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Nelson Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist known for his peaceful and non-violent actions that helped end racial discrimination in South Africa after nearly three centuries. His actions won him a Nobel Peace Prize, and he was elected as the first black President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999.

Photo below courtesy of Peter Andrews/ Reuters

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 What was the issue? What is the political or social change that Nelson Mandela was trying to bring about? 

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 What was the issue? What is the political or social change that Nelson Mandela was trying to bring about? 

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The issue that Nelson Mandela is trying to fix is the apartheid movement in South Africa. Apartheid is the ideology that segregated the whites from the non-whites and barred the non-whites from basic human rights. Racial discrimination against non-white people has been happening for over 300 years in South Africa (Beatriz Díaz, BBVA).

Nelson Mandela is against racial discrimination and segregation and he believed that everyone should be equal. He developed anti-apartheid views later in his life when he got into politics (SAHO).

Photo courtesy of BuzzSouthAfrica

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What are some events, factors, or reasons that inspired Nelson Mandela to become an agent of change?       

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What are some events, factors, or reasons that inspired Nelson Mandela to become an agent of change?       

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After getting politics in his later life, Mandela joined the ANC Youth League (ANCYL) where he was elected as nation secretary in 1948, and later president in 1951. The African National Congress is a forefront on leading the anti-apartheid movement.

Mandela’s involvement in the ANCYL led to his arrest for violating the Suppression of Communism act, with 17 other members. He was imprisoned for nine months of hard labour. On December 5, 1956, Mandela was arrested with 155 others for treason, which they were later released, but in 1960, the ANC was banned and thousands were detained. Mandela proceeds to leave the country for military training and to gain support for the ANC.

He was later arrested and sentenced to 5 years in prison when he returned. The ANC was unbanned nearly 30 years later, and was released February 11, 1990. He later was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize and was elected as the ANC deputy president, as well as the first president of a democratic South Africa (Nelson Mandela Foundation).

Mandela and F.W de Klerk receiving Nobel Peace Prize
Photo courtesy of eNCA

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What has Nelson Mandela achieved? What has changed and what has stayed the same as a result of the actions taken?   

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What has Nelson Mandela achieved? What has changed and what has stayed the same as a result of the actions taken?   

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After decades of fighting for human rights and equality for all South Africans, the ANC ultimately succeeded after the unbanning of their party in 1990.
Soon after in 1994, over 22 million South Africans voted in the country’s first multi-racial election and  Nelson Mandela was voted in and elected as president of South Africa. Through peaceful protests, educating the public, and fighting for the freedom and voice of non-white South Africans, they ultimately succeeded abolished the ideology of apartheid, and reconciled all South Africans together with equal human rights after nearly 30 years.

As president, he established the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to thoroughly investigate political violations and human right issues during 1960 to 1994. He also introduced new programs that would help improve the living of the black population in South Africa. Mandela improved and strengthened the relationships of different races, and discouraged blacks from retaliating against the whites, as well as prohibited any discrimination in the country. After Mandela was elected as President of South Africa, he has changed and abolished nearly all discrimination in the country, and became a forefront in human rights advocacy (History.com).

Sunday Feb. 11, 1990, Mandela and wife Winnie walk upon his release from prison.
Photo courtesy of Greg English, Global News

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What types of action has Nelson Mandela used? What are the objectives and specific actions to meet those objectives?

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What types of action has Nelson Mandela used? What are the objectives and specific actions to meet those objectives?

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After Mandela joined the African National Congress Party (ANC) in the early 1940s, he participated in peaceful protests and armed resistances to fight for the apartheid movement the current government believed in, which was the ideology that racially divided South Africa. Mandela’s effort in leading peaceful protests and armed resistances is a prime example of agitate.

The main objectives of the ANC, was to fight for human rights and stop the white minority’s oppressive regime and the apartheid movement they believed in. After the Afrikaner-dominated national party won the election in 1948, Mandela’s commitment grew as they introduced a system of racial injustice and segregation, known as apartheid. It restricted non-whites basic rights as well as barring them from the government.

