Changes

It seems that great people only grow out of such awful conditions.  Certainly, there are many people we can look to admire for such daring accomplishments, such as Martin Luther King Jr. or an American founding father such as Benjamin Franklin. Of course, for the purposes of our paper, our great leader isn’t an American at all; our focus will be Nelson R. Mandela.  Indeed, in the face of adversity, this man has become synonymous with racial equality, while at the same time taking on many lesser known endeavors.  We will journey into the biography of the man himself, by examining his early education and political formation, his time in prison, and his work accomplished afterwards.

It see[[Link title]]ms that great people only grow out of such awful conditions.  Certainly, there are many people we can look to admire for such daring accomplishments, such as [[Martin Luther King Jr]]. or an American founding father such as [[Benjamin Franklin]]. Of course, for the purposes of our paper, our great leader isn’t an [[American]] at all; our focus will be Nelson R. Mandela.  Indeed, in the face of adversity, this man has become synonymous with racial equality, while at the same time taking on many lesser known endeavors.  We will journey into the biography of the man himself, by examining his early education and political formation, his time in prison, and his work accomplished afterwards.

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was born July 18, 1918 in the Transkei.  Almost immediately, we see Mandela plunged into political life, as his father was the ‘right hand man’ to the Acting Paramount Chief of Thembuland (ANC archive).  Although the reasons as to his political socialization are evident and obvious, one ought to consider the ramifications of his environment; for instance, it can be argued that the class system in South Africa erupted his ideals:  “Ideologies and ideologists arise in class-divided societies…” (Ball and Dagger)  If this is true, then it is vital to speak of Mandela and apartheid as two sides to the same coin.

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was born July 18, 1918 in the Transkei.  Almost immediately, we see Mandela plunged into political life, as his father was the ‘right hand man’ to the Acting Paramount Chief of Thembuland (ANC archive).  Although the reasons as to his political socialization are evident and obvious, one ought to consider the ramifications of his environment; for instance, it can be argued that the class system in South Africa erupted his ideals:  “Ideologies and ideologists arise in class-divided societies…” (Ball and Dagger)  If this is true, then it is vital to speak of Mandela and apartheid as two sides to the same coin.

Mandela’s primary education began in a local mission school, and his secondary education was completed in a Wesleyan institute in Healdtown.  Around this time, he began to see many of the cases in the Chief’s courts, many involving apartheid issues, and this primed him to want to become a lawyer instead of taking his father’s place in Thembuland politics (ANC archive).

Mandela’s primary education began in a local mission school, and his secondary education was completed in a Wesleyan institute in Healdtown.  Around this time, he began to see many of the cases in the Chief’s courts, many involving apartheid issues, and this primed him to want to become a lawyer instead of taking his father’s place in Thembuland politics (ANC archive).

Mandela’s earliest political experience came while enrolled at the University College of Fort Hare, where he was working to obtain a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.  While at the college, he was elected to a student political organization known as the Student’s Representative Council.  Soon after, Mandela was expelled for participating in a protest on campus (ANC archive). Because of this, Mandela attended Johannesburg where he finally obtained his BA.  Soon after, he joined the African National Congress in 1942, during the height of World War II.

Mandela’s earliest political experience came while enrolled at the University College of Fort Hare, where he was working to obtain a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.  While at the college, he was elected to a student political organization known as the Student’s Representative Council.  Soon after, Mandela was expelled for participating in a protest on campus (ANC archive). Because of this, Mandela attended Johannesburg where he finally obtained his BA.  Soon after, he joined the [[African National Congress]] in 1942, during the height of [[World War II]].

Nelson Mandela’s personal fixation with freedom propped him to work with many other members of the African National Congress to form a group under the leadership of a colleague, Anton Lembede (ANC archive).  The group’s main focus was to change the African National Congress into a mass movement, including all people from the highest urban buildings to the lowest rural countryside.  Indeed, one can certainly see where the man’s priorities with freedom had come from.

