What I Learned

After reading his autobiography, consulting additional sources, and conducting my interview, I definitely believe that Nelson Mandela is a hero, mainly because of his many heroic qualities. For instance, Nelson Mandela demonstrates the values of dedication and persistence through his long fight for freedom in South Africa. In South Africa, racial segregation was legally enforced, and after WWII, the Afrikaner government in South Africa, which was made up of white people, “tightened their stranglehold on power with new racial laws that codified the apartheid system ad suppressed dissent” (“Apartheid”). The apartheid system forced blacks Africans to live separately in dangerous ghettos.

Over time, Nelson Mandela became increasingly involved in the ANC, or African National Congress, which was an organization advocating for the rights of black South Africans by working to end apartheid. As he became more active, his role as a freedom fighter took over his life. This is evident when he titles on of his chapters, “The Struggle is my life” (51). His extreme involvement shows his dedication to the cause. African history professor Dr. Shutt explains that Mandela wages an “unflagging, tireless battle against oppression wherever he finds it, often with great personal loss.” Impressed by his dedication, Dr. Shutt regards Mandela as an inspiration. Nelson Mandela demonstrated this dedication after he and his fellow freedom fighters were acquitted on charges of high treason. Though most people sympathetic to the cause saw it as a time for celebration, Mandela did not and said, ““I did not return home after the verdict. Although others were in a festive mood and eager to celebrate, I knew the authorities could strike at any moment, and I did not want to give them the opportunity” (87). Mandela realized that the fight was not over and continued to be cautious and stay out of sight. This decision shows not only his dedication, but also his shrewdness, which evokes the cleverness of Odysseus.

Heroes also inspire the people around them by their example. During his campaign for president, Mandela explained that change would not come quickly or easily and encouraged people of South Africa to have the same kind of dedication and patience that he had, saying in his autobiography, “I felt we must also tell them what we could not do. Many people felt life would change overnight after a free and democratic election, but that would be far from the case. ‘You must have patience,’ I told them. ‘You might have to wait five years for results to show’” (196). Mandela exemplifies ideals like dedication and inspires others to follow in his footsteps. Another ideal that Nelson exemplifies is the willingness to compromise. Like Reagan, Mandela used compromise to bring peace in South Africa. According to Dr. Shutt, “Mandela believed that compromise and negotiation was the way to peace and a democratic South Africa. . . . His decision to negotiate was audacious, courageous, and, many believe, the correct decision to make.” Though many of his fellow freedom fighters did not want to compromise with the oppressors, Mandela realized that refusing to compromise could lead to a long, bloody struggle that might not succeed. He became a symbol of tolerance and compromise, as well as freedom and dedication. Not only a symbol in South Africa, Nelson became an inspiration to people around the world, and Dr. Shutt notes, “There can be no doubt that Nelson Mandela is one of the great figures of the 20^th century.”

When reflecting on his journey, Mandela recognizes that he would not have been such a successful figure if it were not for his dedication and persistence, saying, “I have walked that long road to freedom. But I have discovered that after climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb” (202). He acknowledges that, even though apartheid is over, there are still challenges facing South Africa. Heroes recognize when more work is yet to be done. Even though improvement has been made, for Mandela, there is still room to make life better. In the spirit of continuing to improve life for others, Mandela continues to work with charitable causes, including the fight against AIDS. A huge problem in South Africa, the AIDS epidemic has killed millions in the country he worked so hard to free from oppression. A 2004 New York Times article states that , at that time, South Africa led the world in HIV infections, with 5.3 million infected people (Altman A3). Mandela works to bring attention to this issue in order to continue his dedicated struggle to improve the lives of South Africa.