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Nelson Mandela Research Paper

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Nelson Mandela Research Paper
Sandra Loun
April 18, 2013
Biographical Narrative “A good leader can engage in debate frankly and thoroughly, knowing that at the end he and the other side must be closer, and thus emerge stronger. You don’t have that idea when you are arrogant, superficial, and uninformed” (Brainy Quote). These are inspirational words from South African anti-apartheid activist and revolutionary politician Nelson Mandela. Nelson Mandela was born 18, July 1918. He was South Africa’s eleventh president and it’s first democratically elected president. He protested against apartheid by leading the African National Congress (ANC). He was in jail for 27 years on a charge of sabotage for his work with ANC. Nelson Mandela received a Nobel peace prize in 1993 and …show more content…
Nelson Mandela went on to become the first in his family to attend school, which allowed him to know more about South Africa. Then, at the age of 24 he joined the African National Congress (ANC) and with others created a group called ANC Youth League. “In 1949, ANC officially adopted the youth league’s methods of boycott, strike, civil disobedience and non-cooperation, with policy goals of full citizenship, redistribution of land, trade union rights, and free and compulsory education for all children”(Mandela 3). This quote demonstrates how the African National Congress was out of control leading them to adopt the youth league’s message to take control and make a changes. Mandela stood up for the people of color because they could not speak up for themselves demonstrating that he was a natural leader even in his young …show more content…
Mandela was arrested for leading the strike for the following years and sentenced to five years in prison. He was incarcerated on Robben Island for 18 of his 27 years in prison. During this time, he received the lowest level of treatment from prison workers (4). Even then “he was committed to working toward peace, [and] declared that the ANC’s armed struggle would continue until the black majority received the right to vote” (4). This quote demonstrates how Mandela wanted to work toward peace and that he wanted the ANC to continue fighting until the black majority had the right to vote. This also connects with him becoming president because he did not want to give up on peace for the people of color and wanted his people to have freedom. Nelson Mandela did not give up on peace regardless of what happened. Nelson in this way showed courage and respect because he fought for the people of
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