From the Publisher

An accessible and up-to-date graphic guide to the life and experience of Nelson Mandela, the first black president of South Africa. ... Read more

Book Description

In 1976, while imprisoned on Robben Island, Nelson Mandela secretly wrote the bulk of his autobiography, "Long Walk to Freedom." The manuscript was to be smuggled out by fellow prisoner Mac Maharaj on his release later that year. Maharaj also urged Mandela and other prominent political prisoners to write essays on South Africa's political future. These were smuggled out with Mandela's autobiography and are now published for the first time.

Written by Mandela, Walter Sisulu, Ahmed Kathrada, Govan Mbeki, and four other leaders of the anti-apartheid movement, these essays provide a rare view of their thinking at a critical point in the liberation struggle, on the eve of the 1976 Soweto Uprising. The leaders describe their philosophies, strategies, and hopes. They debate such crucial issues as violent versus nonviolent forms of struggle, diversity and unity, the ideological challenge of the Black Consciousness movement, and how to accommodate different interpretations of African nationalism.

The book begins with a foreword by Desmond Tutu and a contextualizing introduction by Maharaj. Then come two essays by Mandela and one each by Sisulu, Kathrada, Mbeki, Billy Nair, John Pokela, Eddie Daniels, and Andimba Toivo ya Toivo. Each essay is preceded by a short biography of the author, a description of his life in prison, and a pencil sketch by a black South African artist. ... Read more

Book Description

A biography of the South African leader who became a civil rights activist, political prisoner, and president of South Africa. ... Read more

Book Description

More than five generations of nine South African families are profiled in this social history that reflects the complexity, challenges, and strengths of post-apartheid South African society. Oral accounts are combined with photographs that trace the histories of these families over the 20th century and further back in cases where records exist. Different cultural, economic, social, and geographical backgrounds are represented, including those of urban blacks in the 1950s, a Zulu royal family, a founding member of the African National Congress, and the last Afrikaner president of the Orange Free State. ... Read more

Book Description

This digital document, covering the life and work of Nelson R(olihlahla) Mandela, is an entry from Contemporary Authors, a reference volume published by Thomson Gale. The length of the entry is 6885 words. The page length listed above is based on a typical 300-word page. Although the exact content of each entry from this volume can vary, typical entries include the following information:

• Place and date of birth and death (if deceased)
• Family members
• Education
• Professional associations and honors
• Employment
• Writings, including books and periodicals
• A description of the author's work
• References to further readings about the author