Nelson Mandela Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 3

Nelson Mandela - Essay Example On March 21, 1960, 69 unarmed citizens were murdered by the police as they were peacefully protesting against the pass laws in Sharpeville. This changed the political climate in the country. It resulted in the country’s first state of emergency. The Pan African Congress and the ANC were halted. Thousands of South Africans including Mandela and his friends were detained during the declared state of emergency. Mandela was sentenced to life imprisonment for fighting the apartheid. During his trial, he divorced his wife and got married to a Winnie Madikizela. They were blessed with two girls. They later on divorced in 1996. He spent 27 years of his lifetime in jail. He was freed in 1990. Upon his freedom from jail, he continued his fight against racial segregation and inequality. He also fought against the violence that was growing in South Africa. Mandela was honored with the Nobel Prize in 1993. In 1994, South Africa had its first ever democratic and fair election in which every one was given the opportunity to vote. He came out the victor and was the President. In his time as the President, he advocated for reconciliation, peaceful resolution of grievances by the citizens after years of autocratic laws against South Africans. Most people believe that without Mandela’s leadership, South Africa would probably have slipped into a bloody social war. He served until 1999 but refused to go for a second term. On April 27th, South Africa celebrates Freedom Day to signify their first ever democratic election.