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Long Walk to Freedom (Adapted for Young Readers)

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Long Walk to Freedom (Adapted for Young Readers)

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An engaging adaptation of Nelson Mandela's autobiography for young readers. This edition simplifies the language and content while preserving the core themes and inspirational story of Mandela's life and struggle for freedom.

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A biography from the 'Who Was?' series that introduces young readers to the life and legacy of Nelson Mandela. The book covers important events and personal anecdotes in an accessible and engaging manner.

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Nelson Mandela Foundation

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Biography of Nelson Mandela

Rolihlahla Mandela was born into the Madiba clan in the village of Mvezo, in the Eastern Cape, on 18 July 1918. His mother was Nonqaphi Nosekeni and his father was Nkosi Mphakanyiswa Gadla Mandela, principal counsellor to the Acting King of the Thembu people, Jongintaba Dalindyebo. In 1930, when he was 12 years old, his father died and the young Rolihlahla became a ward of Jongintaba at the Great Place in Mqhekezweni ¹.

Hearing the elders' stories of his ancestors' valour during the wars of resistance, he dreamed also of making his own contribution to the freedom struggle of his people.

He attended primary school in Qunu where his teacher, Miss Mdingane, gave him the name Nelson, in accordance with the custom of giving all schoolchildren "Christian" names.

He completed his Junior Certificate at Clarkebury Boarding Institute and went on to Healdtown, a Wesleyan secondary school of some repute, where he matriculated.

Mandela began his studies for a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University College of Fort Hare but did not complete the degree there as he was expelled for joining in a student protest.

On his return to the Great Place at Mqhekezweni the King was furious and said if he didn't return to Fort Hare he would arrange wives for him and his cousin Justice. They ran away to Johannesburg instead, arriving there in 1941. There he worked as a mine security officer and after meeting Walter Sisulu, an estate agent, he was introduced to Lazer Sidelsky. He then did his articles through a firm of attorneys - Witkin, Eidelman and Sidelsky.

He completed his BA through the University of South Africa and went back to Fort Hare for his graduation in 1943.

Meanwhile, he began studying for an LLB at the University of the Witwatersrand. By his own admission he was a poor student and left the university in 1952 without graduating. He only started studying again through the University of London after his imprisonment in 1962 but also did not complete that degree.

In 1989, while in the last months of his imprisonment, he obtained an LLB through the University of South Africa. He graduated in absentia at a ceremony in Cape Town.

Entering politics

Mandela, while increasingly politically involved from 1942, only joined the African National Congress in 1944 when he helped to form the ANC Youth League (ANCYL).

In 1944 he married Walter Sisulu's cousin, Evelyn Mase, a nurse. They had two sons, Madiba Thembekile "Thembi" and Makgatho, and two daughters both called Makaziwe, the first of whom died in infancy. He and his wife divorced in 1958.

Mandela rose through the ranks of the ANCYL and through its efforts, the ANC adopted a more radical mass-based policy, the Programme of Action, in 1949.

In 1952 he was chosen as the National Volunteer-in-Chief of the Defiance Campaign with Maulvi Cachalia as his deputy. This campaign of civil disobedience against six unjust laws was a joint programme between the ANC and the South African Indian Congress. He and 19 others were charged under the Suppression of Communism Act for their part in the campaign and sentenced to nine months of hard labour, suspended for two years.

A two-year diploma in law on top of his BA allowed Mandela to practise law, and in August 1952 he and Oliver Tambo established South Africa's first black-owned law firm in the 1950s, Mandela & Tambo. ²

At the end of 1952 he was banned for the first time. As a restricted person he was only permitted to watch in secret as the Freedom Charter was adopted in Kliptown on 26 June 1955.

The Treason Trial

Mandela was arrested in a countrywide police swoop on 5 December 1956, which led to the 1956 Treason Trial. Men and women of all races found themselves in the dock in the marathon trial that only ended when the last 28 accused, including Mandela, were acquitted on 29 March 1961.

