“I fought against white domination, as well as against black domination, as well as against white domination. I cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. This is an ideal that I hope to live for and achieve. If necessary, it is an ideal to which I am prepared to die. (-Nelson Mandela “I am ready to die” as found on www.looktothestars.org). Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was South Africa's first black nationalist and president from 1994 to 1999. Mandela led negotiations with the white government for a transition to a non-racial democracy. Nelson Mandela improved the lives of many people in his country and around the world by ridding the apartheid system and abolishing South African government discrimination. Mandela's life was filled with many achievements, legendary stories and was a true inspiration to many people around the world. Nelson Mandela was born on July 18, 1918 at the Cape of Good Hope. Mandela was born the son of the tribal chief of Mvezo. In total, Mandela had 12 sisters and brothers. Growing up in African culture, Mandela received an education, some involved in the Methodist Church, and also had a deep understanding of European culture. As for Mandela's later studies at such a university, he had attended the South African Native College (now known as Fort Hare) and later studied law at the University of the Witwatersrand; and had passed the exam to become a lawyer. This study of law by Mandela sparked interest in the new turn toward the apartheid government. While Mandela led many years of violent and peaceful protests against the new apartheid system, he was arrested several times and charged by the court with tre...... middle of paper ...... believe that he was a very accomplished man, from the creation of the first black law to winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993. I admire his idea and his power to take a stand on an illegal subject, and I'm never ready to give up. I admire his confidence, his dignity and his hope that all situations will improve in some way. He wasn't just fighting for himself, as he stated in his "I'm Ready to Die" speech, but he cared most about others around him. Before writing this report, I had a relative perspective on who he was, but once I really started researching Mandela and his life, I discovered that Mandela was a truly respectable man. In today's world, there are communities where they never thought they could exist in just a few years. He made remarkable reforms, and his ideas and use of power were put to phenomenal use to make the world a better place...