Mandela and the ANC led boycotts, strikes, and civil disobedience, as well as other peaceful and nonviolent protests to fight for basic rights for all South Africans. Since Mandela led the ANC and advocated for human rights by peaceful protests.

Mandela also left the country in 1960 when the government banned the ANC to gain support and educate the public (History.com).

Photo courtesy of The National

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How successful has Nelson Mandela been in creating change? What criteria will be used to justify this success? 

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How successful has Nelson Mandela been in creating change? What criteria will be used to justify this success? 

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Nelson Mandela and the ANC has been very successful in eliminating racial discrimination and prejudice in South Africa that took place for over 300 years. After being released from prison in 1990 by South African president F.W de Klerk, where he served 27 years of a supposedly life sentence, Mandela was being praised as a hero. Working with Klerk, Mandela was successful in eliminating discrimination and abolishing apartheid in 1991, and Mandela was elected president in their first ever multiracial election.

Nelson Mandela’s success can be justified by his lifelong journey and dedication to eliminate apartheid and racial discrimination in South Africa. Mandela’s effort will be praised as one who have led a revolution of change, as his leadership has transitioned South Africa from a state of racial discrimination and prejudice, into a new country with equal rights. Despite being constantly put down and imprisoned for 27 years, his resiliency to continue fighting for human rights have been highly successful. Mandela is now known not only for being the first black South African president, but also for his role in eliminating racial discrimination and bringing democracy into South Africa. Nelson Mandela is an excellent example of someone who has led change for better, as he has built commitment, raised awareness, increased understanding and generated action (BBC).

Barack Obama visiting Nelson Mandela's prison cell.
Photo courtesy of Pete Souza/ Twitter, businessinsider.com

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“Almost till His Death, Mandela Remained on the US Terrorism Watch List.” Public Radio International, www.pri.org/stories/2013-12-06/almost-till-his-death-mandela-remained-us-terrorism-watch-list.

“Apartheid: The Beginning, What Happened, And When It Ended.” BuzzSouthAfrica, 26 Mar. 2018, buzzsouthafrica.com/apartheid/.

Díaz, Beatriz. “Mandela's Fight for Freedom in South Africa | BBVA.” NEWS BBVA, BBVA, 10 May 2017, www.bbva.com/en/mandelas-fight-freedom-south-africa/.

Editors, History.com. “Nelson Mandela.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 9 Nov. 2009, www.history.com/topics/africa/nelson-mandela.

Elliott, Josh K. “Why Anti-Apartheid Hero Nelson Mandela Was Once Labelled a Terrorist.” Global News, 27 Apr. 2019, globalnews.ca/news/5201623/nelson-mandela-apartheid-terrorist-south-africa/.

“Madiba Asked to Refuse Nobel Prize.” ENCA, 9 Dec. 2013, www.enca.com/south-africa/madiba-pressured-refuse-nobel-prize.

Sahoboss. “A History of Apartheid in South Africa.” South African History Online, 17 Jan. 2019, www.sahistory.org.za/article/history-apartheid-south-africa.

Szoldra, Paul. “Inside The Tiny Prison Cell That Held Nelson Mandela For Nearly 20 Years.” Business Insider, Business Insider, 5 Dec. 2013, www.businessinsider.com/nelson-mandel-prison-cell-2013-12.

The National. “Timeline and Pictures: Milestones in Life of South Africa's Nelson Mandela.” The National, The National, 6 Dec. 2013, www.thenational.ae/world/timeline-and-pictures-milestones-in-life-of-south-africa-s-nelson-mandela-1.313677.

“Timeline – Nelson Mandela Foundation.” Nelson Mandela Foundation, www.nelsonmandela.org/content/page/timeline.

“Why Was Nelson Mandela Important? - CBBC Newsround.” BBC News, BBC, www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/25263229.