nelson Mandela by alice dickson

Childhood

Nelson Mandela was born on July 18^th 1918 as Rolihlahla , which means trouble maker. When young Nelson was 7 his father decided to send him to school, and as Nelson Mandela's family were not wealthy ,His father  Gadla Henry Mphakanyiswa Gave him a pair of old black trousers and cut the bottom to wear to school. When Nelson got to school he was still  called Rilahala and everyone in his school were not dressed very formally either so he kind of stood out. Nelson teacher decided to give them all English names as at that time the English were ruling over south Africa . So that’s how he was called Nelson! His Africa name was Rolihlahla and his English name was Nelson. Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela. Sadly his father died when he was only nine years old. Stick fighting was his favourite game,he would play it with his friends down in the woods!

In prison

Because of illegally leaving south Africa he was sentenced to prison for 5 years , but then later on was sentenced for LIFE in prison for protesting about how unfair the whites were treating the blacks. He and 8 other guys were sent to prison with him all except for one who was sent to a different prison as he was a white. Robben Island was the prison that Nelson Mandela was sent to. It was so small that if he lay down on his sleeping mat head to toe he would be able to touch the opposite wall. With a little bucket as a toilet and a tiny little blanket. He was miserable. Nelson was only allowed to write 2 letters a year and if the guards thought there were things that they shouldn’t know they would cross and blacken it out. Luckily after 18 years he got moved to a different prison , but strangely enough this one had a lovely swimming pool and was a obviously more pleasant to be in! Though Mandela didn’t know it loads of South Africans were still protesting against the whites and Mandela’s popularity grew very big!

Free at last

                After 27 years Nelson Mandela was finally free .Many people showed up to see this great man in 1990.The reason he was let out was because a new president took over called F.W Clerk and let him out! He also got elected president on his 80^th birthday. Now every year on the 18^th of June people celebrate Nelson Mandela day. Sadly nelson Mandela is getting very ill of old age yet we will all(maybe all)remember him as an awesome man who did something very good by un separating the black and the whites!