The 2021 death of Nobel Peace Prize-winning South African activist Desmond Tutu requires that we remember his continued fight for racial justice, LGBT rights, and equality throughout South Africa. In addition to these causes, Tutu advocated as an opponent of apartheid, a regime supporting brutal oppression of the Black majority. Furthermore, Tutu illustrated non-violent methods of sponsoring equality within the country and used his pulpit as a Black bishop and archbishop to rouse the public's support for his causes. |
Tutu's Fight Against ApartheidThe most notable remembrance is Desmond Tutu's anti-apartheid movement to liberate South Africa from the white minority government. This movement, in which sources such as BBC reported the archbishop maintained his sense of humor and faith in humanity, involved a fight against injustice countered by senseless violence against an already oppressed people. In time, though, such anti-apartheid movements led to eventual negotiations and the formal end to apartheid, and the release of monumental figure Nelson Mandela, another notable advocate in the anti-apartheid movement. |
A Lesser-Known Proponent for LGBT RightsIn addition to Tutu's advocation for the anti-apartheid movement, he was a prominent advocate for LGBT rights. In the early 1990s, as reported by Britannica, Tutu promulgated the idea of "the Rainbow Nation" as a nomenclature for South Africa. Then-President Nelson Mandela is known for implementing this further by appointing Tutu as head of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to investigate allegations of violations of the human rights of citizens of South Africa. |
Tutu's ContributionsOf further importance are the contributions that Desmond Tutu made in prose. "GOD HAS A DREAM: A Vision of Hope for Our Times," "No Future Without Forgiveness," and God's Dream" are just a few examples of Tutu's literary contributions. Much of his work centered around forgiveness as opposed to retribution. This belief included the understanding that we are all connected, in a sense, as siblings. Additionally, Tutu asserted that there is no room for injustices such as apartheid or the denial of fundamental human rights. Tutu advocated for peaceful resistance to apartheid and the influence of overall societal opinion regarding the mistreatment of those we consider as our brothers and sisters. Tutu showed an ability to make movements progress successfully without a need for bloodshed. This mentality in the future led to Tutu's award of the Nobel Peace Prize in response to his efforts advancing a peaceful end to apartheid and the favoring of equal rights for all individuals, including the majority of the Black population that the white majority government had systemically oppressed. Like the Aboriginals in Australia, Black South Africans were considered "less than" and treated with disdain. Check out pufs.com for more interesting articles like this. |
In ConclusionTutu made many notable contributions to forwarding equality and rights for Blacks in South Africa. He fought against the long-standing practice of apartheid but with peaceful actions. Furthermore, Tutu advocated for LGBT rights most notably denoting South Africa as "the Rainbow Nation." Finally, his prose reflected his belief that peace was the way to gain equality and influence the overall societal mentality, which would lead to continued advocation for less oppression of the Black majority. The nation will indubitably remember Desmond Tutu for his many contributions to the advancement of equality and the end of apartheid in South Africa.
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