When Mandela speaks these words he is simply the sum of all those African patriots, he means to pay tribute and respect to all those people who struggles hard and even had to face death for freedom.
Mandela had worked hard all through his life to end racial discrimination. His struggles led him to become the President of South Africa.
The usage of the above words showed the respect that Mandela had for all those people who sacrificed their lives in order to get freedom. Mandela sees himself as the result of all the fights and struggles that his people had put up to get recognition and freedom.
Those struggles of the heroes in the past made a path for Mandela to achieve his goals of freedom hence they were a reflection of Mandela. Mandela believed that if the patriots in the past had not paved the path and shown unity, then he would not have been able to achieve this success alone.
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