BIO
Early Years: Born in the tiny village of Mvezo, in Transkei, South Africa on July 18, 1918. Mandela's birth name "Rolihlahla" in the Xhosa language literally means "pulling the branch of a tree," but more commonly translates as "troublemaker." He attended primary school in Qunu where his teacher Miss Mdingane gave him the name Nelson, in accordance with the custom to give all school children “Christian” names. At age 9,Mandela was adopted by Chief Jongintaba Dalindyebo when his father diedand Mandela. He moved to Mqhekezweni, where he was groomed to assume the position of counselor to a tribal chief.
For more details on his early life, there is an excellent biography at Biography.com
An Activist for Social Justice. Nelson Mandela became increasingly politically involved as he saw the disparity between the way Whites and Blacks were treated in South Africa. He joined the African National Congress in 1944 when he helped to form the ANC Youth League. A two-year diploma in law on top of his BA allowed Nelson Mandela to practice law, and in1952 he and Oliver Tambo established South Africa’s first black law firm. That same year, Mandela headed a campaign of civil disobedience against six unjust laws and was arrested and sentenced to nine months hard labour, suspended for two years. This was just the beginning of his encounters with authority in the pursuit of justice. In June,1964 Mandela and seven other accused were sentenced to life imprisonment at Robben Island. He was released from prison on February 1990, nine days after the unbanning of the ANC, and became the first Black President of South Africa in May 1994.
Mandela retired from politics in 1999, but always remained a global advocate for peace and social justice. A symbol of global peacemaking, he won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993.The life and legacy of the man known to his fellow South Africans and the world as "Madiba" is an inspiration for all those seeking a world that works for everyone.
You can find more at the Official Nelson Mandela Website
In addition to the online biographies cited above, for further research the life and times of Nelson Mandela, there are many good resources
The History Channel has a slideshow timeline of Mandela's life, as well as videos and audio clips, including one from the day he was released from prison.
NPR's Nelson Mandela: An Audio History is an hourlong radio show, produced in 2004, told through the voices of people who experienced apartheid, including Mandela himself. NPR also published a collection of news coverage, videosand photos related to Mandela.
CNN has a "fast facts" timeline of Mandela's life,
On the BBC's website, there's a "teacher resources" page devoted to Mandela, including an online quiz, photos, and a student-friendly presentation of the facts.
PBS' Frontline released a two-hour program entitled "The Long Walk to Freedom" in 1999. They also have a teachers' guide. with historical background and discussion questions with goals such as showing how "individuals can take small actions that can make a difference in the area of social justice", and "to consider how fear affects our behavior and can affect our ability to resolve conflicts".
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