Nelson Mandela was born on 18th July 1918 and grew up in a beautiful rural village in South Africa called

Qunu.

His father was a Thembu African chief. He did not have much money but was very well respected by people in his tribe.

Nelson spent his days looking after the cattle and sheep, fishing and swimming in the streams.

At the time there was no free education in South Africa so most children in the village were unable to go to school and stayed at home doing chores for their family.
However, as he was the son of a respected chief, Nelson was allowed to attend school.

Nelson worked hard and studied diligently so that eventually he became a lawyer.

During this time different racial groups had to live completely separately under a system called apartheid. People were classified as being White, Coloured, Indian or Black.

People of colour were not allowed to vote, were given worse housing, medical care and amenities than white people and had limited schooling and job opportunities.

Nelson Mandela thought that these laws were wrong so he became involved with a political party called the African National Congress or ANC.

The ANC opposed apartheid and encouraged people to resist the unfair laws. They believed in equal rights for everyone.

Nelson Mandela and the ANC protested peacefully at first. However, in 1960 when police opened fire on a peaceful protest in Sharpeville, killing 69 black Africans and wounding 186, Nelson Mandela realised that non-violent protests would not end the system of apartheid.

Most of the peaceful protestors had been shot in the back.

What do you think?

Is it sometimes necessary to use violence to achieve something good?

After the South African government made it illegal to belong to the ANC, Nelson Mandela argued that they should set up a military wing and attack government targets. In 1963 he was arrested for plotting to overthrow the government and sentenced to life imprisonment. One of the jails Nelson Mandela stayed in was called Robben Island.

While in prison Nelson Mandela gained the support of people all over the world who respected his beliefs about equal rights for everyone. There were many campaigns asking for Nelson Mandela to be released from prison and to end apartheid in South Africa.
This song, Free Nelson Mandela, was released in 1984 to protest against Nelson Mandelas imprisonment and reached No 9 in the UK charts.
Click the picture to listen to the song.

Nelson Mandela was finally released from jail on February 11th 1990 after spending 27 years in prison.

Soon after Nelson Mandela was released, President F.W de Klerk resigned and apartheid was officially ended. This meant that all South Africans were allowed to vote for the first time. Nelson Mandela became the first black President of South Africa on 10th May 1994 and held office until 1999.

Nelson Mandela received the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to ensure all South Africans, whatever their colour, respect each other and live together peacefully. However, his support for armed struggle against apartheid, after non-violent protests failed, has caused some people to be critical of him.

The ANC and Nelson Mandela were listed as terrorists by the US government until 2008. In many countries around the world, people fighting for justice and equality are considered to be terrorists. What do you think this famous saying means?

One mans terrorist is another mans freedom fighter.

Nelson Mandela has worked for peace and reconciliation in South Africa since his release from prison in 1990. Despite his oppression under apartheid and suffering in prison, he did not seek revenge. He said:

"You will achieve more in this world through acts of mercy than you will through acts of retribution."

When a man is denied the right to live the life he believes in, he has no choice but to become an outlaw.

Useful Web Links

Facing History - short video clip where white South African freedom fighter Albie Sachs talks about why he doesnt want revenge after losing his arm in a car bomb assassination attempt
http://tj.facinghistory.org/video/albie-sachs-talks-about-revenge

Archbishop Desmond Tutu talks about the power of freedom

http://tj.facinghistory.org/video/archbishop-desmond-tutu-south-africa-power-f

Mandela An Audio History http://www.radiodiaries.org/mandela/mstories.html#3