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Nelson Mandela was born 1918 in a small village of South Africa. Mandela’s father, was the chief of a small tribe, but eventually lost his kingdom and fortune because of a dispute with a magistrate. Mandela and his family continued their lives in poverty, by living in a small hut and living off what the land produced. At age 9, Mandela’s father passed away, leaving Mandela the man of the house. A old friend of Mandela’s father received Mandela as his son, and provided Mandela with a college education. Mandela took complete advantage of the opportunity and later received his degree in practicing law. Because of Mandela’s great interest in law, Mandela noted the segregation in South Africa. The troubling separation of the races shaped Mandela and the choices that he would soon make. After graduating with his degree, Mandela affiliated himself with the ANC, or the African National Congress. A youth, group within the ANC, believed that the “passive” and “polite” protests of the ANC were “ineffective”. Mandela then joined the group and they took on a more abrasive approach. Through sabotage and defiance against segregation, Mandela and his band began disturbing the still water of the segregated society. After many protests, in 1956, Mandela and many others were captured and prosecuted. They were sentenced to 5 years in prison, and later charges were pressed against Mandela which warranted him a lifetime sentence due to treason.
After so much hardship, Mandela still used his time in prison to his benefit. Mandela continued to take advantage of the educational opportunities that were presented him. What is truly amazing is that, while in prison, Mandela was offered the opportunity to be released if he would renounce his position of struggle against segregation. After several bribes Mandela still resisted and declined. He chose rather to stay in prison for several more years until he was finally released by a newly elected president. More amazing still is that Mandela was eventually elected President of South Africa with a 65 percent majority win over the opposition. Mandela continued his fight for equality and did not hold a grudge of several years in prison against the country that was now under his power. After years of Mandela’s life pursuit, in 1993, Mandela was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Nelson Mandela continues dedicating his life to the further pursuit of peace and equalit
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africaneconomics.wordpress.com
The Definition of Defiance 