Ozier Muhammad & Mandela

The 1st South African Democratic Election

Jubilation For Mandela, Ozier Muhammad, Pretoria.

The caption below this image reads, "A large gathering of black South Africans stood at the edge of the capital grounds as the ceremony to inaugurate Nelson Mandela as the first black president of South Africa was underway." However, it says so much more.

The smile on his face and her recognition of the reaction is an incredible illustration, not only of Mandela's ability to defy expectations and embrace his enemies with the hope of moving his country forward and out of Apartheid into a democracy, but also of the South African people's defiance of expectations right alongside him.

With Mandela's absolute civility toward the Apartheid leaders and subsequent nomination to Presidency came a dramatic change in the tide of unrest that had South Africa on the brink of civil war.

This is the power of umbuntu and this is photojournalism at it's best.

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