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Nelson Mandela

A few months after former South African President Nelson Mandela’s 90th birthday, in 2009, the United Nations General Assembly declared July 18, Nelson Mandela International Day.

Mandela celebrates his 94th birthday this July 18, and observance of the day named in his honor is “a call to action for people everywhere to take responsibility for making the world a better place, one step at a time, just like Nelson Mandela did”.

Nelson Mandela International Day is in recognition of the first President of the new South Africa, after the dismantling of the Apartheid system which discriminated against all non-White South Africans, including the native Tribes, Indian and Colored people (those with mixed racial heritage). Mandela’s memory will live on long after he departs this earthly life, as a result of the contribution he made to the culture of peace and freedom, not only for the people of South Africa, but for people everywhere who see his struggles and triumph as a lesson in human rights and justice.

In 1993, shortly after Mandela and then President of South Africa, F.W. de Klerk reached an agreement to end Apartheid (with Mandela representing the African National Congress (ANC) and de Klerk representing the Government), both men were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize  for brokering a non-violent resolution to Apartheid.

The Long Walk to Freedom

Mandela’s imprisonment for twenty-seven years, serving a sentence for treason (or plotting to overthrow the oppressive government) against the State which did not recognize human rights for non-white South Africans, was a period of much sufferation for Black South Africans. It can be said that his only crime in truth and in fact, was fighting for “equal [human] rights and justice” for his people. The ANC, the oldest anti-Apartheid organization in the country was banned in 1960, but the movement continued it under-cover operations, with Mandela as one of its chief strategists. There were constant clashes between the Police and ANC supporters. Townships (areas reserved for Blacks only) were raided, property destroyed, and people killed, while their leaders were locked away. While in jail, Mandela remained actively involved by educating himself and thinking strategically on what moves to make in the negotiations that would take place between the Government and the oppressed people.

Nelson Mandela’s life story is movingly recorded in his autobiography, “Long Walk to Freedom”, which tells of his childhood, his growing up as a young tribesman in a traditional mud hut with dirt floor, and wearing only a blanket over his shoulder for clothing. Shortly after his ritual initiation at puberty, he was chosen to live in a royal household of family connections, and was treated as a member of the family. He was granted the best of Western education available, attending the University College of Fort Hare and the University of Witwaterstrand pursuing legal studies until the death of his benefactor. He was interested in helping his people with their myriad of legal troubles under the Apartheid system. Because he was a people’s lawyer, he never got paid in most cases, because the people were too poor to pay legal fees on top of the numerous fines and charges they had to pay to the state for breaking the unjust laws.

Mandela’s early life in the African Liberation struggle caused him to suffer and endure much hardship, which affected his family life. His first marriage perished because he was away from home most of the time doing the people’s work. His second marriage to the famous Winnie Mandela endured the hardship of his years in prison, but the separation had taken its toll and the couple divorced shortly after Nelson was released and had taken up active political leadership. At one time during his ANC under-ground movement years, he had to travel incognito and always at great risk of blowing his cover. Reading his story one senses his deep commitment to the cause; a full and complete sacrifice of all comfort and security, his own personal freedom (or whatever little freedom he could claim at the time under the system).

Mandela’s story is a contrast to what we hear about other African leaders who rule as dictators and amass the country’s wealth for themselves and their families. Mandela writes of the pain he felt that he could not bury his mother after she died, as was the custom for the eldest son, because he was in prison at the time. He literally had to forsake his family and relatives, and put the cause of all the people of his nation first and foremost. No half-stepping would have worked. He knew his life was on the line and he was willing to die, and knew that his death would not have been in vain because he had inspired many who supported the cause of the ANC, not only in South Africa, but internationally.

Nelson Mandela was tried and sentenced along with other members of the anti-Apartheid movement. He represented himself with a sterling statement in his defense, but at the end of the trial on June 10th 1964, he and seven others were given life sentences. Mandela gives credit to the International Red Cross for assisting him when he was imprisoned on Robben Island from 1964 to 1982. He was later transferred to Pollsmoor Prison on the mainland until February 11, 1990. He also salutes the international press for media coverage on the day of his release; the exposure of what was taking place in South Africa, the breaking down of the Apartheid government and the turmoil an conflict that eventually gave way to Mandela’s steadfast, level-headed negotiations, was made known around the world and he became the hero, not only in the eyes of his people, but of people everywhere.

During his years in prison Mandela refused to compromise his cause, he remained strong in his faith that the oppressive rule over his people had to go. He was not accepting any bribes or handouts to change his mind and return to his personal freedom.  He emerged with his dignity intact, his position as a leader unblemished, his faith unshaken, and the people decided that he was the best person to be their President.

We in the Caribbean may have only heard about the struggles of the Blacks of South Africa through musical Embassadors such as the Reggae King, Bob Marley, and his contemporaries in the music business, and later from Lucky Dube, a South African himself who performed here at a music fest some years ago. But while the struggles were going on in the early 1960s up until Mandela’s release from prison, the underground African National Congress, and its charismatic leader Nelson Mandela never failed to “get up, stand up, stand up for [their] rights”. It is such model of men (and women) that the world needs as examples to appreciate and maintain social justice and keep discrimination at bay.

For more information on Nelson Mandela, visit the Nelson Mandela Foundation website (just Google the name).

This information is brought to you courtesy of Related by Humanity and this newsite.

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