Nelson Mandela: A Real Hero

What does it take to be a hero? After being in prison for nearly 30 years, then becoming the President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela became a hero to many people around the world. Through a strong, inspiring career, Mandela is one of the most powerful and influential men in South African history.

Mandela wasn't a hero from day one. He was born on the 18th of July in 1918. Born in Transkei, South Africa, Mandela was the son of Henry Mandela. His father was a Xhosa chief in Transkei (Bio. Com 1). Mandela's father gave him the tribal name Rolihlahla, which means "one who brings trouble upon himself." This was given to him describing the hard life which he had when he was a young man. In Mandela's later teen years, he gave up his right to be a high-ranked person in his tribe to attend college. He attended the University of Fort Hare in 1940. Mandela became a political activist and was expelled later that year for leading a strike (SRC 2). He later on would attend Witwatersrand University where he would major in law (Bio. Com 1).

Mandela's career was a challenging one. After graduating at Witwatersrand University, Mandela set up a law practice in Johannesburg (Bio. Com 1). Mandela then joined the African National Congress at the age of twenty-four. This group fought for the social and political rights for blacks in South Africa. A few years later, Mandela and some friends formed a sub-group, called the Congress Youth League. This group was aimed at having non-violent demonstrations and protesting black rights. These groups were frustrated because the country they lived in was ruled by whites, and the blacks were discriminated against. In 1952, after a protest, Mandela was beaten and placed in jail for nine months for going against the South African government (SRC 3). Between 1956 and 1961, he was accused of treason but was later acquitted of charges. In 1961 he led a protest against the South African regime and was jailed in 1962 for his violent acts. A year later, Mandela and a few other men were trialed for treason, sabotage, and violent conspiracy at the Rivonda trial. Mandela pleaded to the charges and was sentenced to life in prison. He was kept in a maximum security prison outside of Cape Town. He remained in prison for twenty-four years when in 1988 he was put in a hospital for tuberculosis. People started hearing his name again and wanted him to be released from prison. On February 11, 1990 he was released from prison by President F.W. de Klerk of South Africa. Mandela then started working with the president to bring a nonracial democracy to South Africa. In 1993 both were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, and the following year Mandela was elected President of South Africa. In 1996 Mandela caused the government to write a new democratic constitution, and in 1999 he stepped down from president without wanting to be re-elected (Brit Onl. 2-3). Mandela then decided to step down from politics and slow down with his life.

Mandela's family life was never very momentous because of the time he spent in politics and time spent protesting. Mandela's first wife was Evelyn Ntoko Mase. With Mase, Mandela had three children, Thembi (a son who died at birth), Makgatho (a son), and Makaziwe (a daughter). Mandela then divorced Mase and wedded political activists Winnie Madikileza, on June 14, 1958. Madikileza and Mandela had two children, Zenani and Zinziswa, who were both daughters (SRC 8). Mandela's second wife stated that the marriage "wasn't the kind of married life a girl dreams of, for Nelson was away most of the time" (Meltzer 1). They then divorced in 1996, and Mandela has not married since (SRC 8). Both of Mandela's marriages didn't work predominantly because he was always busy with other things. He spent many years protesting and then many years in prison when fighting for black peace. Mandela has always been one to fight for what he thought was right, and he fought for what he thought his people deserved (Bio. Com 2).

Mandela's achievements make him a hero. From the near thirty years in prison, to his presidency in South Africa in which he changed a country, Mandela has fought for black freedom and then achieved it. Mandela has now stepped down from his career in politics and dedicates his life to the fight of AIDS in South Africa and the rest of the world. Mandela explains this:

HIV/AIDS threatens our future like nothing else for the last number of centuries... The success of the war against HIV/AIDS could contribute to the building of a more descent society. ("Former S. African..." 1)

Currently, Mandela continues his fight with prostate cancer diagnosed in 2001. The cancer is not said to be life-threatening (Bio. Com 4).

So is Mandela a hero? Through his early career, to his life in prison, and recently to his presidency in South Africa, Mandela is considered a hero to many citizens around the world.