Heroes for Freedom: Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela was born in South Africa in 1918. At that time, South Africa had a system called apartheid, which separated people by race. Under apartheid, black people were treated very unfairly and had fewer rights than white people.

Mandela believed that all people should be treated equally, regardless of their race. He became a lawyer and joined the African National Congress (ANC), an organization that fought against apartheid. Because of his work fighting injustice, Mandela was arrested and sent to prison in 1962.

Mandela spent 27 years in prison, but he never gave up hope. Many people around the world called for his release. Finally, in 1990, Mandela was set free. He continued to work for peace and equality in South Africa. In 1994, in South Africa's first democratic election where all adults could vote, Mandela was elected as the country's first black president.

As president, Mandela worked to bring people of all races together and heal the wounds of apartheid. He became known as the "Father of the Nation" in South Africa and is remembered around the world as a symbol of peace and forgiveness.