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Nelson Mandela. By Alexis Mondares. “The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” – Nelson Mandela. Family. Born July 18, 1918 in Mvezo , South Africa Xhosa Nation Thembu Tribe Birth name: Rolihlaha “pulling the branch of a tree”
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Nelson Mandela By Alexis Mondares “The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” – Nelson Mandela
Family • Born July 18, 1918 in Mvezo, South Africa • Xhosa Nation • Thembu Tribe • Birth name: Rolihlaha • “pulling the branch of a tree” • Father: Gadla Henry Mphakanyiswa • Government appointed Chief • 4 wives – Great, Right Hand, Left Hand, Iquadi (support) • 4 boys, 9 girls • Mother was the Right Hand Wife • 1 boy , 3 girls • Youngest boy
Early Life • At age 5 he was a herd boy • Age 9 his father died • Mother moved to Qunu • Baptized as Methodist before attending the local school • Nelson • Local Chief Jongintaba adopted him • Relative • Clarkebury Boarding Institute • Played sports but wasn’t close to being the star • Was afraid of failing tests • Completed in 2 years instead of the standard 3 • 1937 - Wesleyan Secondary School
Inspiration • Warrior-prophet Makana led an army against a British outpost • It failed • Life imprisonment • Maqoma led wars and was imprisoned twice • 11 years • At age 73 until death • Heroes of Mandela’s youth • Xhosa resistance failed
University and Farther • University of Fort Hare • For BA • Was expelled for skipping classes to joining a protest boycott • He and his cousin ran away from Johannesburg • Worked for a short time as a mine policeman • Completed BA at University of South Africa in 1942 • Studied for LLB but never completed
ANC and Apartheid • Joined the African National Congress in 1944 • Engaged in the resistance against the ruling National Party’s apartheid after 1948 • Went to prison for treason in 1956 – 1961 and was acquitted in 1961 • 1960 – wanted to set up a military wing in the ANC • 1961 – ANC executive agreed not to stop any member from joining Mandela’s campaign which led to the formation of Umkhonto we Sizwe (armed unit of ANC)
ANC and Apartheid • 1962 – arrested in and sentenced to 5 years imprisonment with hard laborfor leaving the country illegally • 1963 – many of the members of • Umkhonto we Sizwe were arrested • June 12, 1964, he and eight of the accused were sentenced to life in imprisonment • 1964 – 1982 was in Robben Island Prison off Cape Town • 1982 and after, was in Pollsmoor Prison
Cultural Significance • In prison • reputation grew • became widely accepted as the most significant black leader in South Africa • Released on February 11, 1990 • inaugurated as President of a Democratic South Africa on May 10, 1994 • Stepped down in 1999 after one term as President
Interesting Facts • During Nelson Mandela’s jail time he had secret talks with South Africa’s president, P.W. Botha, and his successor, F.W. de Klerk. • In 1993, he won the Nobel Peace Price • June 1999, he returned to Qunu after retiring from Presidency • 2005, he lost his son to AIDS • Age 92
Negotiating Peace • symbol of resistance as the anti-apartheid movement gathered strength • refused to compromise his political position to obtain freedom • Never answered racism with racism