Written By: Jillian Peprah-Frimpong
Pre-Professional, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
Student, New York City Museum School

Today marks the 100th birthday of former South African president and anti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela.

In 1962 the South African government arrested Mandela and charged him with sabotage and conspiracy to overthrow the nation during the Rivonia Trial. He spent a total of 27 years rotating between the Robben Island and Pollsmoor Prison before serving the rest of his time in Victor Verster Prison, where he would organize secret meetings with president of the ANC, Oliver Tambo. While in jail, Mandela penned his groundbreaking autobiography Long Walk to Freedom which detailed his experience in jail, reflected on his boyhood and most importantly his 27 years in prison. The combination of growing international criticism, fear of civil war and the surge of anti-colonial politics, Prez. F. W. De Klerk released Mandela on February 11. He was 71-years-old upon the date of his release.

Quickly after his release, Mandela continued to advocate for the anti- apartheid cause touring and visiting countries to give speeches at rallies against the South African government. His international tours, sponsored by the African National Congress (ANC), generated massive support for the anti-apartheid cause from neighboring African countries, Zambia and Zimbabwe, as well as France, Sweden and the United Kingdom. His work also persuaded diplomats and representatives to support sanctions against the apartheid regime.

Following Mandela’s release, the ANC also quickly began campaigning for Mandela to run for office and opened 100 election offices and forums to rally up support for the free election. The days from April 26 to 29 1994 marked the first democratic election in South Africa permitting black South Africans to vote. In 1994, Mandela, backed by the ANC, won the majority vote by 62% against F.W. De Klerk and Mangosuthu Buthelezi of the Inkatha Freedom Party and became the first black president of South Africa (Listen to Nelson Mandela’s inauguration speech). After becoming president and chief executive of South Africa, Mandela quickly turned his efforts towards racial reconciliation through the Reconstruction and Development program (RDP) which would improve the economic status of black South Africans.

In the midst of uncertain politics and the current state of world affairs, former United States President Barack Obama gave a speech on Tuesday commemorating the legacy of Mandela in Johannesburg on the 100th anniversary of his birthday. Obama reminded his South African and global audience to value and show solidarity, kindness and equality in the way Mandela and other freedom-fighters would be proud of.

Learn more about Nelson Mandela’s life and legacy through items in the Schomburg's Collections including:

• The Nelson Mandela Resource Guide 
• Nelson Mandela Portrait Collection in the Photographs and Prints Division
• Long Walk to Freedom in the Schomburg Center’s JBH Research and Reference Division
• Nelson Mandela : the struggle is my life : his speeches and writings brought together with historical documents and accounts of Mandela in prison by fellow-prisoners
• Barack Obama’s Speech in South Africa  (The Washington Post, 7/17/18)