“As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn't leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I'd still be in prison.”
Nelson Mandela (born 18th July 1918) was an outspoken critic of the apartheid system of South Africa, and he spent 27 years in prison as a result. He was released from prison on 11th February 1990, and helped end apartheid serving the country as president from 1994 through 1999. Nelson Mandela died in 2013 but is widely considered to be the father of the modern nation of South Africa and his wisdom lives on in his words.
“No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.”
Free Nelson Mandela was a song released in 1984. Around the same time I had been taken to a concert by “Sisters of The long March” whilst I was at university and this made a profound impact on me, as well as hearing everyone singing Free Nelson Mandela together particularly the line
“His body abused, but his mind is still free”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_iWvR3GL0U
