FORCE & THE FIGHT NEVER ENDS BY NELSON MANDELA

Nelson Mandela was a political prisoner who fought for equality in South Africa and later became the first black president. Throughout his journey of leadership, he has left a legacy on the world forever.

RACIAL SEGREGATION IN SOUTH AFRICA

Racial Segregation in South Africa grew after the National Party in South Africa gained power in 1948. South Africa's all-white government enforced policies of a system called Apartheid. Apartheid means "the state of being apart". Residential areas were segregated. Some examples of places that were segregated are beaches, medical care, and educational places. Citizenship was taken away from Black People. Services offered better service to white than black people. Uprisings and Protests were very common. There was a lot of violence during this time and many people were killed. Apartheid ended in 1990 when the president ended it. During the mission to win equality for people in South Africa, Nelson Mandela was the leader and definitely succeeded.

HIS MISSION

Nelson Mandela’s mission was to have non-racial and democratic constitution country. In his early life, he helped develop the African National Congress Youth program. After this, the National Party created Apartheid. Nelson was completely against this as well as many other people. He led campaigns trying to stop the new laws. Nelson was found guilty of suppressing the law of communism. Years later, Nelson was charged with treason and put into jail. The National Party started becoming violent killing protestors against the laws. Then, Mandela was charged for illegally leaving the country and planning a strike. He was sentenced to labor in prison for five years. Soon after that, police found documents from the African National Congress associated with Nelson and seven others. Because of this, Nelson was sentenced for life imprisonment. While Nelson was imprisoned, violence grew. The president gave Nelson the opportunity to be released from jail if he stopped the violence. Mandela responded saying that apartheid should be stopped and political rights should be granted to the blacks.

AFTER PRISON

Things started going uphill when a new president, De Klerk, was elected. He released Nelson and the others that were imprisoned. He was released from prison after 27 long years. Mandela made a speech after he was released. He thanked everyone who helped throughout the years. He stated that both black and white people realized that Apartheid would not succeed. Then, he reminded everyone about how the lives of millions have been shattered. Millions were homeless and unemployed because of Apartheid. He said the ANC would continue on. He also stated that any political prisoners would be released.

"I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunity. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But, if need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die."-Nelson Mandela's words during his trial in 1964

FREEDOM AT LAST

The African National Congress denounced violence in order to have the political prisoners released. Only a year later, Nelson Mandela was elected president of the ANC. Nelson and De Klerk received the Nobel Peace Prize for ending Apartheid. South Africa had an all race election for the first time in History. The last laws of Apartheid were dropped and the country was finally non-racial and healthy again. Nelson was inaugurated as South Africa’s first black president. On June 24th, 1995, Nelson attended the Rugby World Cup and congratulated the home team for winning. A year later, Nelson and Winnie divorced after being separated since 1992. A couple years later, he marries Graca Machel, the widowed first lady of Mozambique, on his 80th birthday. Nelson retires after one term as president. He continues working on peace in other parts of Africa and also helps the world fight against AIDS. At the age of 95, Nelson Mandela died of a lung infection. Throughout his whole life, he was an amazing leader and he has left his own legacy on the world today.

My topic (Nelson Mandela and his Fight for Equality) is related to the NHD theme (Leadership and Legacy) because he took leadership and gained rights for the black people. He fought for these rights for decades despite being thrown in prison many times. That is how my topic relates to the NHD theme.

ESSAY. Nelson Mandela’s Legacy

South Africa’s liberation leader taught us a vital lesson when he navigated a peaceful end to apartheid: it is possible to be a great politician and a great human being at the same time. In reaching out to his old enemy, he bequeathed his nation the rule of law, freedom of speech, and free and fair elections.

Mandela is Africa’s Lincoln. You don’t do Lincoln too many favors if you scrutinize the detail of what came after him: he fought against slavery, yet black Americans would remain second-class citizens for more than one hundred more years; he appealed to “the better angels of our nature,” yet genocidal massacres of American Indians continued for some time after his death. It would be as unfair to tarnish Lincoln’s memory with the shortcomings of those that followed him as it would be to question Mandela’s lasting value by pointing to the mediocrity or venality of his successors.

