What Makes Nelson Mandela a Hero - Essay Example

The system provided inequality among its citizens and blacks were deprived of equal opportunities for work, housing, education, and political power. The apartheid policy which was referred to as “separate development” in 1950 separated the blacks from the whites, enforced segregation in public facilities, and separated educational standards. The mounting pressures from the international community led to the dismantling of the apartheid policy in 1990, and eventually, the release of all black prisoners that included Mandela. (Robinson, Jr. n.d.)
Nelson Mandela was so much opposed to this system and sought to end it by becoming a leader of several groups and movements to go up against the British system. For this, he was charged with activism and treason and was sentenced to life imprisonment. Several times, he was offered his freedom in exchange for a promise that he would renounce his anti-apartheid ideals and violence but he refused. When he was released from prison on February 11, 1990, it was shown that he and his delegation agreed to the suspension of the armed struggle.
Robinson, n.d. said that when the South African Constitution was reformed in 1994, a general free election was held wherein; Mandela was the first democratically elected President of South Africa who served the country from May 10, 1994, to June 1999. His term legally ended the apartheid policy and put racial discrimination to rest.


In what ways did the efforts of Gandhi affect Mandela?

Mandela was influenced by Mahatma Gandhi because of the parallelism in their beliefs on freedom struggles through non-violent processes. Although born in India, Mahatma was an adopted citizen of South Africa and was one of those who shaped the liberation movement. Mandela followed Mahatma’s strategy of non-violent protest up to a point when the passive resistance can no longer stand the brute force of the oppressor. At first, sabotage was used because it did not mean loss of life, but later on, they used militant force because Mandela believed that “force is the only language that imperialist can hear; and that no country became free who did not use force”. Mahatma also conceded to arms when necessary. Mahatma said: "Where choice is set between cowardice and violence, I would advise violence... I prefer to use arms in defense of honor rather than remain the vile witness of dishonor ..." Violence and nonviolence are not mutually exclusive; it is the predominance of the one or the other that labels a struggle. (“A tribute to Nelson Mandela” 2011)

What parallels can be drawn between Mandela and Martin Luther King, Jr.?

The two shared the same vision of the emancipation of the blacks in their own countries; the blacks in South Africa, and the blacks in America. They are both aspirants of non-violent demonstrations or protests and have gathered inspiration from Mahatma Gandhi. Both succumbed to prosecutions, and arrests and were subjected to personal abuse. Nonetheless, they were unaffected by the pursuits of government authorities and emerged as leaders of the people, steadfast in their desire for the equality of men. Martin Luther King was recognized for his efforts in the civil rights movement, while Mandela was justified when he was elected as President of South Africa. Both were recognized as Nobel Prize winners for their effort to attain the equality of man.
The boycott on buses led by Martin King Luther that lasted for 382 days ended the segregation of colors on buses; he won the right to vote for Negroes; spoke to as many as twenty-five thousand times and wrote several articles about his cause. His works were widely recognized by people around the world and Martin Luther King called a “coalition of conscience”. The strategies of Martin Luther King are somewhat related to Mandela’s protests as he led national campaigns and sabotage against government and economic installations. Read More