- 01/12/2012
- Posted by: essay
- Category: Free essays
Racial equality is not the only social problem that Nelson Mandela is concerned about. After 1999, when Mandela left the presidency of South Africa, he started active campaign for a more complete coverage of HIV and AIDS problem. Experts estimate that in South Africa now around five million have HIV or AIDS – more than in any other country. When Makgaho, eldest son of Nelson Mandela, died of AIDS, Mandela called on to fight against the spread of this disease.
During his lifetime, Mandela was awarded with the highest awards of more than 20 countries, including USA, Canada, UK, Australia and Russia. He has published three books “Long Walk to Freedom” (Autobiography), “The Struggle Is My Life” and “Nelson Mandela Speaks: Forging a Democratic, Nonracial South Africa”. He is an honorary member of more than 50 international universities (Clinton, 2006).
Biography of Nelson Mandela teaches us many things, inspires us for the exploits. He started as an ordinary social activist and became a world-known person; he is a real role model of global citizenship. His example shows that each person can make a difference, can change not only his life but also society in which he lives, his country and even the world. His origin and color of skin seemed to not give him the chance of success, but after passing a hard and tortuous path, through his will and faith, he was able to climb to the top. This is a true example of how to live and what to aspire. He became not only the leader of his country, he became a heavy player in the world. By his example he inspired hundreds of people, and his work will be continued. In 2009, Clint Eastwood made a film based on the life of Nelson Mandela “The Unconquered”, that shows Mandela’s life, character and personality (New Word City, 2010).
Reading about such great people your thoughts and aspirations become better, you gain belief in yourself and your forces. You start feeling a great desire to leave a trace behind in history, maybe not in the history of mankind, but at least in the memories of dozens of people.
Summary
Nelson Mandela is a Nobel laureate, former president of South Africa. In the struggle against apartheid he spent 28 years in the prisons of his country. Today, he is the highest authority in South Africa; his party, the African National Congress, is the ruling and most influential political force in the country.
The son of the tribe leader of Themba, Mandela joined the political struggle for the rights of black people in the early 40’s, being still at college. In 1944 he joined the ANC. Mandela swept to victory without leaving solitary confinement in prison on Robben Island near Cape of Good Hope, where he was imprisoned in 1962 for organizing the numerous acts of sabotage and armed resistance of the black population against the government. Campaign for Mandela’s freedom gained unprecedented scale and grew into an international struggle for the abolition of apartheid and the change of political system in South Africa. Government started negotiations with the prisoner about the future political structure of the country. They lasted four years – from 1986 and 1990. Only in February 1990, Mandela has agreed to leave the prison, together with the publication of President’s decree of legalizing the ANC. Apartheid was destroyed.
Racial equality is not the only social problem that Nelson Mandela is concerned about. After 1999, when Mandela left the presidency of South Africa, he started active campaign for a more complete coverage of HIV and AIDS problem.
Biography of Nelson Mandela teaches us many things, inspires us for the exploits. He started as an ordinary social activist and became a world-known person; he is a real role model of global citizenship.
Works Citied
Carlin J. Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game That Made a Nation. 2008.
Clinton B., TuTu A. D. Mandela: The Authorized Portrait. 2006.
Mandela N. Long Walk to Freedom: The Autobiography of Nelson Mandela. 1995.
New Word City. Nelson Mandela’s Leadership Lessons. 2010.
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