On February 11, 1990, Nelson Mandela was released from prison after 27 years. Mandela was arrested for many reasons – standing up for segregation was one of those reasons. Segregation has always been a part of our society. Nelson Mandela, a strong anti-apartheid activist, wanted to put a stop to this segregation in South Africa. For many, this act would be stupid, but to Mandela this was the most important thing that needed to end. He was thrown into prison for 27 years for standing up to something that is ruining this world.

            Nelson Mandela was born on July 18 of 1918. He soon became a very important figure in South Africa for his brave acts of standing up for the right thing- putting a stop to segregation amongst blacks in his country. When Mandela was younger he created a vision which was one day putting a stop to all the separation and wrong mistreating of his own people. He had a vision of making a difference.  Mandela became something called an anti-apartheid which solely means a system or policy that practiced segregation. As Mandela grew up, his interest for politics grew as well. He became involved politics and joined the National Congress in 1944. Little did Mandela know, his love for politics and standing up for what was right would get him in deep trouble (Findlay and Macdonald 8).

            Mandela was imprisoned for several different charges. On January 11, 1962, Mandela left the country to form a group of men that would help him follow through with his “guerrilla warfare” plan - an attack he planned to eliminate the white government and punish them for what they were doing.  He then returned to South Africa in July and was sentenced to prison for five years for leaving the country without permission and no passport on November 7 of 1962. On August 5, 1962 Mandela was arrested for treason against the white government in South Africa. It was said that he and his men went through with the “guerrilla warfare” plan (Findlay and Macdonald 8) against the white government because of their malicious acts against the blacks. Mandela was then sentenced for another five years in prison for “inciting a workers’ strike” (Findlay and Macdonald 8). Mandela was imprisoned for the wrong reasons. Mandela only wanted to see and bring peace among the white government and the blacks. He paid the consequences for wanting to do something good in this broken world. Mandela was sent to Robben Island to serve life in prison. There Mandela was mistreated. He had very little to no food, a bed made out of straw, and his privileges were basically taken away from him. During his imprisonment he lost both his mother and his son and he was not allowed to attend their funeral. He had permission to write one letter a month. Mandela was harassed by several white guards – both verbally and physically. Mandela was not only starved with very little rights, but he was also mandated to work in a rock quarry every day, which soon led to his damaged eyesight. Mandela was released from prison after 27 years on February 11th of 1990. Mandela was arrested for wanting to bring harmony and peace into South Africa. He wanted the white government to stop the mistreating of not only Nelson Mandela, himself, but also the rest of the blacks that lived in South Africa. Mandela, in his point of view, only did what he thought was right. He stood up against those who were segregating a population for the color of a person’s skin.  In the words of Nelson Mandela:

"The time comes in the life of any nation when there remain only two choices – submit or fight. That time has now come to South Africa. We shall not submit and we have no choice but to hit back by all means in our power in defense of our people, our future, and our freedom.” (Carter par.28)

Mandela specifically stated that he was not submitting to the violent acts of the white government. He was going to fight back for the equality of his people and bring peace and harmony back into South Africa.

            Mandela not only impacted South Africa, but also the world around us. His abuse and neglect during his imprisonment impacted everyone. He was harassed for a change he wanted to see. He was denied the permission to grieve and attend the funeral of the ones he so preciously loved and being away from those we love is hard. He was starved and mandated to work so hard that it damaged his eyesight permanently. This big news hit us like a ton of bricks – back then and today. Who could be so cruel in doing something to a person who only wants to bring peace into the world and change the world for the good? Mandela taught us how to persevere if we want to see change in this world. He taught us that even though standing up for what we believed in may bring us consequences the right thing to do was always the best thing to do, especially if it was defending your own race. His imprisonment caused many marches and protests in Washington D.C., as stated in this quote by Charles Ogletree:

"We had marches day after day, thousands of people got arrested in Washington, D.C.," civil rights attorney Charles Ogletree said. "They were all released and ultimately not charged with any offense. Because it was a national issue -- black, white, male, female, people on the left and right, everybody was involved in it." (Carter par. 10)

Because of Nelson Mandela, today’s pop culture is different as well. Many films were created about civil rights and the right of the blacks. Films were created about the equality that Mandela wholeheartedly fought for.

“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.” (“Nelson Mandela’s Speech” par. 27)

Mandela was not only ready to stand up for equality, but he was also ready to die for it if he needed to. He was a hero to both African Americans and Americans. He will always be the legacy that will be looked up to for showing compassion and forgiveness to those who did him wrong.

            1990 marked the end of Mandela’s harsh and uncalled for prison term, but it was not the end of his impact on this broken world. Nelson Mandela turned this world upside down the good way. Maybe not entirely all the way, but he made such a huge impact on this world. For example, he gave more rights to blacks while he was imprisoned at Robben Island. He brought blacks into music and movies. He gave blacks opportunities that they never had back then – such as having a black president. Because of him, so much has changed today. Mandela brought some sort of peace and equality into this world. He taught us to persevere, even if it brings consequences. He taught us to stand up for what is right. To always fight for the peace and harmony of this world because without it, this world is nothing. Mandela changed the way pop culture was. Mandela stood up for what was right and was imprisoned unjustly for that, but because of the wrong doing of the white government, he is now a legacy that will not be forgotten and a legacy that will always be looked up to and admired.

 

Works Cited

 

Carter, Chelsea J. "Nelson Mandela: His Impact on

     American Activism, Politics and Pop

  Culture." CNN. Cable News Network. 6 Dec. 2013.

  Accessed 19 Sept. 2016.

 

 

Findlay, Stephanie M., and Nancy Macdonald.

     "Freedom Fighter." Maclean’s. 16 Jan. 2013: 8-

  30. Masterfile Premier.  Accessed 20 Sept. 2016.

 

"Nelson Mandela’s Speech 'I Am Prepared to Die.'"

     SBS News. 6 Dec. 2013. Accessed 19

  Sept. 2016.

 

"Nelson Mandela Released from Prison."

     History.com. A&E Television Networks.  

     Accessed 19  September 2016.