Today marks the day that Nelson Mandela, the iconic and revolutionary South African political figure, walked free after being imprisoned for 27 years by the state's apartheid regime. Slate.com has unearthed the original broadcast of this iconic moment. One of the great global leaders of our time, Mandela would go on to serve as South Africa's first black, democratically elected President from 1994 to 1999.
The Arcadia Center in Cape Town offers a unique and interesting program, Long Walk to Freedom, that explores the themes of peace, justice and reconciliation that Mandela stood for, with a particular focus on the historical context of his political contributions.