On 21 March 1960 police killed 69 unarmed people in a protest in Sharpeville against the pass laws. This led to the country's first state of emergency and the banning of the ANC and the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) on 8 April. Mandela and his colleagues in the Treason Trial were among thousands detained during the state of emergency.

During the trial Mandela married a social worker, Winnie Madikizela, on 14 June 1958. They had two daughters, Zenani and Zindziswa. The couple divorced in 1996.

Days before the end of the Treason Trial, Mandela travelled to Pietermaritzburg to speak at the All-in Africa Conference, which resolved that he should write to Prime Minister Verwoerd requesting a national convention on a non-racial constitution, and to warn that should he not agree there would be a national strike against South Africa becoming a republic. After he and his colleagues were acquitted in the Treason Trial, Mandela went underground and began planning a national strike for 29, 30 and 31 March.

In the face of massive mobilisation of state security the strike was called off early. In June 1961 he was asked to lead the armed struggle and helped to establish Umkhonto weSizwe (Spear of the Nation), which launched on 16 December 1961 with a series of explosions.

On 11 January 1962, using the adopted name David Motsamayi, Mandela secretly left South Africa. He travelled around Africa and visited England to gain support for the armed struggle. He received military training in Morocco and Ethiopia and returned to South Africa in July 1962. He was arrested in a police roadblock outside Howick on 5 August while returning from KwaZulu-Natal, where he had briefed ANC President Chief Albert Luthuli about his trip.

He was charged with leaving the country without a permit and inciting workers to strike. He was convicted and sentenced to five years' imprisonment, which he began serving at the Pretoria Local Prison. On 27 May 1963 he was transferred to Robben Island and returned to Pretoria on 12 June. Within a month police raided Liliesleaf, a secret hideout in Rivonia, Johannesburg, used by ANC and Communist Party activists, and several of his comrades were arrested.

On 9 October 1963 Mandela joined 10 others on trial for sabotage in what became known as the Rivonia Trial. While facing the death penalty his words to the court at the end of his famous "Speech from the Dock" on 20 April 1964 became immortalised:

" I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die. "
Speech from the Dock quote by Nelson Mandela on 20 April 1964

On 11 June 1964 Mandela and seven other accused, Walter Sisulu, Ahmed Kathrada, Govan Mbeki, Raymond Mhlaba, Denis Goldberg, Elias Motsoaledi and Andrew Mlangeni, were convicted and the next day were sentenced to life imprisonment. Goldberg was sent to Pretoria Prison because he was white, while the others went to Robben Island.

Mandela's mother died in 1968 and his eldest son, Thembi, in 1969. He was not allowed to attend their funerals.

On 31 March 1982 Mandela was transferred to Pollsmoor Prison in Cape Town with Sisulu, Mhlaba and Mlangeni. Kathrada joined them in October. When he returned to the prison in November 1985 after prostate surgery, Mandela was held alone. Justice Minister Kobie Coetsee visited him in hospital. Later Mandela initiated talks about an ultimate meeting between the apartheid government and the ANC.

Release from prison

On 12 August 1988 he was taken to hospital where he was diagnosed with tuberculosis. After more than three months in two hospitals he was transferred on 7 December 1988 to a house at Victor Verster Prison near Paarl where he spent his last 14 months of imprisonment. He was released from its gates on Sunday 11 February 1990, nine days after the unbanning of the ANC and the PAC and nearly four months after the release of his remaining Rivonia comrades. Throughout his imprisonment he had rejected at least three conditional offers of release.

Mandela immersed himself in official talks to end white minority rule and in 1991 was elected ANC President to replace his ailing friend, Oliver Tambo. In 1993 he and President FW de Klerk jointly won the Nobel Peace Prize and on 27 April 1994 he voted for the first time in his life.

President

On 10 May 1994 he was inaugurated as South Africa's first democratically elected President. On his 80 th birthday in 1998 he married Graça Machel, his third wife.

True to his promise, Mandela stepped down in 1999 after one term as President. He continued to work with the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund he set up in 1995 and established the Nelson Mandela Foundation and The Mandela Rhodes Foundation.

