“As I walked out the door towards the gate that would lead me to freedom, I knew that if I didn't leave my bitterness and hatred behind me, I would still be in prison" ( Mandela) In recent times, after Mandela's death, his famous views on leadership have been the subject of great debate around the world. For many he was the first president of South Africa, a respected and courageous leader, but before that he was a convicted terrorist. His “hatred of the oppressor” taught him to forgive and forget and to emerge from prison a better man. Twenty-seven years in prison did not change Mandela's stance on racial oppression and, throughout his conviction, he became a martyr for equal rights and freedom. Raised in the Xhosas community, Mandela learned through observation. Like many others, "[his] life... was shaped by customs, rituals and taboos " (Long March to Freedom). Having grown up in a society filled with corrupt government officials, Mandela advocated for social equality from an early age. In 1962, Mandela was arrested during the Rivonia Trials for a plot to overthrow the government. He was sentenced to five years in Pretoria as a local prisoner on 7 November for attempting to leave the country without a passport and for incitement. On 27 May 1963, Mandela was transferred to Robben Island, where he would spend eighteen years of his life prison after being convicted of sabotage on 11 June 1964. On Robben Island, Mandela was known by his prison number, "46664 ". Every morning at dawn they were awakened to clean their cells, a duty made necessary due to the guard's punishment of pissing on them through the vents. In an attempt at subtle sabotage Mandela decided to use his stature to lead his fellow prisoners in a rebellion. "Comrade...... center of paper...... Walk to Freedom" Np, nd Web. 08 February 2014. "Oprah Interviews Nelson Mandela - Oprah.com." Oprah.com. Harpo, Inc., 2 Web. February 12, 2014. “Prison Timeline.” Nelson Mandela Foundation, 2 Web. 8 February 2014. "Robben Island Museum". of Robben Island. February 8, 2014. “The Prisoner” PBS, 2014. Woodridge, Mike “Mandela Death: How He Survived 27 Years in Prison.” BBC News. BBC, 10 December 2013. Web. 2014. .