Nelson Mandela was an anti-apartheid civil rights leader that was born on July 18, 1918 in Mvezo, Transkei, South Africa. As a young man he became very involved in the anti-apartheid movement according in South Africa. This movement was very much synonymous to that of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s in America. Mandela fought for equal rights and privileges of black South Africans that had been taken at the hand of the predominantly white government.
Mandela was imprisoned in 1963 and remained there until his release in 1990. He then went on to lead South Africa until 1994. On June 21, 1990 Nelson Mandela traveled to Harlem in New York City to deliver a message. His presence ignited hope in a community that was seemingly deteriorating and desperately needed a savior. People gathered in anticipation of what the world leader had to say. The New York Times quoted a mother named Mrs. Valladares as saying, ‘“Nelson Mandela will actually be in Harlem… He reminds me of Martin Luther King… He fought for his people. And he’s not going to give up now. He’s a survivor, just like I am.”’ New York natives waited for hours just for a glimpse of Mr. Mandela. This significant moment is definitely one that stands for me because this happened to be the day that I was born in Harlem, NY. It ties me to history. Mr. Mandela was one to be admired and revered for his efforts in the anti-apartheid movement, and his presence in my hometown as I made my way into the world always keeps me tied to this historical moment. —Nikkia Grant
Works Cited
McCray, Melvin. “Nelson Mandela Visits Riverside Church Harlem, New York.” Vimeo. 21 June 1990. Web. 1 December 2015. <https://vimeo.com/82911147>
Nelson Mandela Foundation. “Biography of Nelson Mandela.” Nelson Mandela Foundation. 2015. Web. 1 December 2015. < https://www.nelsonmandela.org/content/page/biography>
Terry, Don. “The Mandela Visit; In Harlem, a Name to Add to Martin and Malcolm.”The New York Times. 22 June 1990. Web. 30 November 2015. <http://www.nytimes.com/1990/06/22/nyregion/the-mandela-visit-in-harlem-a-name-to-add-to-martin-and-malcolm.html?_r=0>
