Top 10 at 10: 10 Ways Nelson Mandela Changed History
Prison Break On February 11, 1990, Mandela was freed from prison after serving 27 years behind bars in Victor-Verster Prison in Paarl, near Cape Town. He was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1964 for treason, so the release came as a surprise. Few can forget the image of him walking hand-in-hand with his then-wife, Winnie, into the surrounding pack of overjoyed supporters. He later addressed a crowd of 50,000 people on the balcony of Cape Town’s City Hall. "Our struggle has reached a decisive moment. Our march to freedom is irreversible,†Mandela said.
Prison Break On February 11, 1990, Mandela was freed from prison after serving 27 years behind bars in Victor-Verster Prison in Paarl, near Cape Town. He was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1964 for treason, so the release came as a surprise. Few can forget the image of him walking hand-in-hand with his then-wife, Winnie, into the surrounding pack of overjoyed supporters. He later addressed a crowd of 50,000 people on the balcony of Cape Town’s City Hall. "Our struggle has reached a decisive moment. Our march to freedom is irreversible,†Mandela said. more
1993 Nobel Peace Prize Winner The former South African president won the award with Frederick Willem de Klerk for their efforts to change South African society. more
Mr. President After Mandela’s release, he resumed his leadership position in the African National Congress(ANC). He later went on to become the country’s first Black president in South Africa’s first multicultural election, in 1994. more
Mandela Takes a Bow In June of 1999, the oldest elected president of South Africa retires from the presidency and continues his involvement in different social and human rights initiatives. He was succeeded by Thabo Mbeki. A few years later, in 2004, he vows to step out of the public sphere. more
Mandela Day In November 2009, the United Nations General Assembly announced July 18 Nelson Mandela International Day to honor his contribution to world peace and freedom. more
90th Birthday BashNaomi Campbell and a bevy of stars came out in full affect for the statesman’s charity concert and birthday extravaganza. Will Smith hosted the event and artists including Leona Lewis and Amy Winehouse took the stage at the 46664 charity concert in London’s Hyde Park to honor Mandela’s 90th birthday. The 46664 campaign, named after Mandela’s prison number, is a movement to promote HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention. more
Establishes Pact of Elders On the cusp of his 89th birthday, Mandela announced yet another initiative—The Elders. He began leading a group of 12 “wise men and women†called to address global issues. more
AIDS Advocate In January of 2005, the revered leader announced that his son Makgatho, 54, died of AIDS complications. AIDS activists praised Mandela’s decision to disclose his son’s condition because the epidemic is rarely, if at all, talked about in the South African community. According to 2009 statistics, 310,000 South Africans died of AIDS and approximately 5.6 million are living with HIV and AIDS. His announcement was part of a larger initiative to spread awareness about the disease. more