Good Bye, Madiba
Nelson Mandela was the first black president of South Africa. He spent 27 years in prison for trying to put a government that rejected black people to an end. This government was all white people. They prohibited black people to vote, going to a quality school, going out at night, living in neighborhoods where white people lived, etc. This system of government that separated white from black people was called Apartheid.
He was in prison from 1962 to 1990. He was condemned to do hard labor and also was allowed to have one visitor every six months. After he was set free, he
fought to achieve the human rights and a better future for everyone
(white people included) in South Africa.
Mandela became president of South Africa in 1994, and retired in 1999. He became famous worldwide for his long fight against racial prejudice. Many people consider him as a hero. While he was South Africa's president, he was respected for his courage in bringing people together to live in peace.
He was awarded with the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993. Mandela wrote a book about his struggle called 'Long walk to freedom'. From 2004, he gave up politics to live a quiet life with his family. He has died at the age of 95.
He has been so important in fighting for peace that the United Nations (UN) declared his birthday, July 18, Nelson Mandela International Day. It's the first time the UN dedicated a particular day to a person.