In April 2007 his grandson, Mandla Mandela, was installed as head of the Mvezo Traditional Council at a ceremony at the Mvezo Great Place.

Nelson Mandela never wavered in his devotion to democracy, equality and learning. Despite terrible provocation, he never answered racism with racism. His life is an inspiration to all who are oppressed and deprived; and to all who are opposed to oppression and deprivation.

He died at his home in Johannesburg on 5 December 2013.

1. Nelson Mandela's father died in 1930 when Mandela was 12 and his mother died in 1968 when he was in prison. While the autobiography Long Walk to Freedom says his father died when he was nine, historical evidence shows it must have been later, most likely 1930. In fact, the original Long Walk to Freedom manuscript (written on Robben Island) states the year as 1930, when he was 12. 2. have established that there were at least 2 other black owned law firms before Mandela and Tambo.

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Biography of Nelson Mandela - Nelson Mandela Foundation

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We are a non-profit organisation focused on dialogue and advocacy, and memory and legacy work, founded by Nelson Mandela in 1999.

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This picture book tells the inspiring story of a young girl and her grandmother, who participates in South Africa's first democratic elections. It's a touching narrative that highlights the importance of voting and civic engagement.

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I really liked the book. It was used for my second grade class to inform them about the importance of voting and Introducing them to how South Africans valued voting . The book also introduces them to Nelson Mandela, the first black South African president.

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Illustrated in rich pastels, this child's-eye view of an important milestone in South African history allows young readers to experience every detail of this eventful day.

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Nelson Mandela: The Authorized Comic Book

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Nelson Mandela: The Authorized Comic Book

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A unique graphic novel that chronicles the life of Nelson Mandela. The comic format makes this biography both educational and entertaining for younger audiences.

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The fantastic, heroic life of Nelson Mandela, brought to life in this landmark graphic work.

Nelson Mandela's memoir, Long Road to Freedom , electrified the world in 1994 with the story of a solitary man who, despite unbelievable hardships, brought down one of the most-despised regimes in the world. Now comes this fully authorized graphic biography, which relays in picture form the life story of the world's greatest moral and political hero―from his boyhood in a small South African village to his growing political activism with the ANC; his twenty-seven-year incarceration as prisoner 466/64 on Robben Island; his dramatic release; and his triumphant years as president of South Africa. With new interviews, firsthand accounts, and archival material that has only recently been uncovered, this visually dramatic biography promises to introduce Mandela's gripping story to a whole new generation of readers.

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Nelson Mandela: The Authorized Comic Book

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Amazon.com: Nelson Mandela: The Authorized Comic Book: 9780393336467: The Nelson Mandela Foundation, Wezithombe, Umlando: Books

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Although not specifically about a South African freedom fighter, this book tells the story of standing up for one's identity and culture, which aligns with the broader themes of equality and justice.

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THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER! A powerful, vibrantly illustrated story about the first day of school--and two sisters on one's first day of hijab--by Olympic medalist and social justice activist Ibtihaj Muhammad.The Kindest Red , a story of hijab and friendship, available for preorder now!

And don't miss

With her new backpack and light-up shoes, Faizah knows the first day of school is going to be special. It's the start of a brand new year and, best of all, it's her older sister Asiya's first day of hijab--a hijab of beautiful blue fabric, like the ocean waving to the sky. But not everyone sees hijab as beautiful, and in the face of hurtful, confusing words, Faizah will find new ways to be strong.

Paired with Hatem Aly's beautiful, whimsical art, Olympic medalist Ibtihaj Muhammad and Morris Award finalist S.K. Ali bring readers an uplifting, universal story of new experiences, the unbreakable bond between siblings, and of being proud of who you are.

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The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family

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The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family [Muhammad, Ibtihaj, Ali, S. K., Aly, Hatem] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family

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Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood

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Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood

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A compelling memoir by comedian Trevor Noah that recounts his experiences growing up during apartheid and the early years of South Africa's democracy. The book is both humorous and deeply moving, providing a personal perspective on the country's history.

