hook for nelson mandela essay

8 Ways Nelson Mandela Changed the World

Today marks Nelson Mandela’s 100th birthday, and we’re joining people around the world who are celebrating the life, achievements, and legacy of the former South African leader. Mandela’s impact on his people, his country, and the world as a whole has been far too vast to measure, though it has also been too important to leave untried. Here are eight ways Nelson Mandela used his life to change the world forever.

1. From the beginning, Mandela knew that a single person could be a catalyst for change. He wasn’t afraid to be that catalyst.

Mandela was born in 1918 in a small village in the Transkei, then a British territory in what is now South Africa. He would go on to lead a nation, change lives, and inspire countless people along the way. While he was only one man, Mandela shaped a better world through his own initiative.

Mandela formed and joined many organizations and alliances during his lifetime and continues to be a symbol of the power that one individual has to make a difference. Almost every personal and professional road he traveled—whether that road meant establishing the first black law firm in South Africa, forming the African National Congress Youth League, or refusing a pardon due to continued injustice—was a brave and powerful example of the long journey to freedom.

As Mandela put it, “ There is no passion to be found playing small – in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.”

2. He refused to give up on his cause and his country.

Fewer images in history are more powerful than that of Nelson Mandela, fist raised in a dignified grey suit, walking after his release from 27 years of imprisonment. Mandela was only 44 years old when he was given a life sentence by the apartheid regime for his leadership of the African National Congress, an organization outlawed by the government for its anti-apartheid actions and positions.

Mandela was first arrested on treason charges just four years after starting South Africa’s first black law firm and working with others calling for a nonracial state in the country. He would later be acquitted of these charges, only to be arrested yet again in 1962 for his work as a leader within the African National Congress.

3. Mandela set an example of dedication, courage, and sacrifice for all.

During his trial, Mandela refused to defend himself in order to not legitimize the charges levied against him.

In 1985, the government offered to release Mandela under the conditions that he would not engage in political activities once free. Nelson refused. “I cannot and will not give any undertaking at a time when I and you, the people, are not free,” he said. “Your freedom and mine cannot be separated.”

4. He knew that his struggle was his people’s, as his people’s struggle was his. But Mandela opened that struggle and his message of justice to the world.

In the mid-1980s, the world slowly awakened to the suffering of South Africans under apartheid rule. And while Mandela suffered behind bars, his message had never been louder. As anti-apartheid rallies grew, so did awareness of Mandela’s struggle for freedom for black South Africans. His message was so powerful that a protest song named “Free Nelson Mandela,” written and performed by the ska band The Special AKA after attending such a rally, became a top ten hit in the UK, and a legendary anthem worldwide.

Mandela’s message was one of peace, justice and freedom, an inclusive campaign that all people could support. He set the precedent for messaging and rallying for future activists to come.

5. He set up a foundation in order to secure that his work for justice and peace could continue.

Founded in 1999, the Nelson Mandela Foundation is the legacy that Mandela has left behind. The organization focuses on what was central to Mandela’s work: justice, dialogue, and social cohesion. Just as Mandela did so successfully in South Africa, the foundation “aims to use the history, experience, values, vision and leadership of its Founder to provide a non-partisan platform for public discourse on important social issues, and in doing so, to contribute to policy decision-making.” The foundation hopes that by providing people and politics with the relevant tools, the public can have informed discussions that lead to justice and freedom for all.

6. Mandela delivered a groundbreaking speech for the fight against HIV/AIDS at a crucial time for South Africans.

In 2000, a quarter of South African citizens between the ages of 15- and 45-years old tested positive for HIV/AIDS. In a time and place with four million infected people and incalculable stigma, Nelson Mandela called for bold new measures to be taken in the fight against AIDS.

While he regretted not doing enough while he was in office, Nelson Mandela single-handedly set a new agenda for the future fight against HIV/AIDS with a groundbreaking speech in 2000 at an International AIDS conference in Durban.

Combined with his public meeting with the revolutionary South African HIV/AIDS activist Zackie Achmat in 2002 and his relentless engagement with the fight through the later years of his life, Nelson Mandela was a devoted advocate for HIV+ South Africans all the way up until his death in 2013.

7. He understood that while it is important to forgive, history must never forget its troubled past.

Nelson Mandela sought remembrance, rather than revenge, in response to injustices under Apartheid rule. He understood that the key to moving forward as a nation was understanding and learning from its troubled past. That’s why one of Mandela’s first actions as president of South Africa was to set up a Committee for Truth and Reconciliation, a governmental agency dedicated to investigating crimes committed under apartheid from 1960 to 1994.

The program is a beacon for human rights volition investigators everywhere, and stands as a shining example as a guide for healing from past atrocities and unifying divided peoples.

8. Mandela channeled his childhood lessons of Ubuntu, and gave those values to the world.

At his core, this was Nelson Mandela’s mission, and its story goes back all the way to his days as a child in that small African village. Ubuntu is the Xhosa idea that there is a oneness to all people. An impenetrable tie that binds us all to one another. A principle stating that conflict amongst people is temporary, only a brief diversion from the natural order of our true nature as human beings: togetherness. Mandela took this belief to heart, and with it shaped the world around him, believing that strength will overcome strife and refusing to be cynical.

As Barack Obama said during Mandela’s eulogy:

“Ubuntu, a word that captures Mandela’s greatest gift: His recognition that we are all bound together in ways that are invisible to the eye; that there is a oneness to humanity; that we achieve ourselves by sharing ourselves with others, and caring for those around us. . . . He not only embodied Ubuntu, he taught millions to find that truth within themselves.”

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• English Essay on Nelson Mandela

An Essay on Nelson Mandela is Available at Vedantu

The best analogy that can be given for Nelson Mandela to the Indian students is, Nelson Mandela was to Africa what Mahatma Gandhi was to India. Because Nelson Mandela did the same thing for Africa, As Mahatma Gandhi did for India. Nelson Mandela made the same sacrifices for Africa, as Mahatma Gandhi Made for India. Nelson Mandela believed in the same ideals and virtues as that of Mahatma Gandhi, which is to say Non-violence and truth, and for all his life he walked on the same path.

An Introduction

There was a time when facilities were divided among people on the basis of their skin colour. From the seat reservations in public transport to any other public facilities, everywhere, whites used to get better facilities whereas dark-skinned people, the blacks, got the worst services. White supremacy existed in every country under British colonialism. In some countries, racial discrimination was found on a larger scale whereas in others on a smaller scale. However, in South Africa, it became worse. 

Three-fourths of the total population were black people there. The country's economy used to run on the strength of their hard work, but all the good facilities were available to the whites. Although racial discrimination was there in South Africa for a long time, the National Party government made a rule in 1948 that blacks and whites would live in different places and the public facilities were divided according to their skin colours. Since good always triumphs over evil, the struggles of Nelson Mandela put an end to the rules of racial discrimination, after which everyone started getting equal facilities. It was not so easy. Nelson Mandela had to spend 28 years of his life in prison. Mandela was a man who followed Gandhi's path. He did this without taking up arms, without any bloodshed.

