We were wondering how Nelson Mandela fought against the unequal laws that the White Government forced upon their Black people during the time of the apartheid in South Africa. So we google searched Nelson Mandela's fight for equality for his nation. We came up with this information that blew our minds. How can one nation think that they are much better than another nation? "Who do they think they are?" asked Sahil. "That's totally unfair!" cried the girls. Good job Mandela -Viva Mandela.
It so happened that the White govt who was running the country at that time made a law to suit themselves which was that people of different skin colour were to be treated in a different way. "There is a name for that -its called discrimination or racism! " said Angele.
We found out that while the Whites got the cream of the crop opportunities, to go to expensive schools, buy houses near the splendid beaches and also hold the best white-collared jobs that earned them good salaries to maintain their high standard of living, the poor Black people were treated like underdogs or slaves and they were considered not clever and so got low-paid cleaning jobs in the homes the White people. But Mandela working as a black lawyer took drastic action to end this apartheid and racism act and make it clear to the South African govt that Enough was Enough and that they would no longer tolerate this racist segregation in their own native land. After all South Africa belonged to the native Black people. We were all fired up with strong feelings of 'how unfair' that was.
We also found out in our inquiry that Mandela was an important ANC member who protested against Group Areas Act of racial segregation where people of the same coloured skin were separated and fenced off by either a natural boundary like a river or hill or mountain or by a man- made wall or fence. So Mandela and his followers started blowing up govt building during the night when people were not at work in the buildings. He did that to attract the attention of World leaders throughout the world and make them aware of how the White govt were oppressing them.
He was later arrested by police and put in prison on an lonely island, called St Helena Island off the mainland of Cape Province in SA. Mandela stayed in prison for 27 long years but instead of feeling sorry for himself, he used that time in prison to further his study to become an attorney with the help from leaders from overseas/foreign countries.
Then in 1994 while De Klerk was in office as the White president, he realised that the apartheid system was actually crippling and harming the country's Foreign Business and Trading as well as the Sporting Industries. Overseas/foreign countries like Europe and NZ had banned or boycotted S Africans from taking part in Business and Trading and world Sports tournaments like rugby. The president was left with no choice but to put an end to the apartheid laws.
However in order to get rid of the racial discrimination laws that was harming the country's economy and business and trade, they were forced to first release Mandela from St Helena Island prison and give him a leading role in the leading and governing of the Black people of
South Africa.
When asked "What was one of your greatest regrets in the fight for equal rights?"
Mandela answered, "I was not there as a Dad for my children- in fact I was more a stranger to my own kids. I was so focused and busy fighting for the freedom of my people, that I missed my calling or role as a Dad and a husband.
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