Nelson Mandela and Muhammad Ali: “Michael Jackson Is a Source of Inspiration”

Nelson Mandela, the former President of South Africa, who spent twenty years of his life pursuing his freedom-loving efforts in prison, said that while he was behind bars, thinking about Michael Jackson gave him strength—and that Michael is still a source of inspiration for him.

“When you are behind bars with not the slightest hope of freedom, you need to find your strength from wherever you can. I personally found strength in Michael Jackson.”

Mandela said that while he was imprisoned, he gained the strength to control his emotions by following Michael Jackson’s career:

“Leaving the Jackson 5 group (as a child) and turning to a solo career takes a lot of courage. I thought to myself that if he had the courage to do something like that, then I also must have the will to keep going.”

Nelson Mandela says that even today, Michael Jackson is for him an “everlasting source of inspiration.”

Another international figure, boxing’s heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali, also said—just like Nelson Mandela—that Michael Jackson is a source of inspiration for him.

Kali, in an interview with Norwegian Newspaper Today, said:

“When people ask me where I get my power from, I tell them that I look at a man who, whenever Michael Jackson stares into the mirror, sees himself.”

Source: eMJey / MSNBC