"An Ideal I Am Prepared to Die For" (excepts of Nelson Mandela speech)

I have always regarded myself, in the first place, as an African patriot.

My guardian was my cousin, who was the acting paramount chief of Thembuland, and I am related both to Sabata Dalindyebo, the present paramount chief, and to Kaiser Matanzima, the Chief Minister for the Transkei.

Today I am attracted by the idea of a classless society, an attraction which springs in part from Marxist reading and, in part, from my admiration of the structure and organization of early African societies in this country.

Today I am attracted by the idea of a classless society, an attraction which springs in part from Marxist reading and, in part, from my admiration of the structure and organization of early African societies in this country.

It is true, as I have already stated that I have been influenced by Marxist thought.

We all accept the need for some form of socialism to enable our people to catch up with the advanced countries of the world and to overcome their legacy of extreme poverty.

We all accept the need for some form of socialism to enable our people to catch up with the advanced countries of the world and to overcome their legacy of extreme poverty.

We all accept the need for some form of socialism to enable our people to catch up with the advanced countries of the world and to overcome their legacy of extreme poverty.

We all accept the need for some form of socialism to enable our people to catch up with the advanced countries of the world and to overcome their legacy of extreme poverty.

All this has led me to feel that in my search for a political formula, I should be absolutely impartial and objective.

...The complaint of Africans, however, is not only that they are poor and whites are rich, but that the laws which are made by the whites are designed to preserve this situation.

...The complaint of Africans, however, is not only that they are poor and whites are rich, but that the laws which are made by the whites are designed to preserve this situation.

There is compulsory education for all white children at virtually no cost to their parents, be they rich or poor.

There is compulsory education for all white children at virtually no cost to their parents, be they rich or poor.

Similar facilities are not provided for the African children...

The Government often answers its critics by saying that Africans in South Africa are economically better off than the inhabitants of the other countries in Africa.

But even if it is true, as far as African people are concerned, it is irrelevant.

Our complaint is not that we are poor by comparison with people in other countries, but that we are poor by comparison with white people in our own country, and that we are prevented by legislation from altering this imbalance.

Our complaint is not that we are poor by comparison with people in other countries, but that we are poor by comparison with white people in our own country, and that we are prevented by legislation from altering this imbalance.

Above all, My Lord, we want equal political rights, because without them our disabilities will be permanent.

I know this sounds revolutionary to the whites in this country, because the majority of voters will be Africans.

But this fear cannot be allowed to stand in the way of the only solution which will guarantee racial harmony and freedom for all.

It is not true that the enfranchisement of all will result in racial domination.

The ANC has spent half a century fighting against racialism.

Our struggle is a truly national one.

During my lifetime I have dedicated my life to this struggle of the African people.

I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons will live together in harmony and with equal opportunities.