“Peaceful Protest: The Life of Nelson Mandela”
by Yona Zeldis McDonough, illustrated by Malcah Zeldis.
Walker & Company, New York, 2002, 36 pages, Grades 2-4.
Great leaders need to have the virtues of fortitude and mercy. Fortitude allows leaders to fearlessly continue courageously toward a goal. In the history of the United States, George Washington kept the Continental Army functioning during the brutal winter spent at Valley Forge through his fortitude.
After achieving a difficult goal, the next virtue needed is mercy. Broken wounds are healed through mercy, and leaders demonstrating this wonderful quality will build just and lasting societies.
Last week the world lost one such great leader. Nelson Mandela died last week after a lifetime of heroic service to the country of South Africa. Through his insight, strength, determination and charity, Mandela performed a great service to mankind. Yona Zeldis McDonough has written an excellent biography of Nelson Mandel and has entitled the book, “Peaceful Protest: The Life of Nelson Mandela.”
Born July 18, 1918, Mandela’s father is the well-known chief of the Thembu people. The child’s African name is Buti. Early in his life, Buti’s father refuses to go to a South African English court over a legal matter. Since the elder Mandela is a chief, he believes the English official should come to his village to settle the matter. For this act of refusal, the government strips the Mandela family of most of their possessions, which compels them to move to another village. Though now impoverished, Buti Mandela is very proud that his father stood up to the English official. He learns that courage does not just happen, but rather it is a virtue that one must find in oneself.
Buti begins his education at an English school when he is 9 years old. There the teacher gives him an English name, Nelson. The school teaches the benefits of English culture and civilization and neglects African civilization and culture. Young Nelson quickly figures out that this is an unbalanced and biased type of education.
In spite of this, the young boy works hard and learns a great deal. A number of years later, he moves to the capital of Thembuland and continues his education. There in the capital, Nelson sees beautiful houses and gardens and is astonished to see automobiles. But the racial injustice of South African society starts to weigh on him. He begins to study law and writing articles criticizing the South African government’s policy of apartheid (racial segregation).
His writings and political actions infuriate the South African government and lead to his arrest. He is soon sentenced to life imprisonment on bleak Robbins Island. There, in the most desolate of circumstances, Nelson Mandela develops the virtue of fortitude which will carry him through all of his years of trial. Eventually his great character and courage will make him a towering international figure.
Yona McDonough truthfully tells Mandela’s story. Readers will learn about his family life, his two marriages and his courageous challenging of the brutal racial bigotry endemic in South Africa through most of the 20th century.
As well, readers are treated to the transforming quality of charity which alone can change hatred. With the death of this great man last week, the world lost a distinguished leader and wonderful human being. I hope you get the chance to read this fine biography of Nelson Mandela with your younger family members. The illustrations are very interesting and the story is important for children to learn. Nelson Mandela’s life proves that when justice is seasoned with mercy a country can be reborn. I hope you like this fine book.
