“I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. This is an ideal that I hope to live for and achieve. But if necessary, it is an ideal for which I am ready to die” (biography). These words spoken by Nelson Mandela give a true picture of who he was. The 1993 Nobel Peace Prize winner fought long and hard for equality in South Africa; he refused to give up after being imprisoned for 27 years. He created a lot of positive change and helped make South Africa a better place (Nelson Mandela). His actions and perseverance inspired many and he proved that anything is possible with hard work, and hard work always pays off. Mandela grew up in a small South African village called Qunu, and because both of his parents were very important to society, he was well known within its confines. His mother presided over three huts: they had a hut for cooking, one for storage, and one for sleeping. When Mandela was five years old, he was given the responsibility of being a shepherd. Most children in this village worked at a young age, but he got a job earlier because his family was largely responsible for food production. All the food in the village came from a farm, so it was always fresh and clean. His free time was spent fighting and playing in the open field with friends and brothers of the same age, but he also spent time at school. Education was not common in this village and most of its citizens, adults and children, were illiterate. Even though it was difficult to get an education in his village...... middle of paper ......). In 2005 he retired from public life, but continued to support his charitable works. Nelson Mandela was an incredibly dedicated person. He believed in his cause and would do anything to achieve equality; he even resorted to violence known as armed resistance. He grew up in a small village and didn't really realize how bad racial prejudice was until he was sent out into the real world, and he did everything he could to end it . He succeeded. His 27 years in prison took a large part of his life. It was just one of many obstacles he faced on his path to equality, but it all paid off when he ran for president, won, and made all the changes necessary. to create equality in South Africa. He lived a long and full life, fulfilling his goal of fighting inequality. Nelson Mandela died on December 5, 2013, honored and respected by the world.