. Throughout his life Mandela helped to inspire the live of all of those around him who he sought to protect. On Dec 5th 2013 Mandela peaceful drifted into a sleep which he did not wake from. But in his legacy millions are now free from racial segregation and a great leader of our time will be in harmony in peace forever. 

“Death is something inevitable. When a man has done what he considers to be his duty to his people&his country,he can rest in peace”

- Nelson Mandela