South Africa has a long history of racism, dating back to the 17th century on arrival of the first European settlers to the African continent. The black majority populations were dominated and subjected to all forms of political and economic discrimination. White government enacted numerous laws to ensure a system of total racial segregation known as apartheid, meaning "apartness" in Afrikaans.
Today Nelson Mandela is considered as one of the world's most quoted public figures and is known for dismantling the legacy of apartheid through tackling institutionalized racism, poverty and inequality, and fostering racial reconciliation. In apartheid South Africa his words and teachings, like those of other African National Congress activists - were banned. Books written about him were banned - unless they portrayed him as a terrorist. Media organizations were prevented from reporting on him or using his pictures. He was jailed for almost three decades, 27 years to be precise. But nothing could stop his fight against racism, such was his determination. He was the first black South African become president, and the first elected in a fully representative democratic election.
He had received several honorary awards like Noble Prize, the Indian Bharat Ratna, the US Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the Soviet Order of Lenin and in South Africa he is often described as “the father of the nation”. He died recently died on 5th Dec, 2013 but the heroics of this legend will never be forgotten.
Today Nelson Mandela is considered as one of the world's most quoted public figures and is known for dismantling the legacy of apartheid through tackling institutionalized racism, poverty and inequality, and fostering racial reconciliation. In apartheid South Africa his words and teachings, like those of other African National Congress activists - were banned. Books written about him were banned - unless they portrayed him as a terrorist. Media organizations were prevented from reporting on him or using his pictures. He was jailed for almost three decades, 27 years to be precise. But nothing could stop his fight against racism, such was his determination. He was the first black South African become president, and the first elected in a fully representative democratic election.
He had received several honorary awards like Noble Prize, the Indian Bharat Ratna, the US Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the Soviet Order of Lenin and in South Africa he is often described as “the father of the nation”. He died recently died on 5th Dec, 2013 but the heroics of this legend will never be forgotten.
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