Nelson Mandela: In His Own Words
We celebrate Madiba's great speeches.
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Freedom at Last - “I stand here before you not as a prophet but as a humble servant of you, the people. Your tireless and heroic sacrifices have made it possible for me to be here today. I therefore place the remaining years of my life in your hands.” —From Mandela’s address to Cape Town on Feb. 11, 1990, just days after he was released from prison after serving 27 years for sabotage. (Photo: WALTER DHALDHLA/AFP/Getty Images)
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Inviolable Principle - “We hold it as an inviolable principle that racism must be opposed by all the means that humanity has at its disposal. Wherever it occurs, it has the potential to result in a systematic and comprehensive denial of human rights to those who are discriminated against.” —From Mandela’s address at a special meeting of the United Nations Special Committee against Apartheid, Jun. 22, l990. (Photo: DON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images)
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The First 100 Days - “From the outset, the government of National Unity set itself two interrelated tasks: reconciliation and reconstruction, nation-building and development. This is South Africa’s challenge today. It will remain our challenge for many years to come.” —From Mandela’s opening address at the president's Budget Debate, 100 days after being named the first Black president of South Africa, Aug. 19, 1994. (Photo: WALTER DHLADHLA/AFP/Getty Images)
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Campaign Against AIDS - “The campaign against AIDS is the task of all of us — young and old, government and community organizations, religious and traditional institutions, cultural and sporting bodies. AIDS knows no custom. It knows no color. It knows no boundaries. We have to work together wherever we are to preserve our nation, our continent and humanity as a whole.” —From Mandela’s message on World AIDS Day, Dec. 1, 1994. (Photo: WALTER DHLADHLA/AFP/Getty Images)
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The 1998 Census - “It will take time to absorb the full detail of this intricate picture of our complex society. But the broad outlines should act as a clarion call to rededicate ourselves, in every sector of our society, to the historic mission of a generation charged with transforming South African society in order to eradicate the poverty and imbalances that derive from our past.” —From Mandela’s statement on the results of the South Africa’s 1998 census report. (Photo: Chuck Kennedy)
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