Nelson Mandela’s personal fixation with freedom propped him to work with many other members of the African National Congress to form a group under the leadership of a colleague, Anton Lembede (ANC archive).  The group’s main focus was to change the African National Congress into a mass movement, including all people from the highest urban buildings to the lowest rural countryside.  Indeed, one can certainly see where the man’s priorities with freedom had come from.

Mandela was instrumental in many political endeavors, many of which anti-apartheid movements such as the Programme of Action, a policy based initiative which was founded on the non-violent weapons of “boycott, strike, civil disobedience and non-co-operation” (ANC archive).  This eventually became the namesake of the African National Congress.

Mandela was instrumental in many political endeavors, many of which anti-apartheid movements such as the Programme of Action, a policy based initiative which was founded on the non-violent weapons of “boycott, strike, civil disobedience and non-co-operation” (ANC archive).  This eventually became the namesake of the African National Congress.

Indeed, during his prison time, Mandela proved to be a prime example of a strong believer in principle, while at the same time erupting as a shining light to others suffering alongside him.

Indeed, during his prison time, Mandela proved to be a prime example of a strong believer in principle, while at the same time erupting as a shining light to others suffering alongside him.

Mandela is Released

Mandela is Released

Mandela, stepping out of his prison cell, faced a newly changed South Africa through the eyes of a newly changed man. Shortly after being released, Mandela and his colleagues agreed on the suspension of the armed struggle (Umkhonto we Sizwe). He was officially released from prison in 1990, and was eventually elected President of the African National Congress in 1991 (ANC archive).  Later, in 1994, he was democratically elected President of the State of South Africa.

Mandela, stepping out of his prison cell, faced a newly changed South Africa through the eyes of a newly changed man. Shortly after being released, Mandela and his colleagues agreed on the suspension of the armed struggle (Umkhonto we Sizwe). He was officially released from prison in 1990, and was eventually elected President of the African National Congress in 1991 (ANC archive).  Later, in 1994, he was democratically elected President of the State of [[South Africa]].

Before retiring from public life in June of 1999, he had received over fifty honorary degrees at prestigious universities all over the world, and was chancellor of the University of the North (ANC archive).

Before retiring from public life in June of 1999, he had received over fifty honorary degrees at prestigious universities all over the world, and was chancellor of the University of the North (ANC archive).

Elsewhere in the world, Mandela has made several attempts to make peace, even with nations outside his personal safety realm.  For instance, in October of 1999, Mandela met with leaders from Iran, Syria, Jordan, Israel, Gaza, and the United States.  Although Mandela found these numerous meetings to be pleasant, he did mention that the Israeli prime minister, Ehud Barak, rejected Mandela’s intervention into the conflict (Battersby).

Elsewhere in the world, Mandela has made several attempts to make peace, even with nations outside his personal safety realm.  For instance, in October of 1999, Mandela met with leaders from Iran, Syria, Jordan, Israel, Gaza, and the United States.  Although Mandela found these numerous meetings to be pleasant, he did mention that the [[Israeli]] prime minister, [[Ehud Barak]], rejected Mandela’s intervention into the conflict (Battersby).

Mandela went on to win the Nobel Peace Prize, in a respect, as a representative of those who stand for peace and combat racism.  Mandela, in the wake of this, regards his winning of the Peace Prize as a tribute to the people of Norway who stood against apartheid for so many years while so many more remained silent (ANC archive).

Mandela went on to win the Nobel Peace Prize, in a respect, as a representative of those who stand for peace and combat racism.  Mandela, in the wake of this, regards his winning of the Peace Prize as a tribute to the people of Norway who stood against apartheid for so many years while so many more remained silent (ANC archive).

Certainly, Nelson Mandela’s political career after prison is one which many could be both envious of, while at the same time stand in awe at such greatness.

Certainly, Nelson Mandela’s political career after prison is one which many could be both envious of, while at the same time stand in awe at such greatness.

[[Category:Heads of state]]

[[Category:Heads of state]]