I made this video Africa: Michael Jackson and Nelson Mandela,
the only thing that triggered me to make this video is knowing that Michael and Nelson Mandela has been a good friends for years,
and a good friends becomes a GREAT friends when they both are inspired by each other to do great things... "Great Friends inspire others to do Great Things."
Nelson Mandela has inspired Michael to write "What More Can I give"...
"In an earlier conversation I had this year with President Mandela," said Michael in 1999, "we discussed the concept of giving, and the words 'what more can I give' kept coming into my mind... we all have to do what we can, to help end the needless suffering in the world."
From Michael, Nelson Mandela found his strength...
“When you are behind bars with no hope of release, you need to find strength wherever you can,” President Mandela said in an exclusive interview, “Personally, I found strength in Michael Jackson.” (2005)
The former South African president said that while imprisoned in the 1980’s, he drew emotional sustenance from following Michael Jackson’s recording career.
“It took great courage to leave the Jackson Five and go solo,” President Mandela said. “I thought to myself, if he had the courage to do that, I, too, must have the will to go on.”
Nelson Mandela's story has given Michael a lot of strength
Q: ....Because you go from being held so high and now your very character, your very integrity is under attack. How your handling it?
Michael: "I’m handling it by using other people in the past who have gone through this sort of thing. Mandela’s story is giving me a lot of strength, what he’s gone through..." (2005)
About them, from Michael's own words:
"He [Hitler] built that anger, so strong, while [Nelson] Mandela did the opposite. He became a lamb in prison. He had no bitterness, to this day saying even though he is eighty and his youth is gone—because he was in prison so long—he doesn't regret any of it."
"He [Nelson Mandela] is sweet, very childlike."
Q: Does he like to giggle?
"He [Nelson Mandela] loves children because when I went to see him I had some kids with me and people were saying the kids have to stay, but Michael Jackson can come. I said. "I'm sure Mr. Mandela wouldn't mind seeing children. I won't go in unless the children go too." I remember his representatives looked at me like this [makes stern and suspicious facial expression] and they went back and then they said, "Everybody come." The first thing Mandela did is run to the children and pick them up and hug them. I knew he was that kind of man and he loved them. He was talking to them and then he shook my hand. I knew I was right." ~ Michael Jackson ~
And, in September 4, 1999: Michael presented Nelson Mandela with a check for 1,000,000 South African rand for the “Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund.”
