As a leader, one must sometimes take actions that are unpopular, or whose results will not be known for years to come.

Nelson Mandela was a great leader. Reading (listening to) his autobiography was an eye-opening experience. Not only was he a great leader for the South Africans but also for the world. I know that South Africa is considered a developing country, but listening to the descriptions of his life over there was shocking. Basic things, such as food and education, that we take for granted in the Western society are still lacking. But despite these shortcomings, Nelson Mandela inspired and taught the world a lot on racial equality and leadership.

At the start of the book, Nelson described himself as an introvert who was shy even with his peers. He said

Although I am a gregarious person, I love solitude even more

But shyness did not stop him to pursue his career as a lawyer and his desire to bring freedom and equality to the South Africans. He became involved in the African National Congress (ANC) party to fight against apartheid. As part of his involvement in the ANC, he became the head of ANC’s first militant wing, the ‘Umkhonto we Sizwe’, commonly described as ‘MK’ for short. There he was involved in paramilitary training, which came as a surprise to me as I knew he received the Peace Nobel Prize in 1993. How could he received such a prize if he was involved in a violent group? I learned later in the book why he had won the prize.

As the head of MK, he drew up plans for military action such as sabotage and guerrilla warfare. However, before he got directly involved in any violence himself, he was arrested and imprisoned for 27 years. I believe it was during this long imprisonment that he showed his great character and I learned a few key things from him:

1. His continuity in pursuing his study

During his long imprisonment, Nelson never ceased studying. He continued his law education and even obtained further certifications. Although being in prison constrained his access to resources such as books and newspapers, it did not stop him from fulfilling his curiosity. Just like the saying you are never too old to learn, learning is a continuous process and the ability to educate oneself constantly is what will make one person stands out more than one’s peers.

Education is the great engine of personal development. It is through education …, that a child of farmworkers can become the president of a great nation. It is what we make out of what we have, not what we are given, that separates one person from another.

2. His commitment to his principles of equality and freedom

Racism inside the prison was not much better than outside. Again and again black Africans were treated as minorities with their rights for basic treatment such as food, being suppressed by the prison guards. Nelson showed his leadership inside the prison by negotiating with the prison management for equality on food, clothing, and time outside the cells. There were many times when he became the spokesman for the prisoners to outside media, such as the Red Cross. His fighting spirit for equality even when he was in jail was remarkable and showed how little imprisonment had impacted his belief and mind.

I realized that they could take everything from me except my mind and my heart. They could not take those things. Those things I still had control over. And I decided not to give them away.

3. His ability to forgive his opponents

After 27 years of imprisonment, a person would likely resent or hate the people who put him in jail, especially if it was only because of his principles and believes instead of his wrongdoings. However, this was not the case for Nelson. He understood that by letting hatred live in his heart, he was not truly free. Learning to forgive your enemies is a hard thing and I believe if a person can master this, his/her life would be much happier. I know I am still a long way from obtaining this virtue, not that I have ‘enemies’ but sometimes I need to work with ‘difficult’ people!

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’s strength and resilience in fighting for equality and freedom for South Africans is a tremendous model of leadership. He gave the world much to think about and learn from.

For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.