The Time to Build is Upon Us: How Nelson Mandela’s Words Resonate With Us Today

By NYPL Staff
July 18, 2018
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture

Written By: Jillian Peprah-Frimpong
Pre-Professional, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
Student, New York City Museum School

Today marks the 100th birthday of former South African president and anti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela.

Nelson Mandela by Chester Higgins

Nelson Mandela Portrait Collection.

Photographs and Prints Division,
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.
The New York Public Library,
Astor, Lenox and Tilden Foundations.
©Chester Higgins/che

On July 18, 1918 Nelson Mandela was born as Rolihlahla Mandela in Mvezo, a small village on the eastern cape of South Africa. Mvezo would be the place where Mandela’s rebelliousness would be nurtured before changing the course of South African and global history for the better.

 

As the son of a local chief Gadla Mandela, Nelson Mandela had the opportunity to attend a local Methodist school in Qunu where he was christened “Nelson” by his teacher, Ms. Mdingane. As a young man, Mandela pursued studies in law at the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. Mandela was met with constant discrimination and instances of racism, being the only black South African in his class. The racial tensions he experienced would cause him to participate in school and community protests against white domination in South Africa. Mandela's participation in activism catapulted when he first developed the youth division of the African National Congress, which would later diverge into Pan-African causes. Seeing the youth as a driving force, Mandela mobilized the young African people to oppose racial inequality.

In 1962 the South African government arrested Mandela and charged him with sabotage and conspiracy to overthrow the nation during the Rivonia Trial. He spent a total of 27 years rotating between the Robben Island and Pollsmoor Prison before serving the rest of his time in Victor Verster Prison, where he would organize secret meetings with president of the ANC, Oliver Tambo. While in jail, Mandela penned his groundbreaking autobiography Long Walk to Freedom which detailed his experience in jail, reflected on his boyhood and most importantly his 27 years in prison. The combination of growing international criticism, fear of civil war and the surge of anti-colonial politics, Prez. F. W. De Klerk released Mandela on February 11. He was 71-years-old upon the date of his release.

Quickly after his release, Mandela continued to advocate for the anti- apartheid cause touring and visiting countries to give speeches at rallies against the South African government. His international tours, sponsored by the African National Congress (ANC), generated massive support for the anti-apartheid cause from neighboring African countries, Zambia and Zimbabwe, as well as France, Sweden and the United Kingdom. His work also persuaded diplomats and representatives to support sanctions against the apartheid regime.

Following Mandela’s release, the ANC also quickly began campaigning for Mandela to run for office and opened 100 election offices and forums to rally up support for the free election. The days from April 26 to 29 1994 marked the first democratic election in South Africa permitting black South Africans to vote. In 1994, Mandela, backed by the ANC, won the majority vote by 62% against F.W. De Klerk and Mangosuthu Buthelezi of the Inkatha Freedom Party and became the first black president of South Africa (Listen to Nelson Mandela’s inauguration speech). After becoming president and chief executive of South Africa, Mandela quickly turned his efforts towards racial reconciliation through the Reconstruction and Development program (RDP) which would improve the economic status of black South Africans.

In the midst of uncertain politics and the current state of world affairs, former United States President Barack Obama gave a speech on Tuesday commemorating the legacy of Mandela in Johannesburg on the 100th anniversary of his birthday. Obama reminded his South African and global audience to value and show solidarity, kindness and equality in the way Mandela and other freedom-fighters would be proud of.

Learn more about Nelson Mandela’s life and legacy through items in the Schomburg's Collections including: