Nelson Mandela Turns 94

image
Published: 18 Jul, 2012
1 min read

Today marks former South African President Nelson Mandela's 94th birthday. It's a date many are observing around the world. Mandela spent 27 years in political imprisonment under the apartheid regime before his release in 1990. He was later the first democratically elected president of South Africa and served from 1994 to 1999. He received the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize.

The Christian Science Monitor has a thoughtful piece out today on Mandela's political work and the South African public's view of his legacy. Some express disappointment at the continued rate of poverty for the country's black population and the lack of economic power.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grh03-NjHzc

Chime in! What do you think of Nelson Mandela's legacy and the modern South African state?

You Might Also Like

Caution tape with US Capitol building in the background.
Did the Republicans or Democrats Start the Gerrymandering Fight?
The 2026 midterm election cycle is quickly approaching. However, there is a lingering question mark over what congressional maps will look like when voters start to cast their ballots, especially as Republicans and Democrats fight to obtain any electoral advantage possible. ...
11 Nov, 2025
-
8 min read
Utah state capitol.
Utah Judge Delivers a Major Blow to Gerrymandering
A Utah state judge has struck down the congressional map drawn by Republican lawmakers, ruling that it violates the state’s voter-approved ban on partisan gerrymandering and ordering new district lines for the 2026 elections....
11 Nov, 2025
-
2 min read
bucking party on gerrymandering
5 Politicians Bucking Their Party on Gerrymandering
Across the country, both parties are weighing whether to redraw congressional maps ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Texas, California, Missouri, North Carolina, Utah, Indiana, Colorado, Illinois, and Virginia are all in various stages of the action. Here are five politicians who have declined to support redistricting efforts promoted by their own parties....
31 Oct, 2025
-
4 min read