Desmond Tutu (Modern Peacemakers)

Cleric and civil rights activist Desmond Tutu was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984. The Nobel Committee called Tutu “a unifying leader figure in the campaign to resolve the problem of apartheid in South Africa…the Committee wishes to direct attention to the non-violent struggle for liberation to which Desmond Tutu belongs, a struggle in which black and white South Africans unite to bring their country out of conflict and crisis.” Born in 1931 and educated in South Africa and London, Tutu was ordained an Anglican priest in 1960 and named a bishop in 1977. The first black general secretary of the South African Council of Churches, Tutu preached tirelessly against apartheid and for reconciliation. He was named bishop of Johannesburg in 1984 and became the first black archbishop of Cape Town in 1986. After apartheid ended, he was appointed by Nelson Mandela to head the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission to investigate human rights crimes. Tutu continues to be active in the name of several worldwide causes. Desmond Tutu offers an even-handed look at Tutu’s life and work in relation to the Peace Prize. Students will learn about Tutu's legacy, find out what other world leaders have said about his efforts, and gain an understanding of the rise and fall of apartheid.