Ngemva kokukhululwa kwakhe ejele ngoFebruwari 1990, uNelson Mandela waya ohambweni lamazwe wonke. Ukubeka ngoJuni 1990, leli sonto eliesithupha, ukuvakashela izizwe ezingu-13 kwaqala e-United States of America. Ukubizwa kwakhe kokuqala kwechweba ngo-20 Juni 1990, kwakuse New York, ngokubonga indima iNew York City yayidlale ngokulwa nobandlululo eNingizimu Afrika.
UNelson Mandela waya eBoston; ngoJuni 23, 1990, wakhuluma esakhiweni sezemidlalo esiphezulu, eMadison Park High School. Ngemuva kwalokho emcimbini welabhulali kaJohn F. Kennedy, eBoston, uMandela wathola iBust Memorial kaJohn F. Kennedy eyethulwa uSeninkulu u-Edward Kennedy. UJackie Onassis noJack Kennedy Jnr nabo babekhona futhi bafanekisela ngenhla. Lesi kwakuyisikhathi esikhethekile futhi sasiza ukwakha ubuhlobo obuhle phakathi kwe-USA neNingizimu Afrika.
“Abaholi boqobo kumele bazimisele ukunikela ngakho konke ukuze abantu babo bathole inkululeko.” ~Nelson Mandela