By: Nadia Warab, Freshman
“A winner is a dreamer who never gives up,” said Nelson Mandela. Those words inspired the world. I did not know who he was when I was younger, but I often heard that quote in texts. It was not until December 5, 2013 that I learned his name, when old footage of him appeared on national television as everyone honored his death.
He was an activist known by his clan name Madiba. In 1993, he won the Nobel Peace Prize. By 1994, he was elected president. Mandela was a philanthropist best known for his movements against apartheid in South Africa. By doing so, he helped end the segregation apartheid laws that existed between the black majority and white minority. He proved himself to be a brave and dedicated leader, who survived getting arrested and jailed for 27 years.
He especially showed his strength when his sons, Thembekile and Ndaba Mandela, died before him.
Madiba continued to be an inspirational icon to many other leaders such as, African-American civil right activist, Martin Luther King, Jr. Mandela, himself, found motivation in Indian anti-colonial leader Mohandas Gandhi. He believed in Gandhi’s idea of non-violence, which he named satyagraha, or “Truth Force.”
To be a leader is not about power; it is about doing what is right for people. It is about helping them find the oasis in the mind’s desert. Nelson Mandela is an individual who portrays those characteristics, so if you ever wonder why he is dear to many Africans, just remember that his efforts changed not only South Africa, but also the whole world.