When Morgan Freeman arrives on the Oscars red carpet this Sunday, there’s no doubt that he will be looking as sharp as sharp can possibly get. Freeman, whose portrayal of Nelson Mandela in last year’s Invictus earned him a best lead actor nomination, will also be sporting a beautiful, and meaningful accessory. This piece of jewelry not only ties directly to the privilege he enjoyed in playing one of the world’s most inspiring figures but also represents real hope in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
On Freeman’s wrist will be a special platinum 46664 Bangle (below, right). Presented as “The South African Bracelet for Hope,” these bracelets are available through the 46664 Campaign, a program of The Nelson Mandela Foundation (Freeman’s own bracelet will be auctioned off for the charity at a later date). The five-digit number was assigned to Mandela during his nearly three decades of imprisonment for anti-Apartheid activism, which he has since embraced and transformed into a numerical symbol for perseverance and faith that hard work and compassion will support all our efforts in building a brighter and fairer world. 
Says Freeman of his metallic adornment:
“It’s 46664. Those were his numbers. Inscribed on his prison bracelet. I wear it all the time. It is a reminder that one person can indeed make a significant impact on the world.”
The manufacture of these pieces, available in copper, silver, gold, and platinum, provides job training, skill development, and employment where they are so badly needed. And proceeds from the sales are dedicated to support education and outreach undertaken by the 46664 Campaign in the ongoing fight against HIV/AIDS. 
These bracelets are indeed beautiful, but more significantly they represent inner beauty, those higher and more noble facets of the human condition that Mandela continues to reveal through his inspiring and tireless efforts, and those that we can continue to emulate in our own lives and communities. As the 46664 Bangle website reminds us: “It’s more than a fashion statement … It’s an affirmation of responsibility.”
Photos courtesy of 46664 Campaign; video courtesy of Youtube.
