Nelson Mandela Essay

The world principaler I have chosen to write about is Nelson MandelaNelson Mandelas rise in the political arena can be traced back to his old age as one of the leading members of the African subject area Congress, differently known as the ANC, beginning in 1944 (Mandela, 2009). The ANC was one of the oldest South African civil rights unions. The unions primary purpose, the freedom and equal rights of all baleful citizens from the practice of apartheidSouth Africas wherefore legalized form of racismwas a natural draw for Mandela.Mr. Mandela describes in his own words the deciding moment when he joined the ANC I had no epiphany, no singular revelation, no moment of truth, but a steady accumulation of a curtilage slights, a thousand indignities, a thousand unremembered moments, that produced in me an anger, a rebelliousness, a desire to fight the system that imprisoned my people (Mandela, 2009). Mandelas desire and drive helped sustain him in the difficult years ahead. After joi ning the ANC and creating its first youth league (Mandela, 2009). Mandela went on to organize many peaceful protests and civil disobedience demonstrations throughout a good deal of the country.Growing in popularity, these campaigns were eventually deemed illegal by the National Partythe white supremacist government in power at the timeand ultimately led to the irons of Mandela in 1962 (Mandela, 2009). Although many people advocated for his release throughout the years, it was from his own prison cell twenty years later when Nelson Mandela finally negotiated his own freedom and began the long, tedious, notwithstanding peaceful process of creating a new government for the South African people. Working together with South Africas new president, F.W. de Klerk, Mandela negotiated heroically in the macrocosm of a new and non-discriminatory government.The 2 men made history on September 26, 1992 when they signed the Record of Understanding, a document formalizing their agreement to c reate a new, non-racial, democratic government freely elected by the people (Mandela, 2009). Nelson Mandela went on to become the first freely elected President of South Africa and continued the firmly work of rebuilding his country. He served his presidency for five years, stepping down from politics in 1999. Although removed from public office, Mandela continued toadvocate for issues important to his country issues such(prenominal) as AIDS, poverty, and human rights. Again, Nelson Mandela worked tirelessly on behalf of his people, receiving numerous rewards throughout the years, until he formally retired from public life in 2004 (Mandela, 2009).As a result of his lifes work, Nelson Mandela forever changed the social view and practice of apartheid in his country. Politically, his efforts resulted in the first non-discriminatory, democratic (majority rule) government for South Africa. Therefore, I find these to be the two most(prenominal) significant social and political changes t hat occurred as a result of Nelson Mandela. Task B.The individual I have chosen to write about is Martin Luther mogul, juniorDr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was known as a religious reformer and civil rights activist who rose to greatness during the civil rights figureheads of the United States.Dr. King began his career as a civil rights activist in 1956 (About Dr. King, n.d.) when he was hired as a spokesman for the Montgomery Bus Boycott a campaign organized and fully back up by the black community of Montgomery in protest of the segregation of the city bus lines. This boycott, which lasted for 381 days, ended successfully with the U.S. Supreme Court ruling declaring racial segregation in public transportation unconstitutional (About Dr. King, n.d.). This landmark protest would prove to be but one of the many successful campaigns Dr. King would lead throughout his lifetime.In 1958, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) elected Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as their pre sident (About Dr. King, n.d.). The SCLCs mission of providing guidance to the growing civil rights movement (occurring throughout much of the south) served as the perfect platform for Dr. Kings message. From here, Dr. King would go on to organize many campaigns, most of them occurring in Birmingham, Alabama, then described as the most segregated city in America (About Dr. King, n.d.).Drawing from the nonviolent teachings of Mohandas Gandhi, Dr. Kings peaceful protests and civil disobedience demonstrations were televised in perfect(a) contrast to the brutality of Birminghams police force. The televised beatings of young black protesters proved too much for the nation to bear, prompting congressto begin legislation on behalf of the civil rights movement in 1962 (About Dr. King, n.d.).Although the Birmingham demonstrations led to the writing of his open and now famous Letter from Birmingham Jail an articulate, well written manifesto of Dr. Kings beliefs and actions (About Dr. King, n. d.), time would show that Martin Luther King, Jr.s greatest moments were still to come. In 1963 Dr. King gathered more than a quarter-million people to Washington D.C.s National Mall for the March for Jobs and Freedom, now commonly referred to as the March on Washington (About Dr. King, n.d.)It was here that Dr. King delivered his legendary I Have a envisage speech, firmly placing himself on the world stage as a social and political leader, as well as becoming the youngest man30 years of age to receive the Nobel Peace. As a result of all the publicity Dr. King drew to the civil rights movement, congress shortly passed the historical 1964 civic Rights Act, and soon after the 1965 Voting Rights Act (About Dr. King, n.d.) sweeping legislation declaring it illegal to discriminate against blacks or any other minority people, and removing any obstacles obscuring blacks of their right to vote.After the passage of the Civil Rights Act, Dr. King carried on with his work, choosing to focus on economic justice and international peace. Tragically, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated while visiting a motel in Memphis on April 4, 1968 (About Dr. King, n.d.).Through his work, Dr. King introduced our country to the practice of nonviolent demonstrations, socially changing the way many people participate in protests even today. Due in part to his nonviolent campaigns, Dr. Kings efforts resulted in the passing of the Civil Rights Acts, one of the most significant political changes occurring in the history of our country. Therefore, I find these to be the two most significant social and political changes resulting from the actions of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.