A Brief Background of Africa During the Time of Nelson Mandela.

Africa is not in any sense a stranger from the racial discrimination, exploitation, and horrors of British colonialism. Though many countries of Asia, such as India have faced all these problems, it, unfortunately, took a rather devastating form in Africa. The humans were divided by their skin colour, the fair one gets the reservations in all the public facilities and were considered high-class people, while the black was always looked down upon. Only because of their skin colour were they not the same as their fair counterparts. And these were the times in which Nelson Mandela was born.

A history of Nelson Mandela

It was the 18th of July 1918 when Rohlihala (Nelson) Mandela was born in the small village located on the banks of Mbashe River in South Africa, to mother Nosakeni and father Gadla henry. The name Rohilihala literally means ``Mischievous”, but his school teacher Miss Mdingane gave him the English name “Nelson'' because it was the custom during those times in Africa to give English names, and hence Rohilihala became “Nelson Mandela''. Nelson Mandela attended the Clark Barry Missionary school for his early schooling.

When Nelson Mandela was just 12 years old, an unfortunate thing happened in the form of the death of his father Gadla Henry. But Nelson Mandela’s family took so much care of him and never let the absence of the father affect the 12-year-old boy. Nelson Mandela was the only member of his family to attend the school, and hence his whole family supported him in all the aspects of his school.

He graduated from the Methodist Healdtown college, which was a college built especially for black people. This was the time when he had started his fight against injustice and inequality of racial discrimination. And here in this college, he met a man by the name of Olive Tambo, a relation with whom transformed into a lifelong friendship. Nelson Mandela always had full-fledged support of Oliver Tambo in his struggle against Apartheid, meaning apartness.

Apartheid was the policy in South Africa that governed the relations between the Whites, who were the minority, and the Black, who were the majority, in the latter half of the last century, that is to say, the 20th century. In the name of governance, all the Apartheid did was racial segregation and economic discrimination against the blacks. Nelson Mandela fought bravely against the Apartheid during his lifetime.

Nelson Mandela was born on 18 July 1918 in the village of Mvezo, South Africa. His mother's name was Nosakeni and his father's name was Gadla Henry. Earlier, Nelson Mandela was named Rohlihala by his parents, which means mischievous, but his school teacher changed his name to Nelson. Nelson Mandela did his early studies at Clark Barry Missionary School. Nelson Mandela was just 12 years old when his father died, but his family never let the absence of his father affect his life. His family continued to help him in every way for higher studies since Nelson was the only member of the whole family who went to school. 

He graduated from Healdtown College. Healdtown was a college specially built for black people. In this college, Nelson Mandela met a friend and remained friends with him throughout his life and always supported him in his struggle against Apartheid. Right from the days of college, he started the fight against racial discrimination and started gathering people, due to which he was expelled from college. In 1944, he joined the African National Congress, in which he had started the movement against racial discrimination. In 1947, he was elected as a  secretary of that party. Later many people joined him and strived towards their goal but in 1961, a case of treason was filed against Mandela and he was imprisoned along with some of his friends. Though he was later found innocent and was released, yet, again on 5th August 1962, he was arrested on charges of inciting the workers to go on strike. On 12th July 1964, after trials for almost 2 years, he was sentenced to life imprisonment. He was sent to the most strictly guarded jail for imprisonment but even after that, his courage never diminished. He also started sharing his opinions with the black prisoners in jail. On the other hand, his party also tried its best to get him released but failed. Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 28 years. Finally, in 1989, the government changed in South Africa and the liberal leader F. W. Clarke became the President of the country. Considering the struggle of Nelson and his party, he ordered the removal of all restrictions on black people and decided to release all the prisoners who were imprisoned without any serious charges.

A Quick Outline of Nelson Mandela’s Life from 1940 onwards.

1944 = joined the national congress of Africa.

1947 = elected as a secretary of the African national congress.

1961 = A case of treason was filed against him, and he was imprisoned along with his friends.

1962 = he was found innocent and was released from prison. But was again on 5th August of the same year on other charges.

1964 = sentenced to life imprisonment, and remained imprisoned for 28 years.

1989 = a government was changed, and Nelson Mandela was released, the following year.

1990 = Mandela was awarded a Bharat Ratna.

1993 = He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

1994 = Became the first president of the country

5 Dec 2013 = Passed away at the age of 95.

Nelson Mandela’s Struggles of Life

On February 1, 1990, Mandela was released from prison. In the Presidential election of South Africa that was held in 1994, black people could also participate. Mandela participated in this election and his party African National Congress formed the government with a majority. On 10 May 1994, Nelson Mandela became the first President of his country and made all rights equal for the whites and the blacks. Nelson Mandela, much like Mahatma Gandhi, followed a non-violent path, he considered Mahatma Gandhi as his inspiration. 

Nelson Mandela was awarded the Bharat Ratna, the most prestigious award of India, in 1990. He was the second foreigner to be given this award after Mother Teresa, who was awarded in 1980. In 1993, Nelson Mandela was awarded the Nobel Prize for world peace, for the struggle against Apartheid throughout his life, and to empower the blacks in South Africa. On December 5, 2013, Nelson Mandela passed away, at the age of 95. He says that “When a person considers the service of his country and people as his duty, he gets peace in doing that work. I think I have tried that and that is why I can sleep peacefully till the end.”

 Conclusion

Nelson Mandela, much like Mahatma Gandhi, advocated a nonviolent path, he considered Gandhi as his source of inspiration. For this reason, he is also called African Gandhi. Nelson Mandela has also been awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's biggest award in 1990.

FAQs on English Essay on Nelson Mandela

1. Who is Nelson Mandela?

Nelson Mandela raised his voice against racial discrimination in South Africa. He spent 28 years of his life in prison as a part of his struggle to put an end to racial discrimination in South Africa. After this, blacks and whites were entitled to equal rights, and they enjoyed equal public facilities.

2. Name Nelson Mandela’s Publication?

Some of Nelson Mandela’s publications are as follows.

No Easy Walk to Freedom

The Struggle is my Life

In His Own Words

I am Prepared to Die

Long Walk To Freedom

3. What Did Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi Have in Common?

Nelson Mandela, much like Mahatma Gandhi, advocated a nonviolent path, he considered Gandhi as his source of inspiration. He struggled for years against white supremacy without any armed movements and bloodshed.

4. What are the lessons that can be learned from the life of Nelson Mandela?

There are quite many lessons to be learned from the life of Nelson Mandela:

Keep Working: Nelson Mandela never stopped working towards his aim he always kept on working.

Remain Focused: From the very early stage of his life he was very clear about his aim and he remained focused on it for the rest of his life.

