A Tribute to Change

Rewind 91 years back in the past. July 18, 1918. Transkei, South Africa: A leader was born. It takes one pair of hands to change the world.

Nelson Mandela has been widely acclaimed for his many distinctions, notably receiving a Novel Prize to merit his great contributions to peace. Eliminating apartheid in South Africa, and becoming the first black president of the country, he has been a true revolutionary, devoted to his cause regardless of the many obstacles that he’s had to endure for his ideal of freedom to prevail.

His path was not short of difficulties. Born into a noble family, the Madiba clan of the Thembu people in a small village in the Eastern Cape of South Africa, Mandela was known as Madiba by his people. Notably, Nelson Mandela was born as Rolihlahla Dalibhunga, and while attending English School he was given the name Nelson, marking his first identity experience with the white regime.

Frustrated with the South African white regime and apartheid from an early age, in 1943, Mandela became part of the African National Congress, initially as an activist, and later as the founder and head of the ANC Youth League. Notably, to further his fight, Mandela became a lawyer in 1952 and opened a practice in Johannesburg with his partner, Oliver Tambo. With joint efforts, Mandela and Tambo led a fight against apartheid, the system headed by the all-white National Party oppressing the black majority.

As a result of his campaign, Mandela faced charges along with 155 other activists. Nevertheless, this did not hinder his efforts, and resistance to apartheid increased, notably, against the Pass laws that determined people’s home locations and employment. However, frightened by the ANC’s growing threat, the white regime outlawed the ANC in 1960. In response, Mandela started employing more risky mechanisms of change. After going underground, Mandela enacted a campaign sabotaging South Africa’s economy, the white regime eventually arresting him for utilizing violence to overthrow the government.

His last words before spending the next 27 years of his life imprisoned were, “I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." In 1964, Mandela was sentenced to life imprisonment for attempting to achieve such an ideal.

Notably, achieving his democratic ideal proved a struggle that Mandela would face for the rest of his life; however, he could take little action from the confines of his prison cell. While in exile, his partner, Tambo, launched an international effort to free Mandela by calling upon the world’s conscience to tighten its sanctions against the South African apartheid. Tambo’s campaign proved successful, as in 1990, President FW de Klerk annulled the band on the ANC, freeing Mandela at last.

Through their joint efforts, Mandela and de Klerk gave birth to a new multi-racial democracy in South Africa, receiving the Nobel Peace Prize for their realization of Mandela’s democratic ideal in 1993. Shortly, during the first full suffrage election, the myriad of colorful South Africans elected Mandela president, making him the first black president of South Africa. Notably, during his presidency, Mandela tackled South African poverty and integrated South Africa into the international community. Successfully guiding the country to a bright future, Mandela retired in 2000, not resigning from his ideal, but passing on the governmental reigns to the younger generations.

Fast forward to July 18. 2009. The world gathered to honor a great man; a man ahead of his time.

A full ninety-one years from Nelson Mandela’s birth, upon the South African Ambassador Baso Sangqu’s suggestion, the United Nations General Assembly declared July 18 the Mandela Day, marking Nelson Mandela’s contribution to world freedom. Accordingly, this past July, the world gathered on the 18th for the first time to honor this leader of change. "It serves as a catalyst for each and every person around the world to realize that they have the ability to change it [the world] through action," Nelson Mandela Foundation's chief executive Achmat Dangor reflected.

Namely, many events took place this past July marking Mandela Day. An online initiative was struck encouraging people to spend 67 minutes contributing to a good cause emanating the 67 years Mandela has spent as an activist. Additionally, a concert in NYC’s Madison Square Garden featuring stars such as Steve Wonder, Alicia Keys, Aretha Franklin and the unforgettable, Carla Bruni, was held to honor this great leader and his dedication to democracy.

“Democracy is unambivalent,” said Belize in Kushner’s Angels in America, which is why we must never forget Mandela’s mission to uphold democracy’s principle. How many more leaders remain locked away in prison cells today? How many more will suffer the same obstacles as Mandela, who solely wished to change the old regime which oppressed his people. Unhesitatingly, the world must never forget its responsibility to foster change and take action to improve the society we live in. In the words of Mandela himself, “It’s in our hands”.