Nelson+Mandela

** The Life of Nelson Mandela By: Andy Koopmans **       Nelson Mandela was born on July 18, 1918. He was born with the name Rolihlahla which means troublemaker. Soon after Mandela started school in 1927 his father died but wanted him to continue his education. So his father sent him to live with chief Jongintaba of the Thembu tribe. He was welcomed in as one of the family and treated like one.

In 1941 Mandela moved to Johannesburg. He wanted to find a job, and complete his bachelors degree. Within months Mandela went through things that changed his life and he wanted to change the way Africans were being treated. He and his friend Justice found jobs and a place to stay. When it was found out that they were runaways they were kicked out and sent with no place to go. With his fathers help Justice found aplace to stay and Mandela temporarily stayed with a cousin.When his cousin found he wanted to be a lawyer, he was introduced to Walter Sisulu.

Mandela was hardworking and Sisulu recognized that quickly. Sisulu was a member of the ANC, an organization to help protect African rights. They became friends quickly. Sisulu gave Mandela a job as law clerk. While in the office Mandela met the only other African employee there, Guar Radebe. Mandela learned that Guar was a member of the ANC and the Communist Party (CP).

Nelson Mandela was a voice for Africa that spoke up against how Africans were being treated. He faced hatred, racism, and imprisonment along the way. He was jailed for more than twenty-seven years on accounts of high treason, and sabotage. Many on the outside continued his work and what he never got to finish.

I admire Nelson Mandela because no matter how hard the struggle got he never gave up. He was determined to fight for African rights and in the end it was worth it. He was imprisoned but many people on the outside still believed in him. Those people that believed carried on his work.

I think this book does give an honest account of his life. It has dates of the things he went through. With my knowledge of him he they are true. I hope whomever wrote this book does not portray him as a failure. Nelson Mandela was a very good man and I hope that they wouldn't make a false account of his life.