BR1-07 NELSON MANDELA

For the book review last time, I read a biography of Gandhi. Gandhi influenced many great people. Now I'm trying to know about great people so I went to the library and looked for great people's books. This time, I found Nelson Mandela's biography. He was one of the great people who were influenced by Gandhi. I thought his book is perfect for my next book review. That's why I chose this book.

Nelson Mandela was born on July 18th, 1918 in South Africa. He spent a happy childhood with his mother, sisters and father. His father had three other wives. Nelson lived with his father for one week every month. Nelson's father died when he was an early teenager. However, he luckily got good education. When he was 21 years old, he entered an university at Fort Hare. He studied law, politics and English there. After spending three years there, some things happened to him and he run away to Johannesburg. He finished his study at an university there. The next year, he started studying law at Witwatersrand University. He was the only black student there. At the same time, he had to work at a law office and the ANC(African National Congress). Five years later, he quit university. He couldn't finish his study there. He got married to Evelyn Mase on the second year at the university. He had 2 sons and one daughter at that time. He worked very hard and he didn't have time to spend with his children. In 1950, the government made six apartheid laws. ANC leaders organized protest and he was one of the readers. Their protest was not violent but the government got angry and arrested Nelson and other protesters. In 1952, he opened the first law office owned by black lawyers in South Africa. Two years later, he and his friends started a new organization "the Congress of the people" for blacks, Indians and coloured people. They worked for getting the same laws for coloured people as white people. Since then, he made some protests and arrested several times. He was spent about 28 years in prison because of making protests. The life in prison was terrible. In August 1989, the president resigned and F. W. de Klerk became the next president. It was the beginning of the end of apartheid in SA. On February 11th 1990, at last, Nelson freed. He was 71 years old at the time. He visited Europe and North America. He met many world readers there and asked for help and support. The next year, he became the president of ANC. Nelson and de klerk got the Nobel Peace Prize for their achievements at the end of 1993.

Nalson Mandela lived for poor people as Mother Teresa and Gandhi did. How come could they put their hearts and soul into helping poor people. What is the difference between the great people and normal people who live for themselves(including me). Nelson spent more than one third of his life in prison. How could he stay strong? I hope the world become peaceful so that we don't need such great people.
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