Sixth Grade
Worksheets
National Hero's Day in Congo - Patrice Lumumba
Congo
Reading Comprehension for January 17
On January 17 in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the life and death of one of that country's greatest politicians is remembered. On this day, the Congolese people celebrate the leadership of a man named Patrice Lumumba.
Lumumba was born on July 2, 1925, in Onalua, Congo. At the time, Congo was ruled by Belgium under a system called colonialism. In such a system, one nation rules another for the purpose of making money. Like Congo, many African nations were colonized by European nations. And many Africans--like the Congolese--resented their European rulers. It was in this setting that Lumumba grew up.
Lumumba was born into a small Congolese tribe where his Christian parents sent him to a church school. After years of schooling, Lumumba left home for work at the age of 21. He moved to Leopoldville, where he studied for a year. He soon moved to Stanleyville, where he worked as a postal clerk and a traveling salesman.
