20. Mandela Traveled Across South Africa to Protest Apartheid
Students of Johns Hopkins University fight against South African apartheid. Note the ‘trustee’ sign in the back. Afro American Newspapers / Gado / Archive Photos / Getty Images.
In 1950, Mandela became part of the executive board of the ANC and the national president of the ANC Youth League. In 1952, he took part in the ANC’s Defiance Campaign, which sought to emulate other peacemakers, such as Mahatma Gandhi of India. He spoke to thousands of people across the country, and as many as 100,000 new people joined the ANC. In response, the apartheid government enacted martial law.