Work for others: Nelson Mandela always worked for others and hence he is immortalized in the memory of our memory. He gave all his life for the selfless work of his country.

5. Why should I use the essay provided by Vedantu, instead of writing my own?

It is always a very good idea to write essays by yourself, but it is also a good idea to have some guidance in doing the same. And hence the essay that Vedantu provides on the life of Nelson Mandela can serve the purpose of a guide to the students. Furthermore, the essay that Vedantu provides is designed from the perspective of the students and that too by the expert teachers. Therefore, it gives a good idea regarding how to approach such an essay elaborately.

6. What are the lessons that can be learned from the life of Nelson Mandela?

7. Why should I use the essay provided by Vedantu, instead of writing my own?

Nelson Mandela Essay for Students and Children

500+ words essay on nelson mandela.

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was born on 18 July 1918 in the Transkei village close Umtata. Nelson Mandela was sent to Healdtown, a Wesleyan secondary school with some reputation where he enrolled after getting a primary education at a local mission school. He then registered for the Bachelor of Arts degree at Fort Hare University College where he was appointed to the Representative Council of the Student. Also, he was suspended for joining a protest boycott from college. He went to Johannesburg where, by correspondence, he finished his BA, took clerkship papers and began studying for his LLB . The Nelson Mandela essay is an insight into the life and works of the great man.

The greatest pleasure of Nelson Mandela, his most private moment, is to watch the sunset playing with the music of Händel or Tchaikovsky.

During daylight hours locked up in his cell, deprived of music, he was denied these two simple pleasures for centuries. Concerts were organized with his fellow inmates as far as possible, especially at Christmas time, where they would sing.

Nelson Mandela finds music very uplifting and is interested in European classical music as well as African choral music and the many talents in South African music. But above all, one voice stands out – Paul Robeson’s, whom he defines as our hero.

The years in prison strengthened already engraved practices: athlete’s disciplined eating system started in the 1940s, as did the early morning practice. Nelson Mandela is still up by 4.30am today, regardless of how late he worked last night.

He started his exercise routine by 5 am, which lasts for at least an hour. Breakfast is at 6.30 when newspapers are read during the days. With a normal working day of at nearly 12 hours, time management is critical and Nelson Mandela is highly impatient with impunctuality, considering it to be insulting to those with whom you deal.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Life of Nelson Mandela

He has conducted comprehensive traveling since his release from prison when he spoke. Nelson Mandela claims: “The biography of Pandit Nehru helped me prepare for my discharge. Who wrote about what’s going on when you leave prison.

My daughter Zinzi claims she grew up without a dad who became the nation’s dad when he came back. This has put on my shoulders a huge burden.

And wherever I travel, I instantly start missing the familiar–the mine dumps, the uniquely South African color and smell, and especially the individuals. I don’t like being away for a long moment. There’s no place like home for me.

Mandela accepted the Nobel Peace Prize as a tribute to all those who worked for peace and opposed racism. This individual has been awarded as much as it has been to the ANC and all the individuals of South Africa.

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Role Model: Nelson Mandela Essay

Introduction, summary and conclusion, reference list.

Nelson Mandela was born in 1918 at Qunu. Mandela is widely known for his charismatic leadership skills. His political career ambitions started while at university when he realized the unjust nature in which the African society was. The blacks were denied the due chances both economically and politically. This disappointed Nelson Mandela which triggered his ambitions to join politics to fight for his people.

Thesis Statement

Throughout his leadership period, Nelson Mandela demonstrated excellent leadership skills which went beyond the political role. He committed his whole life fighting for the rights of the South Africans who suffered from discrimination. As a political activist, Nelson Mandela fought for his people which led him to be a political prisoner. Nelson Mandela struggled until he became the first black president of South Africa. These achievements by Nelson Mandela make him qualify to be one of the greatest men who have ever lived in history.

Fight against Apartheid (Discrimination)

Mandela’s early days in politics coincided with very high levels of apartheid in South Africa. Mandela was very disappointed by the system since it was characterized by high levels of discrimination (Glad & Blanton, 1997). Apartheid was the main vice in South Africa which incited Mandela to engage in endless struggles.

Mandela has been imprisoned for about thirty years for opposing apartheid system in South Africa (Ryan, 2011). During the apartheid system, the whites oppressed the blacks through their discriminative policies. In 1944, Nelson Mandela became an active leader of the American National Congress (ANC). This was just his first move to fight for the people’s freedom.

South Africa’s apartheid system was one of the worst racism and discrimination scenarios that have ever taken place in the world. However, Mandela managed to oppose the system courageously and persistently despite of the threats by the white leaders (Lieberfeld, 2003).

Therefore, Mandela has shown excellent and selfless leadership which cannot be found in many leaders. Most leaders are driven by their own benefits but Mandela was determined to undergo any torture for the sake of his people. Through the African National Congress party, Mandela was determined to undergo any form of suffering for the sake of the South Africans blacks who were facing a lot of suffering at the hand of apartheid.

Political Activist (African National Congress)

In most cases, many political parties in Africa which fought for the rights of the blacks were characterized by violent activities. Therefore, it was expected that Mandela’s political party (ANC) would be even more violent bearing in the mind the extent to which apartheid had reached in South Africa. However, Mandela’s movement was characterized by non-violent protests. However, the younger nationalists became discouraged because of lack of progress in the initial stages (Ryan, 2011).

Together with his colleagues, Mandela believed that incorporating violence in their activities would trigger police’s brutality and this would bring suffering to South African blacks (Glad & Blanton, 1997). In case they engaged in violent activities, they new that the white leaders would take that opportunity to finish their people.

This was the main reason why they refrained from engaging themselves in violent demonstrations. According to Lieberfeld (2003), Mandela demonstrated peace in every step he made. His struggle against apartheid in earlier days was characterized by peace.

Mandela was one of those kinds of leaders who never gave up. He was rarely intimidated by any resistance to make his moves. He persistently moved forward. For instance, later on after joining ANC, Mandela decided to join the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) (Ryan, 2011). This is because ANC was making very little progress during that time. Due to his thirst to save his people from the chains of apartheid, Mandela joined this party as it was more vibrant than ANC. This group was composed of the members of ANC who were more militant.

In 1949, ANCYL organized strikes and boycotts across the country (Ryan, 2011). These actions were directed to force for changes in policies which oppressed the Africans in South Africa. In 1951, Nelson Mandela was elected as the head of this political party in the country. Soon after being elected the leader of this group, Mandela initiated a Defiance campaign which was aimed at triggering a massive resistance towards discriminative policies. This was his next move after their initial moves yielded little results.

Due to his perpetual resistance to the prevailing system and organizing of boycotts and strikes, Mandela was arrested in 1952 (Ryan, 2011). However, Mandela won that time as his sentence was suspended some time later.

