Nelson Mandela free essay sample

Among the men who have had a profound impact on their countries and the world, men who provided leadership and vision in different eras, with different styles, whom history has shown to have possessed unique courage during challenging times to do the right thing, comes the name of Nelson Mandela who assisted in creating a multi-racial democracy in South Africa. Mandela was elected as South Africa’s first black president, and there were high expectations from him from a country that had long treated its majority citizens as a third-class group. For Mandela, the transition to majority rule had to take place without violence as he knew the world was watching. He knew it would not be easy. Of course, he alone was not responsible for the positive changes that have happened in South Africa, and the country still has a long way to go to overcome the years of a system that was designed to make people suffer. We will write a custom essay sample on Nelson Mandela or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page But Mandela has made a difference. Mandela was the founding member of the ANC (African National Congress) Youth League. It was during his service at the ANCYL that he transformed the organization from its root level, trashing out all the old methods and employing fresh methods of boycotting, striking, civil disobedience and non-cooperation. His main aim was to kill racism, allow full citizenship to people, redistribute land, bestow trade union rights, and provide free and compulsory education for all children. Ironically, his baptized forename, Rolihlahla meaning troublemaker, blended well with his personality over the growing years as Nelson Mandela caused serious trouble to the government of South Africa, through this anti-apartheid movement and revolutionary ways. Inheriting the proud rebelliousness and sense of fairness, from his father, ever since a young age, Mandela was actively involved in anti-colonial politics, which led to his joining the ANC. This admittance was a historic one not only in the life of Mandela but that of every countrymen of South Africa, as it eventually led to a discrimination-free country Inspired by Gandhi and committed to non-violent struggle, Mandela however moved to armed struggle after a phase of time. This was basically due to failure of non-violent protest against apartheid and increasing repression  and violence from the state. In his 67 years long political career, Mandela led numerous movements, and was arrested, convicted and imprisoned various times, the longest being the 27 years life imprisonment. He was arrested for illegal exit from the country and sentenced to five years of imprisonment. The imprisonment protracted to become life-imprisonment for Mandela as he was convicted for crimes that had occurred while he was spearheading the ANC struggle. Though he was offered freedom on a couple of occasions in exchange for compromising on his political position, he refused to accept the same. He stood by his opinion according to which personal freedom was of no use if the organization of the people remained banned. However, all the pain he endured was worth it as year 1994 marked the end of apartheid and holding of multi-racial elections. Mandela became the inaugural President of the country, the first black South African to hold the office. This is why he is referred to by numerous titles, including the father of the nation, the founding father of democracy, the national liberator, the saviour, South Africa’s Washington and Lincoln rolled into one. Nelson Mandela is a man who stood firm and took his country from the extremes of apartheid through to democracy. For this he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in1993. He has received more than 250 awards that are in every way honorable, ranging from keys to cities and honorary degrees to the peace prize. Lately the ailing 95 years old Nelson Mandela was presented with a humanitarian achievement award for his contribution to South-South cooperation and sustainable development. The theme of the annual event was innovation and technology for sustainable development. The award sought to highlight the achievements of countries in the Global South, and recognize public and private sector leaders who have contributed significantly to South-South cooperation and sustainable development. In accepting the prize on behalf of their father, Zindzi Mandela and Josina Machel stressed Nelson Mandela’s dedication to wide-ranging cooperation among developing nations. In any Nelson Mandela interview you will find him to be a man of humour, honesty and humility. These are great attributes in any man, but Mandela can be considered among the greats. One of those greats was Gandhi. Mandela paid  tribute to Gandhi with these words: He dared to exhort nonviolence in a time when the violence of Hiroshima and Nagasaki had exploded on us; he exhorted morality when science, technology and the capitalist order had made it redundant; he replaced self-interest with group interest without minimizing the importance of self. India is Gandhis country of birth; South Africa his country of adoption. Gandhi and Mandela were like-minded men. There is also a lot of mutual respect between Nelson Mandela and Barack Obama. The latter sent a videoed message to Mandela on his 91st birthday in which he displays the utmost respect for Nelson Mandela and his lifes achievements. To day many associations have shown reverence to Mandela in various ways. Some have put statues of the highly esteemed personality in important places. There is one such statue in Nelson Mandela Square in Johannesburg and one in Parliament Square, London. There are also streets and bridges named in his honour, as well as postage stamps. The Nelson Mandela stadium in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, seats 46,500 and was built in anticipation of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The Nelson Mandela museum is situated near his home of Qunu. Mandela has insisted that this museum should not be a tribute to just his own life, but to the cause he stood for and to uplift and develop the local community. The Nelson Mandela Childrens fund supports children in South Africa with the aim to change the way society treats its children and youth. The Nelson Mandela Foundation is a huge organisation with the aim to promote a just society built on Mandelas vision and work. Along with many peace and educational activities Mandela has been prominent and outspoken in his effort against AIDS. His son died from AIDS, which is often referred to as the curse of Africa. For Nelson Mandela, AIDS is