Tag Archives: South Africa

Nelson Mandela, whose life was defined by moral courage and leadership, died in Johannesburg, South Africa on December 5, 2013. He grew from rural villager to resistance leader against the apartheid regime, and endured decades of imprisonment as a result. When released from Robben Island prison in 1990 he worked to negotiate a peaceful end to institutionalized racism, which earned him a share of the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize. The first black president from 1994-1999, Mandela was a hero of the 20th century.  I am fundamentally an optimist. Whether that … Continue reading →