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In 1948 apartheid began and segregation took place in South Africa. This period was cruel and murderous and a million people were captive and died. During this period there was a distinction of color, so white men and black men were separated. For example white men did not share their toilets with black men or even bus places.

Nelson Mandela was a victim of this crime. Born on July 18, 1918,and died on December 5, 2013 he was arrested on August 5, 1962 by South African police. He was subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment and forced labor during the Rivonia trial. He was imprisoned at the beginning of his sentence at Robben Island and later at Poolsmore Prison. That's when he became the symbol of the struggle for racial equality.

On February 2, 1990, President De Klerk announced the lifting of the ban on the ANC and several other anti-apartheid organizations, as well as the forthcoming and unconditional release of Nelson Mandela. The latter was released on February 11, 1990 after 27 years, 6 months and 6 days of imprisonment. The day of his release Mandela spoke on the balcony of Cape Town City Hall declaring his commitment to peace and reconciliation with the white minority, but made it clear that the ANC's armed struggle was not over, and would continue as "a purely defensive action against the violence of apartheid" Mandela also said that his main goal was to give the black majority the right to vote in both national and local elections. 

This event marked me because it proved that after having gone through hell it is possible to succeed and to go further. Indeed Mandela was President of South Africa in 1994 until the end of his mandate in 1999. He also received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993

speech of Mandela after his release