How Did Nelson Mandela Fight For Freedom

Imagine foreigners coming to your homeland and immediately begin forcing their racist and injustice ways upon you. For forty-six years during the Apartheid in South Africa, Africans were treated with disrespect and treated inhumanely. 21,000 South Africans lost their lives. A man devoted to his country once said,“The struggle is my life. I will continue fighting for freedom until the end of my days.” - Nelson Mandela. Nelson Mandela showed us that sometimes just one person standing up for freedom can change the world. When the all white National Party gained power in South Africa in 1948 they instantly began enforcing existing policies of racial segregation referred to as Apartheid. Four hundred people died each year during the Apartheid. The Apartheid segregated non whites from other races, not being able to live in the same areas and even having to use separate facilities. Therefore, two years later in 1950, the government had already banned marriages between whites and other races. Sexual relations were …show more content…
He was found guilty of inciting worker’s strikes and conspiracy to violently overthrow the government. For this Nelson Mandela was sentenced life in prison. Many other ANC leaders were also arrested. Nelson Mandela once said, “ Real leaders must be ready to sacrifice all for the freedom of their people”. Even though he was sentenced to life in prison, he was still dedicated in making his country a better place. Being behind bars didn’t stop him from his goals. He never gave up on the struggle. Instead of dwelling on his situation he used jail time as a place of learning. Nelson Mandela spent twenty-seven years of his life in jail and throughout those years they tried to break his will, but Mandela would not give up. He became a symbol both in South Africa and internationally of the struggle of