The big truth is that Mandela, like Lincoln, achieved the historically rare feat of uniting a fiercely divided country. The feat is rare because what ordinary politicians have always done is seek power by highlighting difference and fueling antagonism. Mandela sought it by appealing to people’s common humanity.

It was behind bars that he learnt his most valuable lessons in leadership. As he himself has acknowleged, prison shaped him. He went in angry, convinced that the only way of achieving his people’s freedom was by force of arms.

ANC Jacob Zuma's legacy includes a series of scandals, increased corruption, few ... parties, but to his own party, the African National Congress.

ESSAY Call to Action.

1. Be the Generation to End Extreme Poverty

Nelson Mandela - “Madiba” - was a fierce advocate for gender equality. Throughout his political career, he reminded the world that if half of us are held back, then no one can move forward, especially when it comes to ending extreme poverty. Like Madiba says, “poverty is man-made, and it can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings.” Nelson Mandela International Day is a call to action for the international community to reflect upon Madiba’s ideals, which have guided us in the fight to end extreme poverty.

This year, in honor of what would have been his 100th birthday, we as Global Citizens promise to uphold his ideals by working with governments, business leaders and advocates to achieve the Global Goals for Sustainable Development. We commit to Be the Generation to: - Promote access to quality nutrition and ensure female smallholder farmers can access land and financing; - Ensure access to essential medicines and healthcare to prevent, control, and eliminate neglected tropical diseases and achieve universal health coverage; - Make sure all girls, including children affected by conflict and crisis, have access to a safe, free, quality, 12 years of education; - Overcome the barriers that prevent girls and women from such fundamental necessities as having agency over their sexual and reproductive health, fully engaging in the economy and protection in the eyes of the law; and - Create a world where all girls and women have access to clean water, sanitation, and menstrual hygiene resources so they can thrive to their full potential. Madiba’s voice had the ability to shape the unthinkable.

He strongly believed that “when people are determined they can overcome anything.” We will carry his message of activism, freedom from want and justice for all, and take action to end extreme poverty by 2030.

2. Girls & Women

Girls and women are essential to building healthier, better-educated and sustainable communities. Women and girls are too often afflicted with some of the harshest aspects of poverty. Instead of victims, women and girls can be powerful community leaders.

3. Health

Healthy people are able to live fuller, happier lives. They are able to pull themselves out of extreme poverty. For pregnant mothers, newborns and children a healthy life requires vaccines and access to healthcare. Everyone must be healthy to end poverty.

4. Finance & Innovation

Ending extreme poverty needs innovative ideas, good governance and sustainable financing. Funding global development needs inspiration from every part of the global community to empower people to pull themselves out of poverty.

5. Food & Hunger

Well-fed people create stable communities, perform better in school and take advantage of the opportunities to end extreme poverty. The world has more than enough food to feed everyone, it’s time to make sure everyone gets enough to thrive.

6. Water & Sanitation

Clean water, a place to “poo” and waste systems are not too much to ask. Over a billion people suffer the indignity of open defecation with almost as many lacking clean water. Together, the world can end these risks and save millions of lives a year.

7. Environment

A healthy planet takes care of its people. Healthy people take care of the planet. Protecting the earth promotes the people who live on it. Improving the environment gives people the opportunity to survive and thrive in a world free of extreme poverty.

8. Citizenship

The world needs active global citizens who are engaged in the world, knowledgeable about its diversity and passionate about change. Ending extreme poverty requires information and ideas that inspire and motivate the global community to act.

Global citizens have an impact on ending extreme poverty through the actions they take. The effects of small actions are not always obvious, but by working together specific and tangible outcomes are achieved. Global citizens' voices influence world leaders and decision makers, and contribute to shaping our world.

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