It is not well known in the western world but Nelson Mandela's best friend was Fidel Castro.
As one of history's most beloved Civil Rights Leaders, the world this week -- on July 18-2022 -- observed another NELSON MANDELA INTERNATIONAL DAY.
Known for his love "For Liberty, Justice, and Democracy," Nelson Mandela on a visit to Miami was ridiculed and embarrassed. That's because Nelson Mandela's best friend was Cuba's revolutionary icon Fidel Castro whom Mandela credited with getting him out of a apartheid prison in South Africa, which led him to becoming the President of South Africa. Mandela till 1990 had spent 27 years in prison where he had a bucket for a toilet. Then he was democratically elected President of his nation from 1994 till 1999. He died at age 95 on December 5th, 2013. To this day he is known in his country as the "Father of the Nation." Till the day he died, Nelson Mandela and Fidel Castro were Dear Friends.
Leading up to his inauguration as President of South Africa in 1994, the one person that Mandela insisted would be with him was Castro. But his phone calls to Havana didn't convince Fidel who repeatedly said, "Nelson, it is your day, not mine. I would be a distraction, but I will be with you in my deepest thoughts." But Mandela would not accept "no" over the phone for his answer; he simply flew to Havana and in person convinced Castro to attend.
Not only did Fidel Castro attend Nelson Mandela's inauguration in 1994 but four years later President Mandela insisted that his best friend return to address the African National Congress, during which raucous calls of "Fidel-Fidel" repeatedly interrupted Fidel's speech.
Americans, of course, are not supposed to know of Nelson Mandela's abiding love for Fidel Castro. And, of course, Americans are not supposed to know that the two men co-authored a book together.
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