Nelson Mandela
born July 18, 1918, died December 5, 2013
"One day when Nelson Mandela was 9 years old, his father died and he was sent from his village to a school far away from home, to another part of South Africa. In Johannesburg, the country's capital, Mandela saw fellow Africans who were poor and powerless. He decided then that he would work to protect them. When the government began to keep people apart based on the color of their skin, Mandela spoke out against the law and vowed to fight hard in order to make his country a place that belonged to all South Africans." from Mandela by Kadir Nelson
Where is South Africa?
Click on the link below to get to Nelson Mandela's biography
A brief video biography of Nelson Mandela's life.
Mandela Tribute Series - General Colin Powell
born July 18, 1918, died December 5, 2013
"One day when Nelson Mandela was 9 years old, his father died and he was sent from his village to a school far away from home, to another part of South Africa. In Johannesburg, the country's capital, Mandela saw fellow Africans who were poor and powerless. He decided then that he would work to protect them. When the government began to keep people apart based on the color of their skin, Mandela spoke out against the law and vowed to fight hard in order to make his country a place that belonged to all South Africans." from Mandela by Kadir Nelson
Where is South Africa?
Click on the link below to get to Nelson Mandela's biography
A brief video biography of Nelson Mandela's life.
Mandela Tribute Series - General Colin Powell
Mandela Tribute Series - Whoopi Goldberg
Take a virtual tour of the island where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years.
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| Nelson Mandela's cell on Robben Island |
Take a virtual tour of the island where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years.
The two timelines above are the best I could find on short notice. Compare the civil rights efforts in South Africa with those happening in the United States.
Sunnyland students, click on this link to go PebbleGo:
If you aren't at school, you will need to log in using the login I gave you at school.
Thank you, Madiba. As President Obama said so eloquently yesterday:
"You no longer belongs to us; you belong to the ages."
I think two very basic aspects of Mandela's character are what make him so important - his courage and his power to forgive. He had the courage to stand up for what he believed in, even when it seemed impossible. And he had the immense power to forgive, so that he and his country - and the world - could move forward. We can all learn a lot from his character and his actions.
ReplyDeleteFrom, Kristin, Mr. Pahl's friend
I think the best way to honor a true world hero and icon is through his own words. Three quotes from Nelson Mandela stand out to me:
ReplyDelete"Great anger and violence can never build a nation. We are striving to proceed in a manner and towards a result, which will ensure that all our people, both black and white, emerge as victors.”
“No one is born hating another person because of the color 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.”
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
- Chris Mc
I think it is riley sad that melsin maldena had to be in prison for 27 years. And my question is where did his wife go when he was in prison from Brian
ReplyDeleteDear Mr. Pahl,
ReplyDeleteAfter you look at the videos it is very sad what happened there but it is good that they got their freedom back.
From Benjamin,
I am thankful that Nelson Mandela gave us freedom and the south Africans freedom. If it wasn't for him Africa would still be in war. From black to white colored skin they would still be attacking each other. I am glad that he gave his life to everyone in the world.
ReplyDeleteFrom, Annabella
Dear everyone,
ReplyDeleteWhat is wrong with black people?
-Alanis
Dear Alanis,
DeleteYour right what is wrong with BLACK people. There people like us. a long time ago white should respect them. There people.
From, Madeline
Dear Alanis,
DeleteI was wondering the same question. What was wrong with black people? I still ask myself that one question.
From: Mattias
Dear Alanis,
DeleteYour right what is WRONG with black people. There people like us. It does not mater.
from, Madeline
Alanis, this is such a good question. Of course, NOTHING is wrong with black people. Unfortunately, there is a long history of people in the world mistreating other people for a wide variety of reasons. In South Africa, like in the United States, there is a history of white people of European descent who were (and some still are) terribly prejudiced. They had a lot of money and power. They had the belief that they were better than people who did not have white skin and they mistreated those people, sometimes brutally. I am trying to explain something that is very complicated in as brief and simple a manner as I can here. I think this is something we should continue to explore and ask questions about and discuss, fourth graders. Alanis, thanks for asking the question and for getting us thinking so deeply.
DeleteSincerely,
Mr. Pahl
Dear class,
ReplyDeleteI think this is really important to me because I like how this man brought more peace here and I just LOVE it.
-Alanis
Dear Alanis,
DeleteI think the video gave me more peace too. Don’t you think that Nelson Mandela was a good man in South Africa? I think he is a good man because he spoke out to the white people and they sent him to jail.
From,
Kyle
Dear 4th grade,
DeleteThank you for replying to me and I think you guys are very thankful for Nelson Mandela.
-Alanis
I believe in Mandela who after twenty seven years he spent in jail he just forgave them and in his speech many questioned him saying aren't going to punish them and he said if I thought like that I would still be in jail
ReplyDeleteDear Mr.Pahl,
ReplyDeleteWhat day and year did Nelson Mandela go to prison for 27 years?
And why is the prison highly secured and how?
From,
Eric
Nelson Mandela was a wonderful man. He did the right thing for us. He did a great job for saving Africans life from “war” and killing themselves because some moms may have been crying if her son or husband died in war. “He was a great man” is what I have to say. I know I said this already but he is a wonderful man.
ReplyDeleteFrom, Annabella
Dear Mr. Pahl
ReplyDeleteI believe in Mandela who after twenty seven years he spent in jail he just forgave those who locked him up in his speech many questioned him saying aren't going to punish them and he said if I thought like that I would still be in jail
Liam
Nelson Madela, through his willingness to see beyond himself to what would be best for ALL in South Africa, was able to perform a miracle. He forgave, worked with those who most persecuted him to safely transition his nation from the very angry, suspicious and dangerous situation Apartheid created, to a more fair, more democratic, more prosperous for all South Africa. He's one of history's greatest role models for a leader.
