Nelson Mandela 1918-2013

When I learned about South Africa's apartheid when I was in college in the 1980s, I was pretty shocked. I read more and more about it and learned about Nelson Mandela who was leading the efforts to end apartheid from his prison cell.

Like students around the country at that time, we decided to pressure our school, Mills College, to pull its investment money out of firms doing business in South Africa until they ended apartheid. We also tried not to buy products of companies that invested in South Africa. It was a kind of boycott. Lots of people said that boycotts wouldn't work, but in 1990, Nelson Mandela was released from jail, and apartheid crumbled. He became South Africa's first black president in 1993.

He will always be inspirational to me because he worked selflessly to improve the lives of others. He also did not seek to punish those who had mistreated him and so many others.  Instead he started an extraordinary process of "truth and reconciliation." People who had been victims and perpetrators got in the same room, spoke the truth about what happened, and listened to each other. This was very healing for many and they were all able to move forward together.

He said, "Do not judge me by my successes, judge me by how how many times I fell down and got back up again."

He also said, "For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others."

Rest in Peace, Nelson Mandela