However, he was neither allowed to attend any public gathering nor attend ANC meetings. These restrictions were aimed at minimizing his interactions with the public to avoid further incitation. However, Mandela’s journey did not stop hear as many would have thought. This encounter just boosted her determination to pursue his goals.

To defend the people who were persecuted in the apartheid system, Mandela opened a law which defended the convicts. Later, Mandela and some other leaders were charged of treason. This case was later dropped. However, most of Mandela’s time was wasted as he was sometimes forced to make many appearances before the court. Despite of these commitments, Mandela still continued to fight four the equality in South Africa.

Underground Movement

On realizing that non-violent resistance was not yielding any positive results, Mandela decided to adopt violence in his fight against apartheid. For instance, sixty nine people were killed while resisting for anti apartheid rule which restricted the movement of the blacks in South Africa.

This incident made Mandela to change his strategy of non-violent resistance to more harsh reaction. This is because the rate of discrimination was rising even after their efforts instead of falling. In connection to this, ANC commenced adopting armed resistance (Ryan, 2011).

After the banning of their party, Mandela with the support of other leaders formed an underground group. Through this group, Mandela and his colleagues targeted any official symbol of Apartheid and the government in their targets through sabotage. On seeing the extent to which apartheid had reached in South Africa, Nelson Mandela decided to travel across the African countries and Europe to seek support as well as learning the tactics of guerilla warfare (Ryan, 2011).

Therefore, Mandela realized the importance of the support from other countries in his struggle against apartheid (Glad & Blanton, 1997). Unfortunately, Mandela was arrested soon after going back to his country after completing his mission. He was charged for his involvements with the underground group and for moving out side the country without a legal prescription. This cost, Mandela five years in prison.

Despite of these sufferings which Mandela underwent during his struggle against discrimination towards the black South Africans, his stand was never shaken. During his trial, Mandela confirmed not to be intimidated by anything from his fight against apartheid (Ryan, 2011). He also explained the main aims of the newly formed group Umkhonto we Sizwe. Mandela together with his group narrowly escaped execution during these trials (Ryan, 2011). However, they were given a life imprisonment.

In 1964, Mandela was sent to Robben Island where he was supposed to spend the rest of his life according to the judgment. Later, he was kept confined alone in fear that he will intimidate his colleagues. All this suffering never shook Mandela’s ambitions. His people went to the extent of referring to him as a silent suffering martyr (Ryan, 2011).

Road to Freedom and Accomplishments

Later in 1984, negotiations for Mandela’s release started on condition that he will allow reallocation of South African blacks to specific places. However, Mandela rejected all these offers. This displays a strong character of determined and selfless leader who was ready to sacrifice himself for the sake of his people. This clearly shows that Mandela was not after any material gain in his struggle for equality.

Under the pressure of the international community and the black South Africans, the head of the National Party F.W. de Klerk softened his stand (Ryan, 2011). Restrictions on ANC were lifted and most laws which were discriminative were dissolved. After continued pressure, Mandela was released in 1990.

Soon after being released, Mandela continued with his fight for freedom. He was engaged in negotiations with de Klerk form ma democratic government. In 1993, Mandela was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize (Ryan, 2011). This was just three years after being released.

Through Mandela’s efforts, South African got the first chance to vote freely without impediments which mostly favored the whites. Mandela was finally elected the president of South Africa in 1994 under the ANC party. On becoming, the president of South Africa, Mandela came up with strategies to unite people and also released those imprisoned during the apartheid system through amnesty (Ryan, 2011).

From there, Mandela has received various awards for his good work to the community. For instance, he received Presidential Medal of Freedom from the former United States president Bush. Mandela was also determined in the fight against AIDs as well as care for the AIDs victims.

From this discussion, it can clearly be seen that Mandela is really a leader to be emulated. Throughout his leadership, he has demonstrated courage, humility, patience, perseverance, and determination, a combination of character traits which is very rare in many leaders. He persistently fought against discrimination in South Africa despite of the difficulties he faced. Mandela faced police brutality and imprisonment for about thirty years but was never discouraged from pursuing his goals.

This discussion has also indicated that Mandela opted for violence after the peaceful demonstrations proved futile. This indicates that he was a humble reader who looked beyond the leadership boundaries. He considered every move he made taking into consideration the end results. Although he had the power to use violence from beginning of his struggle, he avoided that.

Mandela’s leadership teaches us that one should never be discouraged from pursuing his or her goals despite of the conditions through which they pass. We should also not lose hope for whichever time period this may take. Mandela spent many years in jail but he never buried his hope.

Glad, B. & Blanton, R. (1997). F.W. de Klerk and Nelson Mandela: a study in cooperative transformational leadership. Presidential Studies Quarterly, Vol. 27, 1997.

Lieberfeld, D. (2003). ‘Nelson Mandela: Partisan and Peacemaker.’ Negotiation Journal. Volume 19, Number 3, 229-250, DOI: 10.1023/A:1024629628402

Ryan, J. (2011). Nelson Mandela. Nelson Mandela (Great Neck Publishing) , 1. Web.

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Short Essay on Nelson Mandela [100, 200, 400 Words] With PDF

Nelson Mandela was a political leader and a former president of South Africa. For his contribution to restoring peace and stability in the region, he is still remembered around the world. In today’s session, you will learn about the life of Nelson Mandela in order to write an essay on this eminent person for your upcoming exam.

Table of Contents

• Short Essay on Nelson Mandela in 100 Words 
• Short Essay on Nelson Mandela in 200 Words 
• Short Essay on Nelson Mandela in 400 Words 

Short Essay on Nelson Mandela in 100 Words

Nelson Mandela was one of the greatest leaders and freedom fighters of South Africa. He was born on 18th July 1918. He studied law and became a successful lawyer. While practising law, he got involved in anti-apartheid, anti-colonial, nationalist movements and soon joined the African National Congress.

South Africa, at that time, was ruled by a white-only government and blacks were discriminated against in their own country. Mandela, along with other revolutionaries, fought against the oppressive rule. Because of their efforts, the white supremacist government was finally overthrown and Nelson Mandela became the first president of a multi-racial democratic South Africa in 1994. He was also the country’s first black president. He died on 5th December 2013, aged 95. He will always be remembered as an icon of democracy and social justice.

Short Essay on Nelson Mandela in 200 Words

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was a South African revolutionary leader and freedom fighter who played an important role in ending apartheid in the country. He was born on 18th July 1918 in a village called Mzevo into the Thembu royal family. Although his family was illiterate, he was sent to study in a local school by his mother.

He later studied law and started working as a lawyer in Johannesburg. While he was still studying, he faced racism and saw the terrible political state of his country. Soon, he started getting involved in anti-apartheid, anti-colonial, nationalist movements and joined the African National Congress. 

South Africa, at that time, was ruled by a whites-only government, and blacks were discriminated against in their own country. Mandela, along with other revolutionaries, fought against the oppressive rule and was repeatedly arrested and imprisoned. However, even after spending a total of 27 years in jail, Mandela did not give up and continued with his efforts to end apartheid in the country. 

