South Africa’s first black president, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela died Thursday at the age of 95. He passed away Thursday due to a lung infection that he had been suffering from for some time now. When his death was announced, word spread quickly and people flocked to show tribute to this great man.
After surviving 27 years in Victor Vestor prison for protesting by starting a strike, he wrote in his autobiography, “A nations should not be judged by how it treats its highest citizens, but by its lowest ones–and South Africa treated its imprisoned African citizens like animals.”
He later became president of South Africa. When he joined office, his country was significantly by race and there was deep racial injustice. His mission called Truth and Reconcilliation Commission was to try to bring the people together and heal the country’s wounds. Mandela became known as the “giant for justice’ but he was more than that: he served as an inspiration for the whole nation and for those all over the world. He became respected and loved.
In 1993, he wan the Nobel Peace Prize and shared it with F.w. de Klerk, the man who released Mandela from prison. Even when he was retired, Mandela wasn’t done contributing to the world. He focused a lot of time and energy on the South Africa AIDS crisis.
Then, in 2010, Mandela attended the World Cup championship match which became his last major appearance on the global stage. When he arrived in the stadium, he wa met by a thunderous ovation.
Upon word of Nelson Mandela’s death, President Obama made a statement and in his statement he said that Mandela was “one of the most influential, courageous and profoundly good human beings that any of us will share time with on this earth.” Nelson Mandela will be truly missed by all over the world.