Nelson Mandela, a man recognized throughout the world, was among other things a leading human rights activist. He believed in equality and peace for all. He fought for that faith in South Africa for which he undeniably sacrificed his life. A figure of international peacemaking, he is a man of extraordinary achievement. How he achieved these results is astonishing and is what he is extraordinarily known for. It seemed impossible for blacks to fight for equity and democracy in a nation that had been pierced for years by apartheid. Mr Mandela, however, was the exception to this perception. His immense contribution to South Africa and its people ultimately produced the greatest legacy in South African history. Despite the turmoil and resistance he was facing, he emerged victorious to become South Africa's first black president in 1994, serving until 1999. Nelson Mandela, whose birth name translated as "troublemaker", certainly did not fit into a man whose dream and goal was to promote peace among all men, to which he vowed never to give up, even when faced with extreme adversity. Early life Nelson Mandela was born Rolihlahla Mandela in Mvezo in the Transkei, South Africa, on 18 July 1918. He is the son of Nonqaphi Nosekeni and Henry Mgadla Mandela. His father was a chief and advisor to the high chief of the Thembu and a member of the Madiba clan. In Mandela's autobiography, Nelson Mandela's Long Walk to Freedom, he mentions that his name, given to him by his father, ""Rolihlahla" in the Xhosa language literally means "to pull the branch of a tree", but more commonly translates as "troublemaker."" According to Merriam Webster's dictionary, a troublemaker is someone who habitually causes difficulty or trouble, especially by inci...... middle of paper ...... arrest. He founded the law firm Mandela and Tambo after having partnered with Oliver Tambo, a brilliant student he had met while attending Fort Hare. The law firm provided free and low-cost legal advice to unrepresented blacks. Running a business and dealing with ANC issues was too much to deal with. By 1959, the movement had lost much of its militant support. Despite the weakening of the ANC, Mandela remained optimistic. He didn't give up, on the contrary it was felt, Works cited1. Landis, Elizabeth. “South African Apartheid Legislation,” The Yale Law Journal 71, no. 1 (1961): 1-52. Accessed May 16, 2014. http://www.jstor.org.proxy.wexler.hunter.cuny.edu/stable/pdfplus/794210.pdf?acceptTC=true&jpdConfirm=true2. Mandela, Nelson. In his own words. New York and London: Little Brown and Company, 2003.3. Mandela, Nelson. LONG WALK towards FREEDOM. New York and London: Little Brown and Company, 1995.