Finally, after decades of struggle, South Africa rose as a multi-racial democratic country and Nelson Mandela became its first president in 1994. He was also the country’s first-ever black president. He was an advocate of human rights and brought peace and stability to his country. Nelson Mandela was one of the greatest leaders in the world and he will always be remembered as an icon of democracy and social justice. 

Short Essay on Nelson Mandela in 400 Words

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was one of the most important leaders in the history of South Africa as well as the world. He was born on 18th July 1918 in a village called Mzevo into the Thembu royal family. Although his family was illiterate, he was sent to study in a local school by his mother.

He later studied law and started working as a lawyer in Johannesburg. While he was still studying, he came face-to-face with racism and saw the terrible political state of his country. Soon, he started getting involved in anti-apartheid, anti-colonial, nationalist movements and joined the African National Congress. 

South Africa, at that time, was ruled by a whites-only government, and blacks were discriminated against in their own country. Mandela, along with other revolutionaries like Anton Lembede and Oliver Tambo, fought against the oppressive rule and was repeatedly arrested and imprisoned.

However, even after spending a total of 27 years in jail, Mandela did not give up and continued with his efforts to end apartheid in the country. He led defiance campaigns against the government as well as the mass stay-at-home strikes. He also joined hands with anti-apartheid leaders around the world and trained in guerilla warfare. 

Nelson Mandela and his fellow leaders worked hard to end apartheid and bring justice to the millions of black Africans who had been suffering under the white supremacist government. After decades of struggle for freedom and equality, South Africa rose as a multi-racial democratic country in 1994, with the first fully democratic elections held on 27th April 1994.

The African National Congress, under the leadership of Mandela, won the elections by a huge margin and Nelson was sworn as the first president of a democratic South Africa. He held office till 1999 and was focused on national unity and reconciliation. 

Nelson Mandela’s government worked a lot for the betterment of society, granting old-age pensions, free healthcare for young children and pregnant women, building houses, providing electricity and connectivity as well as making proper education available for kids. Even after retiring from the political scene, he continued to work towards rural development, school construction and combating HIV/AIDS. He died on 5th December 2013 after suffering from a respiratory infection. 

Nelson Mandela was an advocate of human rights and brought peace and stability to his country. He was one of the greatest leaders in the world and he will always be remembered as an icon of democracy and social justice. 

That’s all about my presentation on the life of Nelson Mandela. Hopefully, this session has become able to fulfil your requirement.  If you have any doubts regarding this session, kindly let me know through the comment section below. 

To get the latest updates on our upcoming sessions, please join us on Telegram. Thanks for being with us. All the best. 

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Essay on Nelson Mandela for Students in English [500 Words]

January 2, 2021 by Sandeep

Essay on Nelson Mandela: The famous South African politician was born on July 18th, 1918, at Mvezo. Throughout his life struggles, he adopted non-violence to fight against justice. He fought against racial discrimination and white supremacy in South Africa. He considered Mahatma Gandhi as his greatest source of inspiration. Nelson Mandela received Bharat Ratna from the Indian government in the year 1990. His publications include “In his own words”, “Long walk to freedom” etc.

Essay on Nelson Mandela 500 Words in English

Below we have provided Nelson Mandela Essay in English, suitable for class 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10.

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” – Nelson Mandela

The world has seen some of the most iconic and inspiring leaders of all time. One such leader was Nelson Mandela, who not only brought about a revolution in his own country but also changed the way how people all across the world treated a certain section of society belonging to a particular “skin colour”.

Early Life & Education

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was born in a small village in South Africa on 18th July 1918. On his birth, Mandela was given the name “Rolihlahla” by his parents, which means a ‘troublemaker.’ In his school days, he was named “Nelson” by his teacher. He did his schooling from the Clark Berry Missionary School. Unfortunately, Mandela lost his father when he was just 12 years old, but his joint family never made him feel alone. His family helped him through his education, and he completed his graduation from Healdtown College. Mandela was always interested in law; therefore, he started studying Law from a university in Johannesburg, South Africa, in the early 1940’s.

Early Struggles

In 1941, in his early 20’s, Mandela came face to face with the biggest problem surrounding his country from hundreds of years- “Racism.” Racism is a form of discrimination against people of a certain race or skin colour. In South Africa, people with “White” skin colour were treated as superiors to people with “Black” skin colour. White people were given several privileges and rights, while Black people were considered to be inferior, although the Blacks were highly responsible for driving the economy of South Africa at the time. When Mandela started attending the University of Law in Johannesburg, he was the only Black student in the entire university. Due to this, he constantly faced racism from the Whites.

Entering Politics

While studying Law, Mandela figured out that the South African government was the main source of this discrimination as they were responsible for introducing several laws that completely violated the basic human rights of the blacks in South Africa. In 1943, Mandela (aged 25) met Anton Lembede (aged 29), a Lawyer and member of the African National Congress (ANC). Lembede, a Black man himself, believed that the “Black Community” of South Africa must unite together and fight for their human rights.

Mandela got highly impressed by him, and in 1944, Lembede founded the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL). Lembede became the President, and he appointed Mandela as a Member of the Executive Committee.  After the death of Anton Lembede in 1947, many people were appointed as the President of the ANCYL. But, Mandela quickly realised that they were not the right men for the job and forced their resignation from the post, even though they also belonged to the Black community, but Mandela did not like their approach.

In 1948 General Elections of South Africa, only the whites were allowed to vote, which resulted that the opposing party got elected, and more severe laws were introduced against the Black community. This gave birth to the term- “Apartheid,” a system of dividing the people of South Africa on the basis of their skin colour. In 1950, Mandela was finally elected as the President of the ANCYL and as the National Executive of the ANC.

A Revolutionary

Throughout the 1950’s, Mandela led the life of a revolutionary in which he organized many strikes and protests against the ruling government. During this period, he was arrested several times, but his determination to fight for the rights of his beloved people never faded. He decided to build cheap law firms that would allow the Black population to hire lawyers to fight against Apartheid. But, the real struggle began in the early 1960’s. The Government declared Mandela’s party ANC illegal and banned them.

From the period of 1962 to 1990, Mandela was imprisoned by the Government in three different locations of South Africa- Pretoria, Cape Town, and Paarl. He served 28 years of imprisonment for doing nothing wrong. This showed how brave and determined he was to fight for equality. In 1964, Mandela gave one of his most famous three-hour speech-  “I am prepared to die.”

Which he began by saying,

“I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons will live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to see realised. But if it needs to be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.”

In February 1990, the then Government of South Africa declared the ANC legal and announced that Mandela would be released from prison, aged 71. Mandela was announced the head of ANC and became a symbol to end Apartheid in South Africa. For his achievements, he was awarded the Nobel Peace prize in 1993. In 1994, after more than 300 years, the Black population of South Africa was allowed to vote for their ruler. By a huge margin of votes, Mandela was elected as the First Black President of South Africa at the age of 75.