another war, another impossibility that can still be won. Since 2003 Mandela has supported the 46664 concerts to support HIV/AIDS victims and research. With all the awards and honorary degrees and accolades, Nelson Mandela’s achievements have certainly been more than most men would achieve in a life time. From a young boy, schooled for royalty, to political activist, to prisoner, to President, to honoured scholar and statesman, Nelson Rolihlahla has done so much for the world and will go down as one of history’s greatest men. It is little wonder that July 18 (his birthday) has been named as Mandela Day. His contribution to the world has been significant indeed. Nelson Mandela free essay sample Nelson Mandela is widely known to be one of the most influential people to ever live. He changed South African politics, and fought against racism and inequality throughout his life.BiographyNelson Mandela was born in Mvezo, a small village in South Africa. He was the first person in his family to attend school.He began to get involved in politics when the National Party, which supported the apartheid policy of racial segregation, won the elections. The Merriam-Webster dictionary describes the apartheid as racial segregation; specifically:   a former policy of segregation and political and economic discrimination against non-European groups in the Republic of South Africa.As a result, Mandela joined the African National Congress party and began actively campaigning against the National Partys policies. Inspired by Mahatma Ghandi, he used nonviolent methods. However, as time went on and he was no closer to ending apartheid, he changed his methods and began organizing more guerrilla warfare-like sabotage tactics to further his cause and create the change he was looking for. We will write a custom essay sample on Nelson Mandela or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Mandela was on the run for 17 months until he was finally captured and imprisoned in 1962. His imprisonment lasted 27 years.In the late 1980s, there was great pressure from the international and local community for the South African government to release Mandela. He was released on February 11th, 1990. Hours after his release, he made a speech in front a roaring crowd, vowing to end the apartheid, saying: Today the majority of South Africans, black and white, recognise that the apartheid has no future. It has to be ended by our decisive mass action. We have waited too long for freedom.South Africas first multiracial elections, in which full suffrage was granted, were held on April 27th, 1994. Mandelas party won, and he became the first black president of South Africa. As president, Mandela controlled the change from minority rule and apartheid to a rule of equality, winning international respect for his advocacy of national and international reconciliation. Mandela retired from the presidency in June 1999 and he chose to devote himself to social activism.On December 5th 2013, Nelson Mandela passed away at the age of 95. Tributes came from all over the world with U.S. President Barack Obama saying that Mandela achieved more than could be expected of any man. British Prime Minister David Cameron said that a great light had gone out of this world.Mandela was also awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 for for [his] work for the peaceful termination of the apartheid regime, and for laying the foundations for a new democratic South Africa. Good QualitiesPower of public speechA leadership quality of Nelson Mandela is his ability to speak so well publicly. He was able to inspire and give hope to the people of Africa, especially blacks, in a time of great injustice and help them to realize that change could be achieved. He also had the ability to change peoples views on race and other matters especially about injustice and politics. The speech that he made after he was released from prison is just one of the many that helped people realise that change was possible and that if they supported him they could get the equality that they wanted.Sacrifice and Refusal to FailNelson Mandela gave up his life for his cause. He was prepared to live a third of his life in prison and the spend the rest fighting for the rights and integration of black people in the South African community. He dedicated his life to speaking about the importance of equality. This made him a well-known figure however this came with a lack of privacy and great responsibility. Eventually he also gave up his presidency to speak and fight for peoples rights all around the world. Nelson Mandela was faced with many obstacles throughout his life and if he had given up at each one of these he wouldnt have made it out of the village he was born in.Do not judge me by my successes, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again Nelson MandelaOpen mindsetNelson Mandela had a thirst for knowledge and attended 6 higher education institutions. In Mandelas own words education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world. Although Mandela stood strongly by his fundamental moral beliefs, he was also prepared to change his political beliefs. For example, Mandela was a socialist and even a Marxist, and most of his life he was suspicious of private ownership and of free markets because of the abuses hed witnessed. However, after he learnt what decades of socialism had done to the Soviet Union, he wondered if he needed to change his views. Thus, he met the leaders of the Communist parties of China and Vietnam who were working to privatize state enterprises. Mandela told a biographer that they changed my views completely. His ability to grow in his mindset and admit his errors were an important part of making him the leader that he was, as no leader is going to understand immediately what is going to be best for population of a whole country now and in the future.Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world Nelson MandelaFaith in humans – through all the discrimination and injustice that Nelson Mandela faced, he still remained faithful that humans could do better. He believed that even the most racist groups could have their attitudes changed with enough perseverance and strength. Despite all of the injusticesPassionNot wallowingKeeping it peacefulBad Qual itiesTerrorism – although Mandela helped to end the apartheid through peaceful methods and helping to create a more tolerant nation, he was oBibliographyhttp://fortune.com/2014/12/05/6-principles-that-made-nelson-mandela-a-renowned-leaderhttp://www.nbcnews.com/news/other/7-ways-nelson-mandela-changed-south-africa-f2D11702722http://www.leadershipgeeks.com/nelson-mandela-leadership/