On this day, 35 years ago, February 11, 1990 (January 16, 1990 in the lunar calendar), South African black leader Nelson Mandela was released from prison. Mandela finally walked free out of the prison where he was held. On July 18, 1918, Mandela was born at the home of a tribal leader in the Transkei. He had a strong character since childhood and worshipped national heroes. At the age of 23, Mandela left his hometown and studied at two universities in South Africa, receiving a bachelor's degree in law. In 1943, Mandela and others founded the African National Congress Party (ANC)"Youth League" and joined the ANC, injecting fresh blood into the African continent, the oldest anti-racist organization. In 1944, he gave up his right to succeed his father's chief and devoted himself to the anti-racism movement. In 1950, Mandela was elected chairman of the ANC Youth League, and in 1953 he was elected leader of the "Volunteers". He participated in and led the South African people's struggle against the Pass Act. In the early 1950s, the South African authorities passed a series of apartheid decrees and bills, sparking a larger wave of black movements. In June 1952, another massive demonstration broke out. Mandela, who had long become a "thorn in the side" of the police, was arrested for the first time and sentenced to nine months in prison. Later, he was changed to surveillance outside the prison. He immediately went underground. Mandela personally experienced that "the road to freedom is not straight and smooth", and he secretly vowed: "My life has been a battle, and I will continue to fight for freedom until the last breath of my life." In June 1955, after the ANC adopted the historic Freedom Charter, the white regime's suppression of the black movement intensified. On December 5 of the same year, more than 150 ANC members, including Mandela, were arrested. The trial lasted for more than four years. In March 1961, the South African court was forced to announce that all "criminals" would be acquitted and no charges would be imposed. On March 21, 1960, thousands of black people in South Africa took to the streets to protest against the authorities 'implementation of the racially discriminatory Passport Law. The South African authorities declared a "state of emergency" across the country, the ANC and other organizations were declared "illegal", and many leaders were arrested and imprisoned. On December 16, 1961, the ANC armed force "Spear of the Nation", with Mandela as commander-in-chief, began to act. Soon, in order to seek international assistance, Mandela visited the country. In June 1962, he secretly returned to South Africa and continued to command the covert struggle. The South African authorities had a lot of headaches for Mandela and wanted to get rid of him, so the police posted a list for him to be wanted. On August 5, 1962, Mandela was arrested again. Three months later, he was sentenced to five years in prison on charges of "inciting strike" and "illegal entry and exit", which was later commuted to life imprisonment. He spent 20 years in Rodong Island Prison near the Cape of Good Hope. On February 2, 1990, a major piece of news spread around the world from Africa: South African President de Klerk announced in Parliament that he had decided to unconditionally release South African black leader Nelson Mandela and lifted the ban on 33 anti-apartheid organizations including the ANC and the Communist Party of South Africa. This is a new measure taken by South Africa's new government under strong pressure from the South African people and international public opinion, and was forced to change its policy to find a way out of the predicament. On February 11, 1990, South African black leader Nelson Mandela was released from prison, ending his 27 years in prison. To commemorate Mandela's release from prison, the OAU designated February 11 every year as "Mandela Day." On May 10, 1994, Mandela officially became the first black president in South African history. Mandela