Nelson Mandela
By
Malcolm
Williams
3/26/12
“I have walked that long road for freedom….but I can only rest for a
moment for with freedom comes responsibilities and I dare not linger for my long
walk has not ended.” –Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela overcame many challenges but he became a symbol of
bravery in South Africa.
Before I talk about Nelson Mandela I’m going to talk about
his home South Africa
South Africa
South Africa covers the southern tip of Africa it is one
of the largest countries in Africa. South Africa touches two
oceans. The Indian and the Atlantic Ocean.
The name of the country is the Republic of South
Africa and the capitals are Cape Town, Pretoria and
This is Johannesburg this is the biggest city
in South Africa this city is like New York in
America
Bloemfontein.
Many people visit South Africa to go on safaris.
Some animals only live in South Africa. Two of these
animals are the Black Rhinoceros and the Cape Mountain Zebra.
The population is more than 41 million. The people of South Africa’s
languages’ are Afrikaans, English and the Bantu languages. Just like the people
speak a different language they also have different religions. The religions are
Christian Muslim, Hindu and Traditional African religions.
The colors of the flag are red, black yellow, white, green and blue.
People in the city buy food from grocery stores and people in the country
get it from outdoor markets. Corn is an important part of South African food. Putu
Is a favorite food made from corn.
Some South Africans have weekly cookouts called a Braii. Mutton is a
popular food at braiis and mutton is meat made from sheep. South Africans also
eat biltong. Biltong is dried strip meat. The most popular biltong comes from kudu
Antelope. Antelope is also called venison people often eat it for dinner.
Even though there are a lot of different people in South Africa until
recently only one group of people was treated fairly.
Years ago, Dutch settlers moved to South Africa and called themselves
Afrikaners. Then the white settlers began to control the African people that led
Apartheid, which was a lot like segregation in American.
Black Africans were the first people to live in South Africa. Each tribe had
its own language, clothing and way of life. The Zulu tribe is the largest tribe in
South Africa.
Other European settlers came after the Afrikaners. Many of the whites and
blacks did not get along. The white South African government made laws called
Apartheid. Apartheid is practice of keeping people of different race apart. People
who broke these laws were put in jail. Many people worked for a long time to
change these laws like Nelson Mandela.
The government finally made new laws that gave black and white South
African equal rights. In 1994 Nelson Mandela became South Africa’s first black
president.
During Apartheid, black and white children had to attend different schools.
Since 1993 all children attended school together. School is free for all South
Africans. Most students must wear uniforms. There are many different languages
in South Africa. The children are taught in their own language. The students
study math, history and science. Many kids join clubs after school like music, art
and sports clubs.
Apartheid
White South Africans thought they were better than black South Africans
so the white South Africans made them live in poor areas without electricity, heat,
and water. The rules they had to follow were they could not travel anywhere
without a passport, they could not vote, and they had to live in poverty. People
were sick and hungry.
In 1948 white leaders made more unfair laws. Black and whites had to live
apart from each other. Black Africans did not have the same rights as white
Africans. Blacks couldn’t vote. Black and white children had to
go to different schools. They could not live in the same
neighborhoods with white South Africans.
Growing Up
On July 18, 1918 in the town of Umtata Nelson Mandela
was born. Nelson Mandela grew up in a village on the bank of
the Mbashe River.
This is Nelsons Mandela’s home
town Umtata in South Africa.
Before South Africa was founded the Thimbu chiefs ruled this part of Africa.
Nelson lived with his parents and other relatives in a small clustered house.
The government was Christian. Nelson had a good idea of Christians who
live in South Africa. Nelson decided to join Methodist church to become
Christian.
When Nelson turned 16 he passed through a ceremony that signals the
end of his childhood.
Blacks couldn’t live in Johannesburg because white South Africans didn’t
want them there. They were forced to live outside the city in shacks without
plumbing, electricity, or garbage collectors. People were sick and hungry. Nelson
was furious so he made sure he went to college and get a good education and
he became a lawyer.
College
The chief sent Justice and Mandela to the best African school in South
Africa. There Nelson met Thimbu people from other villages. Then Nelson joined
Justice at Healdton the largest African school below the equator. For the first
time Nelson became friends with people from different tribes from the Sotho,
Swazl, and the Zulu tribe.
