Happy Birthday, Nelson Mandela

Mandela in 1937.

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oday is Nelson Mandela’s 94th birthday, and throughout South Africa celebrations are being held. But Mandela’s impact spread far beyond the country he presided over after serving 27 years of a life sentence for his anti-apartheid activities. Mandela’s struggle for the equal treatment of South Arican blacks resonated around the world and in 1993 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. 

Mandela was the leader of the militant wing of the African National Congress (ANC) in the early ‘60s. The ANC was determined to overthrow South Africa’s racist National Party government, and Mandela planned sabotage attacks against various government targets such as courts, post offices, and government offices. Mandela was determined that such attacks should be carried out in a way that would ensure that no one was injured, but to the government, sabotage was sabotage, and Mandela was tried in 1962 and sentenced to life imprisonment.

One of the more bizarre Mandela-related items, the Nelson Mandela Brand Car Air Freshener, featuring the caption, "Damn Nelson Mandela, you smell so good!" For some reason the air fresheners have the scent of cookies.

It was only in 1990, under pressure from South Africa and the rest of the world as a result of the “Free Nelson Mandela” campaign, that Mandela was set free.

In 1994 he was elected President of South Africa in the country’s first representative democratic election. He served until 1999.

Mandela continues to inspire people as a symbol of fighting against oppression, and he has even inspired a fashion label, 46664 Fashion, named for Mandela’s prison number, which celebrates its international launch today.

July 18 has been designated Mandela Day by the United Nations. To honor the 67 years Mandela gave to the struggle for social justice, people are asked to donate 67 minutes to community service.