Being brave meant more than not being afraid to Nelson Mandela. It means that we choose to face our fears even in the face of adversity. Mandela was a political leader and South African anti-apartheid revolutionary who passionately led the resistance against racial segregation in the 20th century. He began his activism at a young age, having established South Africa’s first Black law practice and played a key role in launching a campaign defying South Africa’s discriminatory laws. He was also involved in drafting the Freedom Charter, a document calling for nonracial social democracy. But Mandela’s anti-apartheid activism led him to become a frequent target of the authorities. He was restricted in travel, association, and speech. Mandela was soon arrested, trialed, and incarcerated on charges of treason. #IconQuote Despite spending a quarter of his life in imprisonment, Mandela continued to vocally condemn apartheid. Amidst domestic and international pressure, the South African government ultimately released Mandela in 1990. An end was negotiated which resulted in the 1994 multiracial general election where Mandela became president. Although Mandela was considered a controversial figure by many critics throughout his life, he gained international recognition for his activism. Today, he’s widely regarded as an icon of democracy and social justice. Mandela is memorialized as South Africa’s “Father of the Nation” and as the first South African president post-apartheid.