In his 95 years with us Nelson Mandela was given the various titles of revolutionary, lawyer, philanthropist, President, husband, and grandfather.
He was South Africa’s first black president and the first elected in a fully representative democratic election. Challenging the status quo is never the easiest or most lucrative path and his anti-apartheid activities as a youth caused him to spend 27 years in various prisons, some with severe isolation from other prisoners, visitors or any form of outside communication.
His emergence from Victor Verster on February 11,1990, holding his wife Winnie’s hand was broadcast live across the world. Later at Cape Town’s City Hall to a large gathering of citizens he gave his first speech declaring his commitment to peace and reconciliation. The unjust policies and violence of apartheid were starting to end.
His main focus upon release was to bring peace to the black majority and give them the right to vote in national and local elections. He was elected in 1994, and his party started broad domestic reforms which included the construction of housing, extending humane electricity, sanitation, health care and water services to half of the country formerly cut off from these basic services. Finally 1.5 million children were brought into an education system. In his words…”education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.”
Mandela was very human, and there were controversies and discrepancies such as his friendship with Fidel Castro and his former wife’s associations with militant political groups.
Despite these and other enigmas his lessons of leadership, forgiveness and a stubborn belief in the possibility of social justice will place him in a rarified position with both decorated historians and the youngest students of world events.
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Read CNN’s Article on Keeping Mandela’s Legacy Alive