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Essay On Nelson Mandela: 10 Lines, Short and Long Essay

Key Points to Remember When Writing Essay On Nelson Mandela

10 lines on nelson mandela, a paragraph on nelson mandela, short essay on nelson mandela in english, long essay on nelson mandela, interesting facts about nelson mandela for children, what will your child learn from the essay on nelson mandela.

The tale of Nelson Mandela, a man who became the face of resistance against apartheid and a global icon for human rights, is more than just an inspiring story; it is a blueprint for change and personal development . Writing an essay on such a monumental figure provides a unique opportunity to explore significant historical events and their influence on today’s world. Essays in English offer a structured way to investigate topics, enabling us to delve deep into subjects, fostering critical thinking skills, and bettering our understanding. This essay on Nelson Mandela for kids aims to cater to a broad audience, offering a 10-line overview for those searching for quick insights, a short essay for middle-level readers, and an extensive examination for those willing to delve deeper into Mandela’s life.

Writing an essay on a historical figure as influential as Nelson Mandela can be rewarding and challenging. Here are some key points to keep in mind to ensure your essay is both impactful and informative:

Contextual Understanding: Know the sociopolitical background of apartheid in South Africa. The depth of Mandela’s contributions can only be fully appreciated within this context.

Balanced View: While Mandela is often lionized, it’s crucial to present a balanced view, discussing his achievements alongside any criticisms or controversies he faced.

Chronological Flow: Consider organizing your essay chronologically, tracking Mandela’s life from his early years through his time in prison, his presidency, and beyond.

Emphasis on Key Events: Highlight significant moments like his involvement in the African National Congress, his arrest, the Rivonia Trial, his time in Robben Island, and his eventual release and presidency ( 1 ).

Mandela’s Ideals: Explore the principles that guided Mandela—democracy, equality, reconciliation, and human rights ( 2 ) —and how they influenced his actions.

Quotes and Sayings: Incorporate Mandela’s own words to help illuminate his thoughts and philosophy. But always remember to cite your sources.

Global Impact: Don’t limit your essay to Mandela’s contributions to South Africa; discuss how he became a global symbol of resistance against oppression and resonated in youth movements ( 3 ).

Personal Reflection: Engage your readers with reflections or questions about what Mandela’s legacy means today.

When you are required to encapsulate the essence of Nelson Mandela’s life in a brief format, a few lines on Nelson Mandela can provide a snapshot of his incredible journey. This approach can be particularly useful for school assignments, quick recaps, or introductions to deeper discussions about him.

1. Nelson Mandela was born on July 18, 1918, in Umtata, part of South Africa’s Eastern Cape Province.

2. He belonged to the Thembu royal family and was given the forename “Rolihlahla,” which means “pulling the branch of a tree” or metaphorically, “troublemaker ( 1 ).”

3. Mandela became politically active in his 20s, joining the African National Congress (ANC) in 1944.

4. He was instrumental in fighting against apartheid, the system of racial segregation and discrimination in South Africa.

5. Arrested in 1962, he was sentenced to life imprisonment during the infamous Rivonia Trial.

6. He spent 27 years in prison, mainly in a small cell on Robben Island, where he became a symbol of resistance.

7. Released in 1990, Mandela took part in negotiations to abolish apartheid and establish multiracial elections.

8. In 1994, he was elected South Africa’s first Black president, focusing on reconciliation between racial groups.

9. Nelson Mandela and then-South African President F.W. de Klerk won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993.

10. He passed away on December 5, 2013, but his legacy as a champion for human rights, equality, and democracy endures.

A short paragraph can be a powerful introduction to Nelson Mandela. Sometimes, less is more, and summarizing his extraordinary life in a few words can highlight his immense impact on the world.

In this short paragraph on Nelson Mandela, it’s worth mentioning that he was not just South Africa’s first Black president but also an enduring symbol of resilience against oppression. Born in 1918 to the Thembu royal family, Mandela’s life was a testament to the human spirit’s capacity for courage and change. He spent 27 gruelling years in prison for his stand against apartheid, a brutal system of racial discrimination. Upon his release, Mandela forgave his captors and led South Africa through a peaceful transition to democracy, earning him a Nobel Peace Prize. His legacy as a champion for human rights, social justice, and racial equality lives on, inspiring generations worldwide.

This short paragraph encapsulates the magnitude of Mandela’s contribution to civil rights, reminding us that integrity and courage can change the course of history.

A short essay can be highly effective for those who wish to explore Nelson Mandela’s impact concisely yet substantially. This format allows us to touch upon key elements of his life and legacy within a limited word count, making it suitable for academic assignments or quick reads.

In this Nelson Mandela essay in 150 words, we delve into the life of a man who became a global icon for peace, justice, and freedom. Born in 1918, Nelson Mandela was destined for leadership, but it was his unwavering fight against apartheid that made him a worldwide symbol of resistance. Joining the African National Congress in his early years, Mandela tirelessly fought against racial injustice. His activism led him to prison, where he would spend 27 years of his life. However, the confinement couldn’t break Mandela; it only solidified his resolve. He captivated the world upon his release by advocating for peace and reconciliation, sharing the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize with then-president F.W. de Klerk. Elected as the first Black president of South Africa in 1994, Mandela focused on healing a fractured nation and dismantling the oppressive systems of the past. His legacy of courage, wisdom, and resilience is an eternal guidepost for anyone aspiring to make a meaningful impact on society.

This short essay encapsulates Mandela’s indomitable spirit. His life story continues to inspire millions worldwide to take a stand for what is just and fair.

A long essay for students provides the space to explore various facets of Nelson Mandela’s life, philosophy, and impact for those eager to gain a deeper understanding of him. This format is well-suited for readers who wish to take a detailed journey through Mandela’s extraordinary life, covering elements from his early years to his numerous accolades.

Early Life And Education Of Nelson Mandela

Diving into Nelson Mandela’s early life essays, we discover the foundations that made him the transformative figure he would later become. Born to the Thembu royal family, Mandela had a glimpse of leadership roles at an early age. In this Nelson Mandela early life essay, it’s crucial to note that his education began at a Methodist school, where he was given the English name ‘Nelson’. He later enrolled at Fort Hare University, a hub for intellectual discourse among Black Africans in those days. However, Mandela was expelled before completing his degree due to his involvement in a student protest. This early chapter was a prelude to his lifelong activism. He moved to Johannesburg, eventually completing his law degree via correspondence, laying the intellectual groundwork for his fight against apartheid.

