Nelson Mandela: Fighting for
Freedom
Nelson Mandela (birth name - Rolihlahla Mandela) was
born in 1918 in a small village called Mvezo, in South
Africa. He became one of the most famous leaders in the
world because of his long struggle against apartheid.
Apartheid was a system of institutionalized racial
segregation and discrimination enforced by the white
minority government in South Africa and South West
Africa (present-day Namibia) from 1948 to the early 1990s.
The term, meaning “separateness” in Afrikaans, refers to
the laws and practices that segregated South African
society based on race, denying political, social, and
economic rights to non-whites. He spent his life fighting for
justice, equality, and freedom for all people in his country.
As a child, Mandela loved stories of brave African leaders. His father was an advisor to the
local chief, and Mandela was taught to value courage and fairness. He was the first in his
family to go to school. There, a teacher gave him the English name “Nelson.” Later, Mandela
studied law at university and became a lawyer.
In the 1940s and 1950s, Mandela became very active in the African National Congress
(ANC), a political group fighting against apartheid. At first, Mandela believed in peaceful
protest. But when the government used violence to stop protests, Mandela and other leaders
decided they had to fight back. In 1962, he was arrested and later sentenced to life in prison.
He spent 27 years in prison, much of it on Robben Island, in very hard conditions.
During these long years, Mandela became a symbol of hope for millions of South Africans.
Around the world, people protested and asked for his freedom. In prison, Mandela continued
to study and worked to bring people together.
Finally, in 1990, Mandela was released. Four years later, South Africa held its first free
election, and Nelson Mandela became the country’s first Black president. Instead of seeking
revenge, he chose forgiveness and worked to unite the country. He set up the Truth and
Reconciliation Commission to help people face the past and heal together.
Mandela believed that education, understanding, and peace were the best tools for building a
better future. He said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change
the world.” Even after retiring from politics, he continued to fight for children’s rights, health
care, and peace around the world.
Although Nelson Mandela is now seen as a hero around the world, for many years he was a
controversial figure. The South African government and its allies called him a terrorist
because he supported armed resistance against apartheid after peaceful protests were crushed.
Even some countries in the West were unsure how to view him. For example, the United
States kept him on its official list of “terrorists” until 2008, long after he became South
Africa’s president. Mandela himself always explained that he chose peaceful methods first,
but when those failed, he felt there was no other choice but to fight for freedom. Later, he
worked for peace and unity, showing that true leadership is about knowing when to forgive.
Nelson Mandela died in 2013 at the age of 95. Today, he is remembered not just as a great
leader, but as a man of wisdom, courage, and kindness. His life teaches us that with hope and
determination, it is possible to change the world.
Vocabulary List
1. Apartheid (n.) – A system of racial separation used in the past.
2. Discrimination (n.) – Unfair treatment of people because of their race, gender,
religion, etc.
3. Equality (n.) – The state where everyone has the same rights and opportunities.
4. Peaceful protest (n.) – A protest without violence.
5. Symbol (n.) – A person or thing that represents an important idea.
6. Forgiveness (n.) – The act of stopping anger toward someone who has done wrong.
7. Reconciliation (n.) – Bringing people together again after a conflict.
8. Heal (v.) – To make something better or healthy again.
9. Determination (n.) – The strong will to keep trying to do something difficult.
10. Wisdom (n.) – Deep understanding and good judgment.
Comprehension Questions
1. Where was Nelson Mandela born, and what did he learn as a child?
2. What was apartheid, and why did Mandela fight against it?
3. What group did Mandela join to fight for freedom?
4. Why was Mandela arrested and sent to prison?
5. How long did Mandela stay in prison, and where?
6. What did Mandela become a symbol of during his prison years?
7. What happened in South Africa in 1994?
8. How did Mandela choose to lead the country after apartheid ended?
9. What famous quote did Mandela say about education?
10. How is Mandela remembered today?
