NELSON MANDELA: A STORY OF RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES IN SOUTH AFRICAWILLIAM KEPLERINDIVIDUALJUNIOR ESSAY“I fought against white domination and I fought against black domination. I cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. This is an ideal that I hope to live for and achieve. But if necessary, it is an ideal for which I am ready to die. » – Nelson Mandela during the treason trial, April 20, 1964. Are all men equal? Does everyone have rights? Should governments be obligated to protect their citizens at all times? Nelson Mandela argued that it was the responsibility of a government to protect the rights of all its citizens. Specifically, Mandela focused his efforts on his native South Africa and its apartheid laws. Rolihlahla Mandela was born in Mvezo, Cape Province, on July 18, 1918. He went to public school where his name was Nelson, as it was the custom to give all students "good" first names. . He attended Fort Hare College, but was expelled for participating in a student protest. When he returned home, the tribal king of his people, who was also the regent who had raised him, was very enraged. Mandela felt bad about letting his king down, but he was also very committed to his cause, which was primarily about promoting the rights of black students. Mandela completed his Bachelor of Arts at the University of South Africa. This made him very prestigious academically, especially among Africans. Mandela formulated his political beliefs in his twenties and thirties, while he was also obtaining his law degree. During this time, he officially became involved in the political scene in 1942 when...... middle of paper...... Cyberschoolbus. United Nations (UN), nd Web. January 2014. This resource has proven useful in understanding specific apartheid laws. He also published photos of the implementation of apartheid and resistance to it. Frängsmyr, Tore. “Nelson Mandela – Biographical.” Nelson Mandela – Biographical. Nobel Media AB, 1994. Web. January 27, 2014. This site explains how and why Mandela won his Nobel Peace Prize. It also helped me understand the relationship between Mandela and FW DeKlerk: “Towards a People's History”. History of South Africa online. South African HistoryOnline (SAHO), July 4, 2012. Web. Nov.-Dec. 2013. This source was useful in providing specific articles on the Defiance campaign, the treason trial, the Pan African Congress (PAC) and Umkhonto De Wesizwe. Additionally, the website features photographs of major events in the struggle against apartheid..