A truly great man of our times - measured against some present day pygmies, he looks even more statesmanlike. There was one man who has been lauded for leading the charge to put an end to apartheid in South Africa, and who then went on to serve as President of South Africa for 5 years after he put an end to it. He is an inspiration to all who knew him and a hero for the ages. Mandela day recalls the life of Nelson Mandela and reminds us of the necessity for strong men and women to stand up against injustice. Nelson Mandela was born in Mvezo in Umata as Rolihlahla, an appropriate forename meaning “troublemaker” in Xhosa. His great-grandfather was Ngubengcuka, King of the Thembu of the Transkeian Territories. Throughout his life he fought as a revolutionary against the terrors of Apartheid, and served time in prison as a result, spending 28 years there before his release in 1990. In 1991 he began his negotiations to end apartheid, finally succeeding in putting an end to it in that year. The rest of his life was spent working to better the lives of people in South Africa and continue to expand civil liberties within the country. He was much beloved by leaders and common people everywhere, and upon his death in 2013. Mandela Day reminds us of the life and times of this hero and the work he did in his life and encourages all of us to continue his good works in our own.
An incredible man. We still need many more like him. You may shoot me with your words, You may cut me with your eyes. You may kill me with your hatefulness, But still, like air, I'll rise. Maya Angelou
