Characters of History

By Onofre Quezada

"Characters of History" is a fascinating journey through time that presents an intimate and captivating collection of the lives, exploits and passions of the most impactful characters who have shaped the course of humanity. From legendary figures to forgotten visionaries, this book immerses you in vivid, detailed stories that explore the depths of the human condition and celebrate the enduring legacy of those who left an indelible mark on history. With absorbing narratives and an eye-opening approach, this book illuminates the many facets of these iconic characters, revealing their humanity, their triumphs, and their tragedies, offering a new perspective on their enduring impact on the world we know today.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Onofre Quezada
• Release date: Dec 17, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223486817

Book preview

DEDICATION

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This book is dedicated to all my history-loving readers.

CONTENT

THANKS

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First of all, I thank God for giving me the talent and ability to write and share my thoughts with all of you, I appreciatealso the fact that I have such a talented team that helps me in this hard work.

Chapter 1

NELSON MANDELA

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To delve into this history, we first need to know a very particular term apartheid. Apartheid is a political and social system developed in the Republic of South Africa and other South African states and is based on the segregation or separation of the population for racial or ethnic reasons. The black population was not only subjugated and neglected, but its civil rights were not recognized nor did they enjoy political rights. As if this were not enough, people of color had to have their pass card to cross certain areas without suffering serious consequences. Today we are going to talk about one of those people who with more emphasis, perseverance and consequences opposed this system, to the point that he himself ceased to have validity. His tools were effective oratory, decisive actions and a philosophy of life in which the forgiveness made the difference. He was the banner of the much devalued unity is strength. This character managed to overcome all injustices with proverbial calm. Today we are going to delve into his days, his principles and his stoic battleagainst injustice. Our tour will end on December 5, 2013, the day Nelson Mandela died. Let's get started. By 1964, Nelson Mandela had already experienced several prisons since his days as a law student at a university where he was the only black student. He had had to deal with arrests that were intendedindoctrinate in the acceptance of the society in which he lived. He, of course, did not allow himself to be intimidated by any of those confinements, which he believed showed not so much the power of his enemies but rather their fear. What was not expected was the life sentence. That's how it was, a real novelty. With the brutal verdict came another series of actions thatintend take out the 50 year old man all his

authority and self-esteem. They let him be called by his name, for example. Once he set foot in prison, they started calling him by a number: 466 With that number they wanteddo force his identity and tried to break his spirit by confining him. There he spent 18 years in a minimal cell without even a mattress, without being able to read the newspapers, in the midst of mistreatment, poorly fed and unable even not only to receive visitors but to send or receive correspondence. But did that cruel maneuver make the world forget him? No, quite the contrary, that man's struggle was resigned abroad. Meanwhile, he placed special emphasis on using suffering to his advantage. He spent hours and hours thinking and rethinking negative glimpses of his personality, such as machismo, for example, which were extinguished in prison where he set out to improve even though he could only go crazy from loneliness. He was later transferred to Pollsmoor Prison outside Cape Town. Then to Vester, where he spent nine years. Conditions improved but to the terror of his captors, international pressure for his release had not only not diminished but was getting harder every day. HEthey make visible the reasons for his unjust conviction. Personalities from all over the world began to clamor for him, keeping him alive. He became a reference and a focused and balanced interlocutor, a victim who did not rejoice in his role as a martyr or ask for revenge. In February 1985, the South African president offered him conditional release in exchange for him renouncing public life and participation in politics. After 2 years, he finallycould return but rejected the offer. Freedom could not be achieved under those restrictions. February 11, 1990 was the big day. The unsustainable prison was no longer valid. This time, without small letters. He went out onto the streets at 71 years of age. What danger could that man who had spent more than three decades humiliated and isolated pose? Few knew him. Those who thought they had defeated him did not know that Nelson Mandela was determined to lead the definitive revolution, the one that had begun so long ago, the one for which he was willing to give his best. But how had that man forged such an impressive character? At birth, on July 18, 1918, he was named Rolihlahla Mandela. His family lived in a small town in Transkei, South Africa. His father was a tribal chief who had a good position thanks to the fact that he worked as a kind of royal advisor under the supervision of the English who dominated the country. However, a small dispute with one of the magistrates caused him to lose his job, his wealth and his title. Therefore, his wife decided to move with their children to Qunu, a nearby town. There, under the influence of some missionaries, the woman would convert to Christianity and little Mandela would end up being baptized. Furthermore, he would be the first in his family to be sent to school. They soon placed great expectations and logical pride in him. but the thingsthey did not go easy. At seven years old he didn't know a word of English. His first teacherquickly took the initiative to help him fit in. He gave him clothes more in keeping with the institution and changed his name to Nelson.

The boy did not question the decision and focused on earning a place. But destiny still had prepared for him

some obstacles. At the age of nine, his father would die, putting his destiny in danger again. Salvation came from the village chief, Jongintaba, who offered to take charge of his education. Thus, overnight, Mandela was taken to live in a royal residence. There he began taking classes in history, literature, Xhosa and English and stood out as a good student, not so much for his intelligence but for his discipline, qualities that earned him respect. It was only towards the end of high school that the young man began to become interested in the history of his ancestors. Until that moment he had always been presented with a dichotomy: there were those who considered the Europeans good for having brought education and there were those who saw them as opportunistic and unscrupulous oppressors. Which position was the most correct? As a teenager, Mandela began to reflect on the matter and his reflections intensified when he entered university, the only one for blacks at that time. There it became clear to him what the role of blacks was in that society. But how did your social conscience begin to emerge? Awareness of the outside world came almost naturally. They were the years of the Second World War and both Mandela and his companions could not help but get involved with what was happening. When they found out that South Africa had gone to war with Germany, it was evident that this could not be fair.

During those heated years, Mandela heard for the first time about the African National Congress, a party that had already existed since 1912 and that sought total independence from the British Empire, as well as a democratic society.

more equitable. Nelson remained a dedicated student in subjects such as political anthropology,