July 18th: Nelson Mandela! Born on this day in 1918, he was best known as the President of South Africa from 1994-1999. He was South Africas first black chief executive, and the first elected in a fully representative democratic election. His government focused on dismantling the legacy of apartheid through tackling institutionalized racism, poverty and inequality, and fostering racial reconciliation. Politically an African nationalist and democratic socialist, he served as President of the African National Congress from 1991 to 1997. Internationally, Mandela was Secretary General of the Non-Aligned Movement from 1998 to 1999. A Xhosa born to the Thembu royal family, Mandela attended the Fort Hare University and the University of Witwatersrand, where he studied law. Living in Johannesburg, he became involved in anti-colonial politics, joining the African National Congress and becoming a founding member of its Youth League. After the South African National Party came to power in 1948, he rose to prominence in the African National Congresss 1952 Defiance Campaign, was appointed superintendent of the organisations Transvaal chapter and presided over the 1955 Congress of the People. Working as a lawyer, he was repeatedly arrested for seditious activities and, with the African National Congress leadership, was unsuccessfully prosecuted in the Treason Trial from 1956 to 1961. He served 27 years in prison after being convicted of conspiracy to overthrow the state in 1962. He was released in 1990, during a time of escalating civil strife. Mandela joined negotiations with President F. W. de Klerk to abolish apartheid and establish multiracial elections in 1994, in which he led the African National Congress to victory and became South Africas first black president. He declined to run for a second term, and was succeeded by his deputy, Thabo Mbeki. Mandela became an elder statesman, focusing on charitable work in combating poverty and HIV/AIDS through the Nelson Mandela Foundation. He gained international acclaim for his activism, having received more than 250 honors, including the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize, the US Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the Soviet Order of Lenin. He is held in deep respect within South Africa, where he is often referred to as the father of the nation. Honorable Mention: Western star and Francis the Mule voice, Chill Wills 1902 Radio and Television comedian, Red Skelton 1913 Hilariously named figure skater, Dick Button 1929 Author of Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas and The Rum Diaries, Hunter S. Thompson 1937 (Johnny Depp starred in the movie adaptations of both of those books) Actor who starred in The Master Of Disguise and wife of Barbara Streisand, father of Josh, James Brolin 1940 Publishing Executive, Steve Forbes 1947 (His real name is Malcolm Stevenson Forbes Jr.) Fast and Furious actor who made it big as a daredevil spy in xXx, Vin Diesel 1967 Rapper M.I.A., 1975 (Her real name is Mathangi Arulpragasam, just call her Maya) Baseballer Torii Hunter 1975 Actress who played Becky in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Veronica Mars and Princess Ana in Frozen, Kristen Bell 1980 Pop Rocker who sang On The Way Down, Ryan Cabrera 1982
Posted on: Fri, 18 Jul 2014 15:55:34 +0000
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