Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom Class 10 English Summary Under 10 Mins | CBSE Class 10 Boards

Nelson Mandela's 'Long Walk to Freedom' is an autobiography detailing the struggle for freedom of black people in South Africa. On May 10, 1994, Mandela became South Africa's first black president after over three centuries of white rule. He vowed to end suppression and discrimination based on caste, color, creed, or race, ensuring respect and equality for all citizens. He described his victory as a triumph for justice, peace, and human dignity, achieved through the sacrifices of many brave individuals who fought against apartheid, a political system that discriminated against black people.

Mandela's inauguration day was symbolic, marked by the singing of two national anthems, representing unity. This event reminded him of the exploitation black-skinned people faced under white rule. He reflected on how such racial domination created one of the world's harshest societies. Mandela firmly believed that no one is born to hate based on skin color, background, or religion, emphasizing that love, which comes more naturally, can be taught if hate is learned.

Mandela defined a brave person not as someone without fear, but as someone who conquers their fears. He also spoke of two major obligations every person has: one to their family (parents, wife, children) and another to their motherland, countrymen, and community. He explained that fulfilling both obligations was difficult for a black man in apartheid South Africa. Upon adulthood, he realized that freedom for black-skinned people was an illusion. He believed that freedom is indivisible and extended not only to the oppressed but also to the oppressor, as those who deny others' freedom are also prisoners of oppression.