Josue Oropeza

Ms.lightner
January 29, 2015
7th ELA-1st
Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela helped end racial
discrimination by protesting non-violently. His childhood taught him
discrimination was wrong during apartheid. As he grew up he protested and
was sent behind bars. He also joined the ANC which helped end apartheid.

Nelson Mandela was born on July 18,198. He grew

up in the Thembu tribe speaking the Xhosa language. He was born into a
royal family of the Xhosa-speaking Thembu tribe in the South Africa village
of Mvezo (History.com). He had 9 sisters and 3 brothers. His father had 4
wives and his mother, Nosekini Fanny, was the third of Mphakaanyiswas
four wives, who together bore him 9 daughters and 4 sons(history.com). At
the age of 7 nelson Mandela began his British studies, 5 years later his father
died. When his father died he was sent to the leader of the Thembu people
(history.com) where he grew up learning about leadership. Because Nelson
Mandela grew up learning about leadership,he grew up wanting to be a
leader for his people when he became older.

In 1913 Mandela entered the elite university, of

fort Hate, the only Western-style higher learning institute for South African
black at the time(history.com). Nelson and his friend Oliver Tambu were sent
home from school for Participating in a boycott against school rules. After
discovering that his guardian had planned a wedding for nelson, he fled to
Johanesburg and worked as a watchmen and a law clerk while he completed
his bachelors degree by correspondence. He studied law at the University
of Witwatersrand (history.com) and from there he became associated with
racial discrimination between black and whites. In 1944, Mandela joined the
African National Congress (ANC). When he joined the ANC he worked with
fellow party members such as his old friend Oliver Tambu to establish its
youth league, the ANCYL (history.com). In the same year of 1922 he married

Evelyn Ntoko Mase his first wife. They then got a divorce after bearing 4
children.

Nelson Mandela grew his commitment to

politics and the ANC became stronger, after the election in 1948 of the
Afrikaner dominated national party was victorious. Mandela and Tambo
opened the first law firm for blacks which offered free or low-cost legal
counsel to those affected by apartheid legislation (history.com). On the 5th of
December, Mandela and 155 people were arrested and trialed for treason. In
1960 police opened fire on peaceful black protesters in the township of
Sharpeville, killing 69 people; as panic, anger and riots swept the country in
the massacre after math (history.com). Therefore the government banded
the ANC and PAC. Eighteen of Nelsons 27 years behind bars were spent at
Robin island prison. On the 10th of May 1994 Nelson Mandela became
president. As president, Mandela established the Truth and Reconciliation
commission to investigate human rights and political violations committed by
both supporters and opponents of apartheid between 1960 and 1994
(history.com). In 1996 Mandela presided over the enactment of a new South
African Constitution, which established a strong central government based
on majority rule and prohibited discrimination between minorities, including
whites (history.com).
In conclusion, Nelson Mandela is a hero
for all kinds of people around the world because of his courage, honor, and
integrity. Mandela also should be recognized for stopping apartheid, and
being part of the ANC. He never gave up Fighting for the freedom of his
people. As he once said it always seems impossible until it is done.