Carlo Campanini
Ms. Widmer
English
28 October 2016
Inspirational Figure Essay Throughout the course of history, there have been many inspirational figures that have helped shape the world. One of those figures is former South African president and civil rights activist, Nelson Mandela. In a time in South Africa known as apartheid, literally meaning separateness, which was a legislatively backed system of racial segregation in South Africa, very similar to the segregation in the United States in the twentieth century. Nelson Mandela made many sacrifices on his way to establishing equality for every man, woman, and child in South Africa, but he was ready to make those sacrifices in order to reach his goal.
One of the biggest sacrifices Nelson Mandela had to make was giving up his freedom and going to prison. Mandela spent a grand total of 27 years in prison, and the notorious Robben Island Prison is where he stayed for his first 18. Located off the coast of one of South Africa’s three capitals, Cape Town, Robben Island had previously been used …show more content…
He was imprisoned for 27 years, an amount of time that is unfathomable to some. Soon after release, he became the first president of South Africa in an election in which all South African votes were cast. He committed himself to the struggle to obtain equality for everyone in South Africa, stating that he would be willing to die for the ideal of a democratic and free society. Mandela is truly inspirational due to his willingness to die for his beliefs, the sacrifices he made including his personal freedom, as well as being there for his children to help them grow and develop, and finally for his ability to forgive his oppressors. Without Nelson Mandela, not only would South Africa not be the same, but the world would not as
Ms. Widmer
English
28 October 2016
Inspirational Figure Essay Throughout the course of history, there have been many inspirational figures that have helped shape the world. One of those figures is former South African president and civil rights activist, Nelson Mandela. In a time in South Africa known as apartheid, literally meaning separateness, which was a legislatively backed system of racial segregation in South Africa, very similar to the segregation in the United States in the twentieth century. Nelson Mandela made many sacrifices on his way to establishing equality for every man, woman, and child in South Africa, but he was ready to make those sacrifices in order to reach his goal.
One of the biggest sacrifices Nelson Mandela had to make was giving up his freedom and going to prison. Mandela spent a grand total of 27 years in prison, and the notorious Robben Island Prison is where he stayed for his first 18. Located off the coast of one of South Africa’s three capitals, Cape Town, Robben Island had previously been used …show more content…
He was imprisoned for 27 years, an amount of time that is unfathomable to some. Soon after release, he became the first president of South Africa in an election in which all South African votes were cast. He committed himself to the struggle to obtain equality for everyone in South Africa, stating that he would be willing to die for the ideal of a democratic and free society. Mandela is truly inspirational due to his willingness to die for his beliefs, the sacrifices he made including his personal freedom, as well as being there for his children to help them grow and develop, and finally for his ability to forgive his oppressors. Without Nelson Mandela, not only would South Africa not be the same, but the world would not as