Our thoughts are with the people of South Africa, who’ve lost the man who led their nation from one of history’s most notorious forms of oppression.
Nelson Mandela’s triumph over apartheid is a beacon of hope to those who still yearn for freedom and dignity around the globe.
Mandela’s most enduring reference to slavery came in a 2005 speech to more than 20,000 Londoners gathered in iconic Trafalgar Square.
“Like slavery and apartheid, poverty is not natural. It is man-made and it can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings,” Mandela said.
Although his speech focused on poverty, Mandela’s reference to slavery as a man-made evil that can be overcome are words of inspiration for those working to eradicate human trafficking worldwide.
Mandela’s long walk to freedom helped transform a nation and end a dark chapter in history. But as Mandela himself noted in his London speech, the journey isn’t over.
“As long as poverty, injustice and gross inequality persist in our world, none of us can truly rest,” Mandela said.