On June 17, 1991, Nelson Mandela arrived in the United States as a free man for the first time, launching a triumphant tour that included speeches to Congress, meetings with civil rights leaders, and massive public rallies. Freshly released from 27 years in prison, Mandela was greeted as a global icon of justice. His visit marked a pivotal moment in global Black solidarity, with African Americans organizing major welcomes in New York, Atlanta, and Los Angeles. The U.S. trip amplified pressure on the apartheid regime and reinforced transnational Black unity. June 17 was the kickoff of a tour that energized global opposition to apartheid and elevated Mandela’s stature on the world stage.
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