Hard Copy # 2
"During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to this struggle of the African people. I have
fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. 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 to achieve. But, if it needs be, it is an ideal for which I am
prepared to die." This is a quote from a speech that Nelson Mandela made during his defence at
the Rivonia Trials in 1963.
Born Rolihlahla (means; stirring up trouble) Mandela on July 18th, 1918 in Qunu, Africa,
to a family of seven. His father, Henry, was the chief of Tembu Tribe. Mandela was trained to
become the next chief to rule his father's tribe when Henry passed away but he was also a
determined student. Mandela was the only one out of seven children in his family to attend an
educational institution.
English: Pile of rocks started by Nelson Mandela a...
English: Nelson Mandela's prison cell on Robben Is...
English: Nelson Mandela in Johannesburg, Gauteng, ...He attended Healdtown Methodist Boarding School where his teacher
gave him the English name of 'Nelson.' Nelson later left the Methodist School to attend the
University of Fort Hare, where he began his Bachelor of Arts degree. While attending Fort Hare,
he was elected onto the Student's Representative Council. Nelson joined in a campaign that
turned into a boycott and was expelled due to his course of actions. Soon after, he completed his
Bachelor of Arts by correspondence at Johannesburg and then enrolled for law school at the
University of Witwartersrand. While attending law school he worked as both a police officer and
miner.
At the height of the Second World War, Nelson, along with many others joined together
under the leadership of Anton Lembede to form the African National Congress Youth League
(ANCYL) which...