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A classic novel set in pre-apartheid South Africa, exploring themes of racial injustice and social change. The story follows a black priest's journey to find his son in Johannesburg, shedding light on the harsh realities of South African society.

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No Turning Back: A Novel of South Africa

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No Turning Back: A Novel of South Africa

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A powerful novel about a young boy named Sipho who escapes from his abusive stepfather and survives on the streets of Johannesburg. The story captures the struggles and resilience of children in post-apartheid South Africa.

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Escaping from his violent stepfather, twelve-year-old Sipho heads for Johannesburg, where he has heard that gangs of children live on the streets. Surviving hunger and bitter-cold winter nights is hard'but learning when to trust in the 'new' South Africa proves even more difficult.

No Turning Back appeared on the short list of both the Guardian and Smarties book prizes on the United Kingdom.

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No Turning Back: A Novel of South Africa

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No Turning Back: A Novel of South Africa [Naidoo, Beverley] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. No Turning Back: A Novel of South Africa

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An autobiographical work that provides insight into the author's life under apartheid. The book discusses the hardships and systemic inequalities faced by black South Africans and the author's determination to rise above them through education and perseverance.

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The sequel to Kaffir Boy, this novel delves into the author's continued journey during and after apartheid. It highlights the ongoing struggle for freedom and equality in South Africa.

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Amandla Stenberg (born October 23, 1998) is an American actress and singer. Known for her acting and public image, Stenberg has received several accolades, and was included in 's list of Most Influential Teens in both 2015 and 2016.

Stenberg made her acting debut with the film Colombiana (2011), and had her breakthrough playing Rue in the film The Hunger Games (2012), for which she won a Teen Choice Award. She received critical acclaim for her roles as Maddy Whittier in Everything, Everything (2017) and as Starr Carter in the film The Hate U Give (2018), the latter of which earned her an NAACP Image Award and a nomination for a Critics' Choice Award. Her other film roles include voicing Bia in (2014), and her starring roles as Ruby in The Darkest Minds (2018) and Leyna in Where Hands Touch (2018).

In television, Stenberg had the recurring role of Macey Irving in the series Sleepy Hollow (2013-2014), and starred as Halle Foster in the sitcom Mr. Robinson (2015) and as Julie in the Netflix miniseries (2020). In 2015, she made her musical debut as part of the folk-rock duo Honeywater. Her single, "Let My Baby Stay" was featured in the film Everything, Everything (2018).

Amandla Stenberg was born in Los Angeles, California, the child of Karen Brailsford, an African-American spiritual counselor and writer, and Tom Stenberg, who is Danish. Her paternal grandmother had Greenlandic Inuit ancestry. Stenberg has two older half-sisters on her father's side. Her first name means " power" or "strength" in the South African languages of IsiXhosa and Zulu.

At age four, Stenberg started doing catalog modeling shoots for Disney. She has appeared in commercials for clients such as Boeing.

2011-2015: Acting breakthrough and music

In 2011, she appeared in her first feature film, Colombiana, as a younger version of Zoe Saldana's character. Her breakthrough came at the age of 14, when she was cast as Rue in the 2012 film The Hunger Games. The film was a critical and financial success, and Stenberg's performance was praised. She received a number of awards and nominations, including a Black Reel Award nomination.

In 2013, she was cast in the short film Mercy playing the daughter of Robin Thicke and Paula Patton; Thicke directed the film. Stenberg had a recurring role on season one of Sleepy Hollow from 2013 to 2014. In 2013, Stenberg began performing on the violin and singing harmonies at Los Angeles venues with singer-songwriter Zander Hawley. In 2014, Stenberg voiced Bia in the animated film , which was a commercial success.

