Nelson Mandela- A Non-violent Journey to Freedom
Nelson Mandela is known as the “Hero of South Africa”. His actions, specifically his speeches and nonviolent protests during his lifetime, were impressive and changed his country. His whole life he was fighting against apartheid, the white minority in South Africa, and equal rights for all citizens.
Mandela was born in South Africa in the year 1918. At this time black people did not have the same rights and were discriminated, because the country was ruled by the white population. However, Mandela grew up with a good education and studied law. When he was 26, he joined the African National Congress (ANC), and tried to achieve full citizenship for every single South African- white or black. To achieve their goals, his group was setting up strikes, civil disobedience, boycotts and other nonviolent methods. He spent most of his time working for his organization, traveling around the country to organize protests, and fighting for the black society.
After 10 years Mandela changed his ways to fight for freedom. He chose to become a member and leader of the “Spear of Nation”, which was the new armed wing of the ANC. It contradicted to his non-violent ideas, but he said he was forced to use violence since all other ways had failed at this point of time. His actions brought him to jail for almost three decades.
It was the most difficult time in Mandela’s life, but it also enriched him. He not only earned a bachelor of law degree from the University of London, but spent his time mentoring his fellow prisoners. Mandela motivated them to find a better treatment and use nonviolent resistance. He was also able to smuggle political statements out of the prison. In the year 1988, Mandela finally got released from jail and, after earning the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993, he became South Africa’s first black president in 1994. Even in his late years of life, he introduced and supported many economic and social programs, for example to improve the living standards of the black South African population. His organizations addressed global problems as well as easing human suffering.
Nelson Mandela was a fighter for freedom, a warrior, but one who had recognized that violence is not the right way to achieve your goals. He used his speeches, non-violent protests and his knowledge to change his country. Even though Mandela had reached this one point of his life when he decided that violence would be the only way to achieve his goal, most of his activities were non-violent. He sacrificed a lot to improve South Africa and put a lot of effort in his work. In his first years at the ANC, he tried to change society without violence, and used his desire for equality and songs about freedom instead. He also helped to open up the first black law firm in South Africa, which offered low-cost or free service to people that were affected by apartheid. After his release from prison he and his organization were even able to create the first election, where all South Africans were free to vote.
Another thing that helped Mandela to succeed was his good education. He gained a lot of knowledge about law, as well as about the history of the black population in Africa. This helped him to understand the South African society and the place of the black minority in it. He learned about the reasons and opinions of white people in the country and even talked to the guards in jail about this to improve his understanding.
Mandela also was an extremely good speaker. He was able to convince people with words and talked about his ideal state where all humans live together in peace and with equal rights. He said, “It is an ideal for which I’m prepared to die” (“Youth of Human Rights”).
Nelson Mandela became a symbol of freedom for a lot of people, in South Africa, and all around the world. For his entire life, he encouraged others to keep fighting for their freedom, for equal rights and a better life. His nonviolent actions, speeches and knowledge helped him achieving his goals. He gave hope to so many people and, by never giving up and believing in what he did, he was able to change the South African society as well as the world.
Nelson Mandela is known as the “Hero of South Africa”. His actions, specifically his speeches and nonviolent protests during his lifetime, were impressive and changed his country. His whole life he was fighting against apartheid, the white minority in South Africa, and equal rights for all citizens.
Mandela was born in South Africa in the year 1918. At this time black people did not have the same rights and were discriminated, because the country was ruled by the white population. However, Mandela grew up with a good education and studied law. When he was 26, he joined the African National Congress (ANC), and tried to achieve full citizenship for every single South African- white or black. To achieve their goals, his group was setting up strikes, civil disobedience, boycotts and other nonviolent methods. He spent most of his time working for his organization, traveling around the country to organize protests, and fighting for the black society.
After 10 years Mandela changed his ways to fight for freedom. He chose to become a member and leader of the “Spear of Nation”, which was the new armed wing of the ANC. It contradicted to his non-violent ideas, but he said he was forced to use violence since all other ways had failed at this point of time. His actions brought him to jail for almost three decades.
It was the most difficult time in Mandela’s life, but it also enriched him. He not only earned a bachelor of law degree from the University of London, but spent his time mentoring his fellow prisoners. Mandela motivated them to find a better treatment and use nonviolent resistance. He was also able to smuggle political statements out of the prison. In the year 1988, Mandela finally got released from jail and, after earning the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993, he became South Africa’s first black president in 1994. Even in his late years of life, he introduced and supported many economic and social programs, for example to improve the living standards of the black South African population. His organizations addressed global problems as well as easing human suffering.
Nelson Mandela was a fighter for freedom, a warrior, but one who had recognized that violence is not the right way to achieve your goals. He used his speeches, non-violent protests and his knowledge to change his country. Even though Mandela had reached this one point of his life when he decided that violence would be the only way to achieve his goal, most of his activities were non-violent. He sacrificed a lot to improve South Africa and put a lot of effort in his work. In his first years at the ANC, he tried to change society without violence, and used his desire for equality and songs about freedom instead. He also helped to open up the first black law firm in South Africa, which offered low-cost or free service to people that were affected by apartheid. After his release from prison he and his organization were even able to create the first election, where all South Africans were free to vote.
Another thing that helped Mandela to succeed was his good education. He gained a lot of knowledge about law, as well as about the history of the black population in Africa. This helped him to understand the South African society and the place of the black minority in it. He learned about the reasons and opinions of white people in the country and even talked to the guards in jail about this to improve his understanding.
Mandela also was an extremely good speaker. He was able to convince people with words and talked about his ideal state where all humans live together in peace and with equal rights. He said, “It is an ideal for which I’m prepared to die” (“Youth of Human Rights”).
Nelson Mandela became a symbol of freedom for a lot of people, in South Africa, and all around the world. For his entire life, he encouraged others to keep fighting for their freedom, for equal rights and a better life. His nonviolent actions, speeches and knowledge helped him achieving his goals. He gave hope to so many people and, by never giving up and believing in what he did, he was able to change the South African society as well as the world.