ReplyDeleteMs. Gonzalez
Holy Family School
Grand Blanc, MI
Dear 4th graders,
ReplyDeleteI honestly think Nelson Mandela is an inspiration, his fought for what’s right. He forgave the people who made fun of him and he didn’t fight for what’s right with pain, he used words.
From,
Charlize
Dear everyone,
ReplyDeleteI hope our country will always remember Nelson Mandela. I also have a question does Mandela’s wife live?
Sincerely Ellis,
Dear Ellis,
DeleteI think Nelson Mandela’s wife lived. I’m happy if she lived.
Sincerely,
Sebastian R
Dear Mr. Pahl,
ReplyDeleteI think the videos were really sad because they tell about the life of Nelson Mandela. I want you to teach us more about him and his life.
From,
Kyle
Dear Mr. Pahl,
ReplyDeleteI believe we should spread the word about Nelson Mandela.
From, Micah
Dear fourth graders,
ReplyDeleteI was about to cry just watching what those British people did to the black. And I just imagine what it would be like to have family members die and see people getting murdered on the streets. I also think about how lucky I am not to live there when that was happening.
Be thankful for what you have,
Neri
Dear Mr.Pahl,
ReplyDeleteI don’t think that that’s right at all they are doing is basically were discriminating to African –Americans to not be able to use little things like water fountains or go to restrants. From,
Tori
Dear Tori,
DeleteI agree it is discriminating and it is wrong black people should have the same rights. It makes me sad to see black people treated like that
from Cam
Dear Tori and Cam,
DeleteI think it was very bad and I am thankful that most people stopped…
-Alanis
Dear 4th graders,
ReplyDeleteI think Nelson Mandela was a wonderful man. I can’t believe that he spent 27 years in jail just so he could fight for the rights of his people! I would be to scared to stand up to the government.
From:
Sarah.M
Dear, fourth graders,
ReplyDeleteI think we should learn more about Nelson Mandela because he was a great man and I think it would be great!
Sincerely Ellis,
Dear Ellis,
DeleteI agree. We should learn more about nelson Mandela. He was a very important person in our lives. He was one of the people who fought against slavery!
From, Sebastian R.
Hi everybody,
ReplyDeleteI just wanted to say respect black people. There people like us.
From,MADELINE
I learn that Nelson Mandela did a good chose of speaking up to the people in the village. i am praowd of him for doing a good theing.
ReplyDeletefrom, Griffon
ReplyDeleteDear Everyone,
Why do white people treat black people so meanly? I think back then white people should have treated black people very kindly, so everyone could have equal rights.
From,
Anny
Dear Anny,
DeleteBack then White people had more rights than Black people. But I agree that we should be nice to everyone. It’s unfair that white people had more rights. EVERYONE SHALL BE TREATED FAIRLY!!!
Sincerely,
Sebastian R.
Nelson Mandela will go down in history as one of the greatest men of our time. I lived in South Africa from January-April of this year and it was definitely a life changing experience. Seeing how far the country had come was a living testimony of the work that people like Nelson Mandela carried out. He truly was an icon and he lived a life that inspired many, both in South Africa and abroad.
ReplyDeleteMs. Johnson
Hueytown High
Hueytown, AL
Dear Mr. Pahl, I think that it is wrong to treat people that way it is discriminating. Nelson Mandela is a very important man. He said respond with love and peace. Nelson Mandela I look up to him. From, Cam on Nelson
ReplyDeleteDear Class,
ReplyDeleteCan you imagine being in jail for 27 years for fighting for what is right? Can you even imagine being in jail for 27 days? Have you ever tried to help someone? Mr. Mandela stood up for people who are poor and unable to help themselves and for people who were discriminated against. He spent his life helping people. He was a great man.
My favorite thing about his is his forgiveness towards others. I am trying to learn to be as good of a man as he was. I think sometimes it is hard to take it all in and be like someone so great. Everyone can pick one little thing that they can do and change that. In honor of Mandela, I am going to work on being a more forgiving person. What are YOU going to do?
ReplyDeleteDear Mr. Pahl,
ReplyDeleteI can’t believe his cell was that tiny! I have a question for the class. If you had the same troubles as nelson Mandela, would you do what he did? Why or why not?
From,
Sebastian R
Dear class,
ReplyDeleteNo matter what color someone is, treat them with RESPECT and never ever treat someone like nelson Mandela was treated. If I went through all that, I would do the same as he did because it’s unfair some people get treated with respect while others don’t.
From,
Sebastian R
Dear Sebastian R.,
DeleteI definitely agree with you because EVERYBODY should be treated equally,
No matter what color they are!
~Mike
Dear Mr. Pahl,
ReplyDeleteI had heard that Nelson Mandela died on the radio. At first I didn’t know who he was, but then my mom explained it. It had said on the radio station that he had watched his children grow up behind bars. I had actually thought that his children were in jail, and I didn’t know why he was so important. Later that morning and afternoon at school you and Ms. Avera explained what he did and I was amazed how wrong I was.
Sincerely, Miranda
Dear Mr. Pahl
ReplyDeleteWhy white people was mean to the black people?
From Angelina le
Dear Angelina,
DeleteI think I know why the white people where so mean to the black people. It’s probably because the white people had more rights than the black. If not that, than he was trying to let people have freedom and they were just rude to him.
From,
Sebastian R
Dear students,
ReplyDeleteI do not get when people fight I know some times it is history.
From Jordan,