Awards and Honours Of Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela, the iconic anti-apartheid leader and former President of South Africa, received numerous awards and honours throughout his lifetime for his dedication to the struggle against racial segregation and his efforts to promote peace and reconciliation. Here is a list of some of Nelson Mandela’s achievements and the awards and honours bestowed upon him:

• Nobel Peace Prize (1993) : Nelson Mandela and then-South African President F.W. de Klerk were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts to peacefully dismantle apartheid and establish a multiracial democracy in South Africa ( 4 ).
• Presidential Medal of Freedom (2002) : He received this prestigious award from the United States, one of the highest civilian honours in the country, for his contributions to the fight against apartheid ( 5 ).
• Congressional Gold Medal (1998) : The U.S. Congress awarded Nelson Mandela the Congressional Gold Medal for his lifelong dedication to civil rights, justice, and equality ( 6 ).
• Bharat Ratna (1990) : India honoured Nelson Mandela with its highest civilian award for his outstanding contributions to the struggle against apartheid and his commitment to human rights.
• Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought (1988) : The European Parliament awarded Mandela the first-ever Sakharov Prize for his exceptional efforts to promote freedom and equality.
• Lenin Peace Prize (1990) : He was awarded the Lenin Peace Prize by the Soviet Union for his role in ending apartheid and his efforts to bring peace and justice to South Africa.
• Order of Merit (1995) : Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom awarded him the Order of Merit in recognition of his extraordinary achievements and contributions to society.
• Order of Canada (1998) : Nelson Mandela was made an honorary Companion of the Order of Canada in recognition of his significant impact on the world through his fight against apartheid.
• Lenin Peace Prize (1983): He was also awarded the Lenin Peace Prize earlier in 1983 for his anti-imperialist and anti-colonialist stance in the struggle against apartheid.
• Freedom of the City (various cities) : Mandela was granted the Freedom of the City in numerous cities worldwide, including London, New York, and Johannesburg, in recognition of his efforts for peace and human rights.

These are just a few of the many awards and honours that Nelson Mandela received during his lifetime. His legacy as a global symbol of freedom, justice, and reconciliation continues to be celebrated and honoured worldwide.

Nelson Mandela resonates with people of all ages, from grandparents to young children. While the complexities of his fight against apartheid may be difficult for younger minds to grasp fully, plenty of intriguing aspects of his life can educate and entertain children.

Nickname: Nelson Mandela’s original name was Rolihlahla, which means “pulling the branch of a tree” or “troublemaker” in Xhosa. His teacher gave him the English name “Nelson” on his first day of school.

Royal Background: Mandela was born into a royal family! He was part of the Thembu tribe, and his father was a chief.

Boxing Enthusiast: Mandela was quite athletic and enjoyed boxing. He saw it not as a violent sport but as an exercise in discipline and strategy.

27 Years in Prison: Mandela was in jail for 27 years. Imagine spending that long time away from your family and friends but still having the courage to fight for what’s right ( 7 ).

President with a Difference: When he became president, he chose not to take revenge on those who had imprisoned him. Instead, he worked to make the country a better place for everyone.

Nobel Peace Prize: Mandela was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993, a huge honour that recognized his efforts to peacefully end apartheid.

Children’s Champion: He loved children and worked hard to improve their lives in South Africa ( 8 ). He even wrote a children’s book called “Nelson Mandela’s Favorite African Folktales.”

Engaging with an essay about Nelson Mandela offers more than just historical insight; it teaches resilience, courage, and the endless possibilities of standing up for what’s right. As your child delves into Mandela’s journey, they will learn about the power of forgiveness and the importance of fighting for justice and equality. These lessons go beyond the classroom, equipping your young one with moral values that will serve them well throughout life.

1. What was the role of Nelson Mandela in the Anti-Apartheid Movement?

Nelson Mandela was a central figure in the anti-apartheid movement, initially advocating for peaceful protests before supporting armed resistance when other methods failed. Imprisoned for 27 years, he became an international symbol of resistance and, upon his release, helped peacefully dismantle apartheid and transition South Africa to democracy.

2. How many years was Nelson Mandela imprisoned, and where?

Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years. He was initially held in Robben Island Prison off the coast of Cape Town, where he spent most of his sentence. Later, he was moved to Pollsmoor Prison on the mainland and then to Victor Verster Prison, where he was eventually released. His long imprisonment became a focal point for global efforts to combat apartheid and made him an enduring symbol of resistance against oppression.

In wrapping up this comprehensive essay on Nelson Mandela, it becomes clear that his life and legacy are monumental testaments to the power of resilience, courage, and the human spirit. Whether you’re a student, a parent, or simply someone eager to learn, Mandela’s story offers rich lessons in empathy , leadership , and the ceaseless fight for justice. His story serves as a timeless inspiration, reminding us that one individual’s actions can indeed change the world for the better.

References/Resources:

1. Biography of Nelson Mandela; Nelson Mandela Foundation; https://www.nelsonmandela.org/biography

2. The Nelson Mandela Rules: Protecting the Rights of Persons Deprived of Liberty; United Nations; https://www.un.org/en/un-chronicle/nelson-mandela-rules-protecting-rights-persons-deprived-liberty

3. How Nelson Mandela’s Legacy Still Resonates for Youth Movements; United States Institute of Peace; https://www.usip.org/publications/2023/11/how-nelson-mandelas-legacy-still-resonates-youth-movements

4. The Nobel Peace Prize 1993; The Nobel Prize Organisation; https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace/1993/summary/

5. Nelson Mandela Awards 1960s-2000s; South African History Online; https://www.sahistory.org.za/article/nelson-mandela-awards-1960s-2000s

6. On this day – 23 September 1998; Nelson Mandela Foundation; https://www.nelsonmandela.org/on-this-day/entry/president-nelson-mandela-receives-the-congressional-gold-medal-from-president-bill-clinton-in-washington-usa-it-is-the-highest-award-bestowed-by-congress-for-distinguished-achievements-and-contributions-by-individuals-or-institutions

7. McRae, M.; The story of Nelson Mandela; Canadian Museum for Human Rights; https://humanrights.ca/story/story-nelson-mandela ; July 2018

8. Fought for all children; The World Children’s Prize; https://worldschildrensprize.org/nelsonmandela

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A Culture Warrior Takes a Late Swing

The editor and essayist Joseph Epstein looks back on his life and career in two new books.

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By Dwight Garner

NEVER SAY YOU’VE HAD A LUCKY LIFE: Especially If You’ve Had a Lucky Life , by Joseph Epstein

FAMILIARITY BREEDS CONTENT: New and Selected Essays , by Joseph Epstein

When Tammy Wynette was asked to write a memoir in her mid-30s, she initially declined, she said in an interview, because “I didn’t think my life was over yet.” The publisher responded: Has it occurred to you that in 15 years no one might care? She wrote the book. “Stand by Your Man: An Autobiography” (1979) was a hit.

The essayist and editor Joseph Epstein — whose memoir “Never Say You’ve Had a Lucky Life,” is out now, alongside a greatest-hits collection titled “Familiarity Breeds Content” — has probably never heard Wynette sing except by accident. (In a 1993 essay, he wrote that he wished he didn’t know who Willie Nelson was, because it was a sign of a compromised intellect.) But his memoir illustrates another reason not to wait too long to commit your life to print.