The chief sent Justice and Mandela to the best African school in South
Africa. The college was called Clark berry institute. For the first he saw himself
not just a Thimbu but an African.
Nelson advanced to Fort Hare a missionary college for African scholars
from all over Africa. He studied hard but it wasn’t only school work. He joined the
track team, he learned to dance, and he became a school leader.
In his final year he was elected to serve the student council. When in a
peaceful protest he quit the council. The principal threatened him if he didn’t join
the student council again he would be expelled. Nelson left so he got expelled.
When chief heard about this he forced Nelson back to school and into student
council so he did.
ANC
In Johannesburg Mandela received another kind of education. He was a
successful business man. When Nelson met a man named Sisulu it changed his
life forever. They became best friends.
Nelson studied law and he learned that a person who broke a law was a
criminal, no matter how great his or her wealth is or the color of their skin would
be arrested.
While Nelson was in college his elders were trying to find who he should
marry. Nelson preferred to choose his own wife so Nelson and his friend decided
to go to the city of Johannesburg
When Nelson was professional in law he became aware of injustice of
South African law. So he joined ANC African National Congress, they to end
discrimination in South Africa.
While in ANC he organized a
group that used violence against the
government. He said one can only fight
fire with fire. Mandela was a fugitive so
he let his hair grow longer and dressed
in coveralls. He moved from place to
place. He dressed as a workman he
worked mostly at night and rarely left
during the day.
This is Nelson in ANC giving a speech
He decided to sabotage the
government so he blew up empty buildings rather than violence. After the Spear
of Nation set off its first bomb the government began to hunt Nelson down for
eight months he was on the run. Police searched everywhere then finally found
him and he was charged for treason. He was put in jail.
Jail
Nelson saw that words alone would not bring freedom or change unfair
laws .In August 1962 he was arrested for sabotage and treason. He was found
guilty he wasn’t allowed to see visitors or to get letters. He
spent 27 years in jail.
Many white and black South the Africans protested
for his imprisonment. South African police tried stopping
protesters. People were often shot and protesters were
often beaten.
Many people did not agree about the system of
Apartheid. Many countries refused
to do any business with South
Africa. People continued to fight for
democracy.
This is Nelson Mandela behind bars
he was treated unfairly.
People were shot and beaten by the police
like this.
The government said if Nelson promised to obey the laws he could be let
go. He refused so he remained in jail.
In 1989 South Africa elected a new president. President F. w De Klerk he
met with Nelson many times and they talked about rights for black people in
South Africa. In 1990 president De Klerk let Nelson Mandela out of jail. Together
they worked to change unfair laws to blacks.
Nelson worked for the government to change unfair laws in South Africa.
In 1994 South Africa elected Nelson Mandela as president.
President
Nelson Mandela did not want the white South Africans to flee the country,
so he did all he could to protect them from revenge from the black South
Africans. He won international recognition for making smooth
and peaceful transitions to
black majority government.
Nelson proved above
all that he can do more than
just simply oppose an unjust
government. He could also
run a government.
After his term expired
Here Nelson is walking with his
he continued to work to
wife and other South Africans the
dismantle Apartheid laws.
day after his release
Eventually he and De Klerk
won a Nobel peace prize.
This is Nelson and De Klerk winning the Nobel Peace prize for doing all
they could to change the unfair laws in South Africa.
Conclusion
Nelson Mandela went to jail for 27 years. He worked to change Apartheid.
He stood up for what he believed. Nelson Mandela changed the world. I realized
that you have to keep trying, and no matter what happens you stay positive and
never give up like Nelson Mandela did to change Apartheid laws in South Africa.
Works Cited
Dahl, Michael s. South Africa. Mankato, Minnesota; Bridgestone books, 1998
Strazzabosco, Jean .Learning about Forgiveness from the Life of Nelson Mandela. New
York: The Rosen publishing group,1996.
Boothroyd ,Jennifer. Nelson Mandela life of persistence. Minneapolis: Lerner
publications company, 2007.
Green, Robert. Nelson Mandela Activist for equality. Chanhassen, Minnesota: Childs
world
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