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US President Barack Obama delivers a speech during the memorial service for late South African President Nelson Mandela at Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg on December 10, 2013. Mandela, the revered icon of the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa and one of the towering political figures of the 20th century, died in Johannesburg on December 5 at age 95. (BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images)

It’s been exactly a year since Nelson Mandela passed away, but his legacy continues. People across the globe are paying homage to South Africa’s first black president; a man who broke barriers and made sacrifices to evoke social and political change. President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama today released a statement reflecting on the legacy of Mandela. “One year ago the world lost a leader whose struggle and sacrifices inspired us to stand up for our fundamental principles, whose example reminded us of the enduring need for compassion, understanding, and reconciliation, and whose vision saw the promise of a better world,” read the statement released by the White House. “As we pause today to remember the legacy of Madiba, I hope we can all take a moment to reflect on how Mandela’s life has inspired our own, and will impact the paths of generations to come – including the next generation of world leaders. While Mandela left behind a world more just and free, there is much more work to be done. On this day, and on every day, we honor his spirit and his memory.”


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NewsOne Minute: President Obama and FLOTUS Reflect on Mandela’s Legacy  was originally published on newsone.com