Why Was Nelson Mandela A Hero

Nelson Mandela was a protester, prisoner, and peacemaker. He was a hero for South African non-whites by getting rid of the apartheid system. He is also a heroic figure to others for achieving what had accomplished. Mandela was born in Transkei, South Africa on July 18th, 1918. His father died when he was young, and afterwards Mandela was raised by Jongintaba, the regent of the Tembu. When he was an young adult, he attended South African Native college. After that, he wanted to become to become a lawyer, so he studies law at the University of Witwatersrand. The apartheid system is the policies of racial segregation and discrimination against nonwhites in South Africa. The word means separateness. It started in 1948, when the National Party intensified existing segregation policies. In 1949 and 1950, they grew with the Prohibition of Mixed Marriages Act and the Immorality Act. The apartheid was greater strengthened in 1950 with the Population Registration Act which made citizens either Bantu (black

For example, he risked being put in prison to protest against the apartheid system. He also risked what some people would think of him while he ran for president after he got out of prison. He fought for what he believed in. Not a lot of people to do this, so for him doing this for as long as he did makes him a hero. “ If Nelson Mandela didn’t stand up for what he believed in, South Africa might be a very different country to what it is today.” (Nelson Mandela, Megan W.) Him fighting for what he believed in, even after going to prison is inspiration to many others to fight for what they believe them. This also makes him a hero, because heroes inspire others to take action as well. He also saved people from living under the apartheid system longer, and gaining them freedom. Nelson Mandela and president de Klerk were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, in 1933 for