Half Nelson

This milestone in history inspired many blacks who have been defeated that anything can happen if you fight for it without the use of violence, being compassionate and kind, working hard for what is right. I ask questions like what if Nelson Mandela didn’t become president of South Africa? What if he didn’t fight for what it is right? Would slavery still exist? Asking myself these questions remind me of the journey to freedom and major change. Without people willing to fight, we will…

Steps to Freedom Nelson Mandela once said, “There is no easy walk to freedom anywhere, and many of us will have to pass through the valley of the shadow of death again and again until we reach the mountain tops of our desires.” (BrainyQuote) Politically an African nationalist and democratic socialist, Nelson Mandela, in his speech, “I Am Prepared to Die,” justifies the wrongful accusations he faced during his law-breaking years to create a racialism free country. Mandela’s purpose is to protect…

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Desmond Tutu hold different beliefs on how to achieve justice for all. In his letter, “Letter From A Birmingham Jail”, Martin Luther King, Jr. implies that the nonviolent method is the ideal strategy to gain justice for all. On the other hand, Desmond Tutu, in the excerpt, No Future without Forgiveness, claims that forgiveness is the way to achieve justice for all because it helps create a better future. While both methods are uniquely effective, Dr. King’s…

World War II and the atrocities that occurred due to the overbearingly anti-Semitic ideals of the German government and its social majority made the world hypersensitive to other acts of subjugation based on race in years following. The issue of racist legislation in South Africa was brought to, and discussed in, the United Nations in 1952, 6 years after India first voiced its concerns for the treatment of Indian people living in the nation. The South African government objected to any UN…

Through this term, newly elected President Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu encouraged people to embrace all races and backgrounds of people. Nevertheless, they recognized these distinguishing features as a unique and rare opportunity for unity. Mandela’s vision to live in a society where…

The demise of the Soviet Union would seem to be a victory for the Soviet West because they had lived under the communist rule for so long they did know realize how different their lives were than their eastern counterparts. When The East was eventually allowed to cross the boarders into the West, many people realized that their visitors, who were all doing well off financially, had a better standard of living than they had. While one would think this was a victory for the West, it was not a…

thought that was an interesting comment and I am still wondering what happened to the statue that was taken down. I believe I read on the Mail and Guardian how there was another Cecil Rhodes statue near a government building and how it was replaced by Nelson Mandela after his death. I am not sure what the best solution is, but I am glad the college students at UCT were able to do something about the Cecil Rhodes statue because of the imperialism it represented.…

My Traitor’s Heart by Rian Malan continuously explores the contrast between the white South African and black South African experiences. The Braaivleis initially is presented as a “profound cultural ritual” (107) started by early Afrikaner settlers. This piece of culture proves very important because it is an essential piece of the beginnings of white settlers history in South Africa. However, the contrasting experiences that Malan frames the Braaivleis with provides perspective into the true…

Lorenzo’s Odone, a young intelligent boy who lived in Comoro Island. Comoro Island is a volcanic island situated off the south east coast of Africa. Lorenzo’s family stayed there because of his dad Augusto Odone’s job. Lorenzo had many friends there including his best friend Omouri. Lorenzo, his mother Michaela and his dad Augusto moved back to the United States. Michela and Lorenzo’s teachers started seeing strange things Lorenzo would do. Lorenzo would through fits and get angry out of nowhere…

Nelson Mandela was born in the village of Mvezo, on the eastern coast of South Africa, on 18 July 1918. In 1930, when he was only 12 years old, his father died, leaving him to depend on his mother. Mandela was brought up listening to the elders’ stories of his ancestor’s bravery during times of war, sparking a fire in him to contribute to the freedom struggle of his people. Nelson Mandela would go to on boycott his university, because of its treatment of colored people. He would eventually be…