It is challenging to deny that a few people have left their marks in history, and each of them has impacted the world significantly. This ceremonial speech will be about Nelson Mandela, who was one of the most influential individuals in the 20th century. This person is acknowledged because he devoted his entire life to serving others, making society better, and ending various manifestations of racism and discrimination.
To begin with, one should note that Mandela actively opposed the war, racial segregation, and colonialism when these phenomena were considered typical. He believed that it was necessary to argue against the existing state of affairs to improve the world. According to Ndlovu-Gatsheni, Mandela was “prepared to die for the cause of democracy and human rights” (p. 23). His active social position resulted in the fact that he was forced to endure “27 years of incarceration at the notorious Robben Island” (Ndlovu-Gatsheni, p. 23). However, this event did not make Mandela deflect from his purpose, which would be later honored by the whole world. In 1993, Mandela won the Nobel Prize for Peace for combatting apartheid in South Africa. In addition to that, this person became the first black president of his new and democratic nation in 1994 (Ndlovu-Gatsheni, p. 24).
In conclusion, Nelson Mandela was a prominent person who personified struggle against racial discrimination. Even though he tried to end apartheid in his own country, South Africa, his ideas influenced the whole world, which is supported by the Nobel Prize. Consequently, Mandela is a useful example of how an individual can contribute to establishing peace and democracy in society. That is why this person is honored in almost every country in the world.
Work Cited
Ndlovu-Gatsheni, Sabelo J. “Nelson Mandela and the Politics of Life.” Governance and the Crisis of Rule in Contemporary Africa, edited by Ebenezer Obadare and Wale Adebanwi, Palgrave Macmillan, 2016, pp. 23-47.