Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela

          Hello, this is IGL and this post is about Nelson Mandela. Born in Transkei, South Africa in July 18, 1918, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela would soon be South Africa’s first black president. His parents were of the Thembu tribe of traditional Africa, and his father was a chief. As a young child, he faced racism inflicted on his people by the Apartheid and the South African government. He knew he wanted to fight for his people.

          Mandela enrolled in primary school with his native name, Rolihlahla. His teacher gave him a Christian name, Nelson. He was admitted to University of Fort Hare and University of Witwatersrand, where he studied law. He joined the African National Congress in 1944 to fight against racial oppression, and the apartheid, which was a racial segregation enforced by the National Party.

          In 1955, Mandela was arrested for treason and was tried from 1956 to 1961, and soon acquitted in 1961. Meanwhile, on March 20, 1960, a non-violent protest turned to a bloody massacre. Black protesters were marching for equality and civil rights when white officers killed 69 and wounded 180 individuals. All victims were unarmed. This day became known as the Sharpeville Massacre.

          After the Sharpeville Massacre, the ANC (African National Congress) was banned. Mandela was arrested in 1962 for leaving the country without a valid passport and planning a strike against the government. He and other civil rights activists were sentenced to life in prison. He was incarcerated on Robben Island, but then was transferred to Pollsmoor Prison.

          The ANC was unbanned in 1990, and Nelson Mandela was released from prison on February 11, 1990. He successfully fought for his people and achieved many accomplishments after his release. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993, voted for the first time in 1994, and became South Africa’s first democratically voted black president. After one term as president, he stepped down as he promised.

          On December 5, 2013, Nelson Mandela died in his Johannesburg home. Mandela has become a legendary hero for equality and civil rights for his people, and is known as one of the greatest anti-apartheid activists of history. Honor Nelson Mandela ☮

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Selena Gomez

Selena Gomez

          Hello, this is IGL and this post is about Selena Gomez. Selena Gomez is a famous singer and actress known for her Disney Channel show Wizards of Waverly Place. She has also appeared in other movies such as “Princess Protection Program”, which she worked on alongside her best friend Demi Lovato. Her music has been praised too, such as her songs “Love You like a Love Song” and “Who Says”.

          Selena Gomez involves herself in many charities and organizations. She is the youngest ambassador of UNICEF’s foundation Goodwill. She has participated in launching the Ryan Seacrest Foundation, which helps children in poor conditions to be able to chase their dreams in radio, TV, and music.

          Selena Gomez has involved herself in so many organizations and charities. This isn’t even half the things Gomez has done in her life. She has been a great help to many children and individuals in this world.

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Demi Lovato

Demi Lovato

          Hello, this is IGL and this post is about Demi Lovato. Demi Lovato is a singer and actress, and also, a philanthropist. Demi Lovato is a celebrity that has struggled through many issues as a child and adolescent, including cutting, eating disorders, bipolar, substance abuse, and bullying. Demi has been bullied as a child, but during middle school, the bullying became too much and she pulled out of public school to be homeschooled. She had a rocky relationship with her self-esteem issues and her eating disorders. At a young age, she began binge eating, and soon, throwing herself up because of her bullies. She also began to cut herself to harm herself.

          She always wanted to become a singer/actress, so she landed a role on Disney Channel to a short series called As the Bell Rings. People were impressed by Lovato’s talent and Disney soon gave her the roles in Camp Rock along with the Jonas Brothers, the sequel, and her own show, Sonny with a Chance.

          Lovato’s first account of substance abuse was around the age of 12. She got into a car accident and was prescribed painkillers. She would sneak them from her mother’s purse and consume them, enjoying the feelings of being taken away of her conscious. Through her teen years, she began to party a lot and use drugs and alcohol. After her relationship with Joe Jonas broke, whom she dated for about two months, she started to frequently party. When one of her own friends threatened to tell, she punched her and had a nervous breakdown.

          Her family and friends suggested for her to go to rehab, where she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. After exiting rehab, she got better, and stopped cutting, purging, and overcame her past experiences. However, she relapsed, and continued her substance abuse with cocaine and alcohol. But after one day of throwing up in the limo, she decided to turn her life around and stay sober. She lived in a sober living house for quite a time, and now advocates against glamorizing intoxicants.

          She released her hit single “Skyscraper” in 2011 and published a daily meditation book called Stay Strong: 365 Days a Year to positively treat a day better. She advocates against drug and alcohol abuse, reckless partying, self harm, and hate. She tells people that no matter how they feel, they are beautiful. She has inspired people to tell their story after she dared to tell hers, and helped many souls in getting better from their own issues.

          Lovato is also an advocate for LGBT rights, and was crowned the grand marshal for Los Angeles’s Gay Pride Parade in 2014. She has publicly announced her love for the LGBT community and how even though she was Christian, she knew that Jesus loved everyone and treated them equally. Today, Demi Lovato has been an inspiration to people everywhere: children, teenagers, and adults. She has been an incredible role model to people all around the world.

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