Chris Dobek

Chris Dobek Mrs. Kuppe Global leadership 1/12/14

Mandela: The Man

To be a leader, you have to be determined, confident, and a visionary, willing to make sacrifices for the good of those you lead.

Nelson Mandella studied law in college. While studying, he became involved with movements against racial discrimination and joined the African National Congress. It was through these experiences that he was introduced to the system of racial classification and segregation. He became more active and determined to make a change in the world, along with the other activists, black and white. Relationships were created while practicing peaceful protests and armed resistance against the minority, in the racially decided South Africa. For his actions, he was imprisoned for nearly three decades, sparking the Anti-Apartheid Movement, not only in his country, but also internationally. While imprisoned for 27 years in Robbin Island Prison, Mandela remained the symbolic leader of the movement against South Africa's Regime. Mandela was offered freedom in many occasions. All came at the cost of compromising his political beliefs, including renouncing violence and Transkei Bantustan, the first of four territories to declare independence from South Africa. He remained strong, and imprisoned, rejecting these deals, holding on to his beliefs. In 1990, he was released, attained his freedom to lead the governing national party and other national organizations to end Apartheid. On April 26, 1994, Nelson Mandela ran for President and over 22 million South Africans went to the ballots in the first multi-racial election in history. On May 10, 1994, he was sworn in as the first black President of South Africa. As President, he continued to remain true and continued to make positive changes in the world.

Chris Dobek
As part of his presidency, Mandela established a a truth and reconciliation commission to investigate human rights violations by both supporters and opponents. He presided over a new enactment of the new South African Constitution and make a strong central government centered on majority rule and prohibited description incrimination against minorities. He didn't stop there and continued to improve race relations by introducing interracial images and working towards a united South Africa. Blacks and whites were encouraged to rally around the National Rugby World Cup. In 1999, Nelson Mandela retired from his presidency and politics. He remained devoted to peace and social justice in his country and around the world, working for peace, freedom, and human rights. On December 5th, 2013, Nelson Mandela passed away at the age of 95. He was quoted as saying, "When people are determined, they can overcome anything". He is a man who truly was and truly did. It was his pure vision, confidence and determination that made him a strong leader, followed by not only his countrymen, but people the world over.