Nelson Mandela
Anti-Apartheid Revolutionary & President of South Africa
Why They Changed Society
Nelson Mandela's life is one of the most extraordinary stories of the 20th century. Imprisoned for 27 years for opposing apartheid, he emerged without bitterness to negotiate the peaceful end of racial segregation in South Africa. As president, he chose reconciliation over retribution, establishing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and preventing the civil war that many predicted. He proved that a society divided by decades of institutionalized racism could transition to democracy peacefully. Mandela demonstrated that moral authority, forgiveness, and an unwavering commitment to justice can overcome systems of oppression that seem immovable. His legacy inspired democratic movements across the world.
Impact by the Numbers
27
Years Imprisoned
1994
First Democratic Election
Timeline
Joined the African National Congress and co-founded its Youth League to fight apartheid.
Sentenced to life imprisonment for sabotage, beginning 27 years behind bars.
Released from Victor Verster Prison after 27 years, to worldwide celebration.
Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize jointly with F.W. de Klerk for dismantling apartheid.
Elected as South Africa's first Black president in the country's first fully democratic election.
Key Contributions
End of Apartheid
His lifelong struggle was instrumental in ending South Africa's system of institutionalized racial segregation.
Peaceful Democratic Transition (1994)
Led South Africa's peaceful transition from apartheid to democracy, avoiding the civil war many feared.
Truth and Reconciliation Commission
Established a model for post-conflict justice that chose healing over vengeance, adopted worldwide.
Notable Quotes
“It always seems impossible until it's done.
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.
“No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love.
— Long Walk to Freedom, 1995