Preview

The Hardships of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela Essay Example

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
632 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
The Hardships of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela Essay Example
Running head: WEEK ONE ASSIGNMENT #2 – THE HARDSHIPS

The Hardships of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela
Team I:
Mikeshia Curl
Shameika Franklin
Alex Eckhardt
Deborah Anderson
Douglas Fraser
LeTourneau University

In partial fulfillment of the requirements for BUSI 3783
Dr. Linda Fontenot
November 5, 2007
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was born on July 18, 1918 in a small village in the district of Transkei, South Africa. His name, which could be prophetically interpreted as "troublemaker", could possibly be symbolic to his heroic resistance to the apartheid in South Africa. In the early 1940s, Mandela began his political career by joining the African National Congress (ANC), and marrying Evelyn Mase, the cousin of Walter Sisulu, an executive of the ANC. Years later, however, his marriage began to suffer greatly due to his increased involvement in the anti-apartheid struggle and after eleven years of marriage, Evelyn left him citing irreconcilable differences. Little did Mandela know, but life, as he knew it, was about to change. On 5 December 1956, the Apartheid government arrested 156 people in response to the adoption of the Freedom Charter at the Congress of the People. Nelson Mandela was amongst the arrested. The charges were "high treason and a countrywide conspiracy to use violence to overthrow the present government and replace it with a communist state." The punishment for this type of crime was death. Thankfully, the treason trial dragged on for years and Mandela was soon acquitted. This incident, however, did not deter Mandela from his anti-apartheid involvements. In fact, the ANC movements was still underway during the treason trial.- By 1961, the ANC and PAC, under Mandela's direction, setup military wings in retaliation to the South African police opened fire on demonstrators, killing 180 black Africans and injuring 69. The South African government banned these wings under the Unlawful Organizations Act

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    He was born on July 18 1918 in Mvezo of South Africa. His birth name was Rolihlahla but he got his nickname from a teacher at his school. Nelson was a member of Thimbu royalty and his father was chief of the city. Nelson attended school and later college ta Fort Hare and the University of Witwatersrand, there he got his law degree.…

    • 189 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Nelson Mandela was born July 18, 1918 in a small village in southern Africa and named Rolihlahla Mandela. In a country controlled by a white government, he was extremely fortunate to become the first of his family to attend school. Since his name meant “troublemaker,” his school teacher decided to call him Nelson hoping that he would not cause trouble with a new name. Little did she know that in a few years he would become one of the greatest troublemakers in history; a man who would change the racial ideals of the ruling white minority.…

    • 173 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    In 1956, a bomb was thrown on to the porch of Martin Luther King Jr’s house. Again in 1956, another bomb was thrown onto his porch, luckily, both times the bombs did not explode. In 1956, King was also arrested on charges of hindering operation of buses without legal cause. In 1958, he published a book called "Stride Toward Freedom: The Montgomery Story". In 1960, King moved to Atlanta with his family and becomes the co-pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church, his father’s old church. In 1962, Martin Luther King Jr. was convicted of leading a march in Albany.…

    • 605 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    On July 18th, 1918, Mandela was born in Mvezo on the banks of the Mbashe River in Transkei, South Africa (Biography of Nelson Mandela). He was born with the name of "Rolihlahla", meaning "pulling the branch of a…

    • 871 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Being just is an indispensable part of leadership. It is a full-time duty where one is always a spectacle for others in his actions. There are two very contrasting examples of leaderships that could be compared in this context. The first one is Nelson Mandela who is known as the epitome of peace and courteousness whereas the second one is Saddam Husain who is known for his tyrant ways of leading people. The former is the inspirational figure for a lot of people in the world in terms of sympathy and love. On the other hand the latter is famous for treating people like animals and doing wrong things behind the veil of his leadership.…

    • 1192 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Rolihlahla Mandela was born on July 18, 1918 in Transkei, South Africa (Cold War Museum, 2014), and was given the name “Nelson” by his teacher. He…

    • 1283 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    For example, the founder, Huey Newton, had allegedly killed an Oakland Police Officer. He was convicted of Voluntary Manslaughter, and got sentenced to two to fifteen years in prison (Black Panther Party). The charges, however, had been reversed later on. That was just one of many controversies that the Black Panthers had gone…

    • 513 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    At the age of 24 he joined the ANC (African National Congress), it was a “group that sought to establish social and political rights for blacks in South Africa” (Nelson Mandela par. 3). Mandela and his close friend Sisulu founded the “ANC Youth League”. This group just like Marther Luther King Jr. did nonviolent protest to get there point across the government. Because of this many protester were beaten by police and jailed for defying South Africa’s government, this include Mandela as well. After he was release he continue on with his campaign even though he was forbidden to from attend or doing public speaking. Things got worse after the death of 69 protesters who were unarmed were killed by police. The horrific massacre made Mandela decide…