In 2015, Stenberg released her first EP in August 2015 as the folk-rock duo Honeywater. In 2015, she released the video "Don't Cash Crop My Cornrows". She played series regular Halle Foster on the short-lived series Mr. Robinson, which ran in 2015. Stenberg co-wrote the comic book Niobe: She is Life with Sebastian Jones, which was illustrated by Ashley A. Woods, and published in November 2015. It is the first nationally distributed comic that has a black woman as its protagonist, author, and another as the artist.

2016-present: Critical acclaim and recognition

In 2016, Stenberg appeared in the music video for Lemonade by Beyoncé, and won the BET YoungStars Award. In the same year, she signed with The Society, a modelling agency. Also in 2016, Stenberg had auditioned for the role of Shuri in the superhero film Black Panther, however, she walked away because she felt that she was not right for the role. She told Variety in 2018: "It was so exhilarating to see it fulfilled by people who should have been a part of it and who deserved it and who were right for it. I just wasn't."

In 2017, Stenberg and Sebastian Jones released Niobe: She is Death, the second part of the trilogy. In the same year, she starred in the romantic drama Everything, Everything, directed by Stella Meghie, and co-starring Nick Robinson. Her single, "Let My Baby Stay", was featured in the film's soundtrack. She received praise for her performance, and earned a Teen Choice Award nomination.

In 2018, she played the lead role of Starr Carter in the contemporary drama The Hate U Give, based on the novel of the same name, which is about the Black Lives Matter movement. The film was received positively, and Stenberg received critical acclaim for her performance, with the magazine Rolling Stone writing "It is impossible to over-praise Stenberg's incandescent performance, a gathering storm that grows in ferocity and feeling with each scene." The film's director, George Tillman Jr. wrote that "She has this ability to make you feel like you're seeing the real deal, which comes from a level of dedication to the material that's rare at any age, I was already excited by the work I'd seen from her, but it's even more exciting to think about the work she's yet to do." She earned several awards and nominations for the role, which include winning an NAACP Image Award and being nominated for a Critics' Choice Award. In late 2018, Stenberg starred in Amma Asante's World War II drama Where Hands Touch.

In May 2019, she joined the cast of the Netflix miniseries , which was released on May 8, 2020. That same month, she signed on to star in the remake of the 1996 thriller film . In August 2020, she was cast as Alana Beck in Stephen Chbosky's film adaptation of the broadway musical Dear Evan Hansen. She will also collaborate with the show's composers, Pasek and Paul, on a new song being written specifically for her character, whose role was expanded upon from the stage version.

Public image and politics

magazine named Stenberg "one of the most incendiary voices of her generation" when it featured her on its Autumn 2015 cover. She was included in 's list of Most Influential Teens in 2015, and again in 2016. In 2016, she was included in the list of SuperSoul 100 list of visionaries and influential leaders by Oprah Winfrey.

Stenberg identifies as an intersectional feminist. She is outspoken about her political views in interviews and on social media, and was named "Feminist of the Year" in 2015 by the Ms. Foundation for Women. She has spoken publicly on social media about cultural appropriation. Her video, "Don't Cash Crop My Cornrows" admonished Kylie Jenner for adopting that traditionally African-American hairstyle. In April 2016, Stenberg gave a speech at WE Day California, a WE Charity event.

Personal life

In 2016, Stenberg announced via Instagram that she would be studying filmmaking at New York University Tisch School of the Arts. Stenberg did not end up attending the school as she found herself booking jobs and instead chose to continue with her acting career.

Stenberg identifies as non-binary, and uses both 'she/her/hers' and 'they/their/theirs' pronouns. She has previously said that she was bisexual and pansexual. In June 2018, in an interview with Wonderland magazine, she came out as gay. From early 2018 to late 2018, Stenberg dated singer Mikaela Mullaney Straus, better known by her stage name King Princess.

In a July 2017 interview, Stenberg said she had stopped using a smartphone, and that she thought phones and social media can have a negative effect on mental health.

Filmography

Television

Music videos

References

External links

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Amandla Stenberg (born October 23, 1998) is an American actress and singer. Known for her acting and public image, Stenberg has received several accolades, and was included in 's list of Most Influential Teens in both 2015 and 2016.