There is no indication that Epstein, who is in his late 80s, has lost a step. His prose is as genial and bland, if comparison to his earlier work is any indication, as it ever was. But there’s a softness to his memories of people, perhaps because it was all so long ago. This is the sort of memoir that insists someone was funny, or erudite, or charismatic, while rarely providing the crucial details.

Epstein aw-shucks his way into “Never Say You’ve Had a Lucky Life” — pretending to be self-effacing while not being so in the least is one of his salient qualities as a writer — by warning readers, “I may not have had a sufficiently interesting life to merit an autobiography.” This is because he “did little, saw nothing notably historic, and endured not much out of the ordinary of anguish or trouble or exaltation.” Quickly, however, he concludes that his life is indeed worth relating, in part because “over the years I have acquired the literary skill to recount that life well.”

Here he is wrong in both directions. His story is interesting enough to warrant this memoir. His personal life has taken complicated turns. And as the longtime editor of the quarterly magazine The American Scholar, and a notably literate conservative culture warrior, he’s been in the thick of things.

He does lack the skill to tell his own story, though, if by “skill” we mean not well-scrubbed Strunk and White sentences but close and penetrating observation. Epstein favors tasseled loafers and bow ties, and most of his sentences read as if they were written by a sentient tasseled loafer and edited by a sentient bow tie.

He grew up in Chicago, where his father manufactured costume jewelry. The young Epstein was popular and, in high school, lettered in tennis. His title refers to being lucky, and a big part of that luck, in his estimation, was to grow up back when kids could be kids, before “the therapeutic culture” took over.

This complaint sets the tone of the book. His own story is set next to a rolling series of cultural grievances. He’s against casual dress, the prohibition of the word “Negro,” grade inflation, the Beat Generation, most of what occurred during the 1960s, standards slipping everywhere, de-Westernizing college curriculums, D.E.I. programs, you name it. His politics aren’t the problem. We can argue about those. American culture needs more well-read conservatives. The problem is that in his search for teachable moments, his memoir acquires the cardboard tone of a middling opinion column.

His youth was not all tennis lessons and root beer floats. He and his friends regularly visited brothels because, he writes, sex was not as easy to come by in the 1950s. He was kicked out of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign for his role in the selling of a stolen accounting exam to other students.

He was lucky to find a place at the University of Chicago, a place of high seriousness. The school changed him. He began to reassess his values. He began to read writers like Irving Howe, Sidney Hook, Midge Decter and Norman Podhoretz, and felt his politics pull to the right.

After college, he was drafted into the Army and ended up in Little Rock, Ark., where he met his first wife. At the time, she was a waitress at a bar and restaurant called the Gar Hole. Here Epstein’s memoir briefly threatens to acquire genuine weight.

She had lost custody of her two sons after a divorce. Together they got them back, and she and Epstein had two sons of their own. After their divorce, Epstein took all four of the boys. This is grist for an entire memoir, but Epstein passes over it quickly. One never gets much of a sense of what his boys were like, or what it was like to raise them. He later tells us that he has all but lost touch with his stepsons and has not seen them for decades.

He worked for the magazine The New Leader and the Encyclopaedia Britannica before becoming the editor of The American Scholar in 1975. It was a position he would hold for 22 years. He also taught at Northwestern University for nearly three decades.

At The American Scholar he began to write a long personal essay in each issue, under the pseudonym Aristides. He wrote 92 of these, on topics such as smoking and envy and reading and height. Most ran to 6,500 words, or about 4,000 words longer than they should have been.

Many magazine editors like to write every so often, to keep a hand in. But there is something unseemly about an editor chewing up acres of space in his own publication on a regular basis. Editorially, it’s a droit du seigneur imposition.

A selection of these essays, as well as some new ones, can now be found in “Familiarity Breeds Content.” In his introduction to this book, Christopher Buckley overpraises Epstein, leaving the reader no choice but to start mentally pushing back.

Buckley calls Epstein “the most entertaining living essayist in the English language.” (Not while Michael Kinsley, Lorrie Moore, Calvin Trillin, Sloane Crosley and Geoff Dyer, among many others, walk the earth.) He repurposes Martin Amis’s comment about Saul Bellow: “One doesn’t read Saul Bellow. One can only reread him.” To this he adds, “Ditto Epstein.” (Epstein is no Saul Bellow.) Buckley says, “Joe Epstein is incapable of writing a boring sentence.”

Well. How about this one, from an essay about cats?

A cat, I realize, cannot be everyone’s cup of fur.

Or this one, from an essay about sports and other obsessions:

I have been told there are people who wig out on pasta.

Or this one, about … guess:

When I was a boy, it occurs to me now, I always had one or another kind of hat.

Juggling today appears to be undergoing a small renaissance.

If one is looking to save on fuel bills, politics is likely to heat up a room quicker than just about anything else.

In tennis I was most notable for flipping and catching my racket in various snappy routines.

The essays are, by and large, as tweedy and self-satisfied as these lines make them sound. There are no wild hairs in them, no sudden deepenings of tone. Nothing is at stake. We are stranded with him on the putt-putt course.

Epstein fills his essays with quotation after quotation, as ballast. I am a fan of well-deployed, free-range quotations. So many of Epstein’s are musty and reek of Bartlett’s. They are from figures like Lord Chesterfield and Lady Mary Montagu and Sir Herbert Grierson and Tocqueville and Walpole and Carlyle. You can feel the moths escaping from the display case in real time.

To be fair, I circled a few sentences in “Familiarity Breeds Content” happily. I’m with him on his distrust of “fun couples.” He writes, “A cowboy without a hat is suitable only for bartending.” I liked his observation, which he borrowed from someone else, that a career has five stages:

(1) Who is Joseph Epstein? (2) Get me Joseph Epstein. (3) We need someone like Joseph Epstein. (4) What we need is a young Joseph Epstein. (5) Who is Joseph Epstein?

It’s no fun to trip up a writer on what might have been a late-career victory lap. Epstein doesn’t need me to like his work. He’s published more than 30 books, and you can’t do that unless you’ve made a lot of readers happy.

NEVER SAY YOU’VE HAD A LUCKY LIFE : Especially If You’ve Had a Lucky Life | By Joseph Epstein | Free Press | 287 pp. | $29.99

FAMILIARITY BREEDS CONTENT : New and Selected Essays | By Joseph Epstein | Simon & Schuster | 441 pp. | Paperback, $20.99

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Home — Essay Samples — Government & Politics — Nelson Mandela — The Contribution of Nelson Mandela in African Education

The Contribution of Nelson Mandela in African Education

• Categories: Importance of Education Nelson Mandela

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Published: Oct 22, 2018

Words: 994 | Pages: 2 | 5 min read

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