    • 191 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Segregation and racial discrimination in South Africa affected Mandela even in his early years; in pre-school, he was forced to abandon his given name, ‘Rolihlahla,’ and adopt a Christian name; Nelson. (History.com Staff, n.d.). Drawing on this, it is suggested that Mandela’s rise to prominence began with his unique education in Law at the University at Witwatersrand, early 1940’s. This education provided a background to the racist mindset of the majority of Southern Africa through studies of history (descent of slaves and white supremacy). This degree also equipped him with key understandings of politics, and the skillset he would later require in his years as an Influential member of the ANC. (Kramer, 2003)…

    • 1005 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Even while Mandela was in prison, he still actively was involved with the ANC. Many of his speeches and writings were published and distributed along South Africa, which rallied many civilians to fight for his freedom. Mandela became a symbol against the government’s rule and laws, which led to many protests and rallies. The government has mentioned their secret, classified talks with Mandela while he spent time in prison, and this Ultimately led to his release after 27 long years. “His freedom was greeted with loud applause and celebration both within South Africa and around the world”(Costello).…

    • 1212 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Nelson Mandela was born on July 18, 1918 in Transkei, South Africa. He was educated at the University College of Fort Hare and the University of Witwatersrand and qualified in law in 1942. In 1944, he joined the African National Congress (ANC) and became one of the many to engage in the resistance against Apartheid and the unjust white supremacy. In 1952, he earned the role of ANC deputy national president, and advocated nonviolent procedures towards Apartheid. From 1956 to 1961, he was arrested by the police and went on trial for treason, and fortunately was acquitted in 1961. After his release, he learned of several peaceful demonstrators being massacred, and so, he considered the use of guerrilla warfare and other violent tactics on…

    • 1391 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Nelson Mandela

    • 1092 Words
    • 5 Pages

    1942 started Nelson Mandela's participation in the racial oppression in South Africa. He joined the African National Congress (ANC), led by Anton Lembede. In 1944, Mandela joined up with Walter Sisulu, William Nkomo, Oliver R. Tambo, and Ashby P. Mda to form the African National Congress Youth League. Quickly, Mandela became the secretary of the ANCYL in 1947 because of his consistent effort and disciplined work. In 1949 the Programme of Action was accepted as authorized ANC policy. The Programme of Action supported boycott, strike, civil disobedience, and non-co-operation. Nelson Mandela became the president of the ANCYL in 1952. "Under his leadership the ANC began sponsoring nonviolent protests, strikes, boycotts, marches, and other acts of civil disobedience and in the process becoming a target to police harassment and arrest." This came to be known as the Defiance Campaign. This marked the beginning of mass resistance to apartheid. In 1959 a small group of ANC members broke off and started their own group called the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC). And on March 21, 1960, 20,000 PAC protesters left there homes without passes and joined together in Sharpeville. The police, thinking that the group would become unfriendly, opened fire on the protesters. Sixty-Nine Blacks were killed and another 186 were wounded. After this attack, the South African Government outlawed the ANC and PAC organizations. But this would not stop Mandela and his companions from fighting the apartheid. In 1961…

    • 1092 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Famous Thinkers

    • 1563 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Nelson Mandela was born in Mvezo, South Africa in July 18,1918. He was named Rolihlahla at birth by his father who was the principal counselor to the acting king of the Thembu people, Jongintaba. After his father’s death, he became the ward of the Jongintaba. He was raised in a relatively…

    • 1563 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Mandela was born on January 18, 1918, in Mvezo, Transkei, in the southeast of South Africa. He was named Rolihlahla, which means "troublemaker" in the Xhosa language. Mandela's grandfather was the ruler of the Thembu people and his father was a local chief.…

    • 777 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Absolom Murders Analysis

    • 918 Words
    • 4 Pages

    A large congregation of black protesters gathered in order to protest the passbook law. They protested peacefully to begin with, and simply presented themselves without the required passbooks, violating the restrictions on non-white travel, but when some protesters infuriating the police in stoning the police vehicles, the police and military called to disperse the crowd chose their method of dispersal in shooting down the crowd with automatic weapons killing 69 people (45 women and children) and injuring and disabling 186 others, many of the dead were shot in the back while attempting to flee. Afterwards, more than 11,000 people were arrested due to violating the passbook law. This captured the attention of the world and also moved the anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela to change his non-violent method of protesting and he created paramilitary forces, and the government declared a state of emergency. (“Sharpeville Massacre”) Civil war seemed as if it was about to erupt in South Africa, but it never did, because Nelson Mandela was arrested on charges of conspiring to overthrow the government and was sentenced life in prison for treason. This would not be the end of it, because once again in…

    • 918 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays