Nelson Mandela, Anti-Apartheid Activist and World Leader | Biography

the particle pressure and expectation is our people organized into mass formation of the Democratic Movement Nelson Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist and the first black president of South Africa he was born wholly Saha Mandela on July 18 1918 in the rural village of embezzle a descendant of the tembu royal family Mandela's father served as a local chief and counselor to the king his devout Christian mother enrolled him in a Methodist School where he was given the English name Nelson after his father's death the 12 year old Mandela was brought to the center of the tembu

monarchy to be raised by the Kings Regent living among the royal family exposed Mandela to powerful examples of black leadership that remained a source of influence throughout his life Mandela attended the University College of Fort Hare and studied law at the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg the school's only black student and a frequent target of racism Mandela soon began to immerse himself in the world of radical politics in 1944 he joined the African National Congress an anti-colonialist political party that fought to enfranchise and empower the black population living under an oppressive white Authority Mandela helped

have found the and seized Youth League and quickly rose in its ranks alongside fellow activist Oliver Tambo and Walter Sisulu with the National Party's rise to power in 1948 South Africa's racial inequality was officially codified under the system of apartheid the government passed legislation that institutionalized discrimination and enforced the supremacy of the minority white population Mandela and the ANC fought back launching the defiance campaigns of 1952 a series of non-violent direct actions uniting black Indian and communist coalition's through coordinated civil disobedience the National Party swiftly cracked down on efforts jailing Mandela and banning him from

the ANC before long the campaign had died out in 1956 Mandela and 155 colleagues were tried for treason while they were ultimately acquitted Mandela became convinced that apartheid would not fall without armed resistance in 1961 he formed the MK a militant branch of the ANC that committed targeted acts of sabotage against the government and its military the MKS guerrilla tactics were effective but in August 1962 Mandela was captured charged with conspiracy he received a life sentence incarcerated at Robben Island Mandela remained a symbol of black South African resistance during his years behind bars he continued

his fight on a smaller scale organizing against the prison's inhumane conditions through demonstrations and teach-ins calls for Mandela's freedom gradually built up global support in South Africa's government buckled under growing pressure finally in 1990 after 27 years Mandela was released from prison South Africa held its first open elections in 1994 the African National Congress led by Mandela won in a landslide as President Mandela prioritized national programs that expanded access to social services education and housing his administration also established the Truth and Reconciliation Commission which served to investigate and confront human rights violations committed under apartheid

at the end of his first term in 1999 Mandela retired from politics he continued to commit himself to activism particularly in response to the AIDS crisis until the end of his life in 2013 Mandela died of a respiratory infection at age 95 he still stands as both the father of his nation and an international symbol of hard-won liberation you