"Do your little bit of good where you are; it is those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world."
From Teacher to Archbishop
Desmond Mpilo Tutu was born on October 7, 1931, in Klerksdorp, South Africa. Originally trained as a teacher, he left education to pursue ministry after the government imposed inferior "Bantu Education" on Black South Africans.
Rising through the Anglican Church, Tutu became the first Black Dean of Johannesburg in 1975, Bishop of Lesotho in 1976, and Archbishop of Cape Town in 1986 - the highest position in the Anglican Church in South Africa.
Voice Against Apartheid
Throughout the 1980s, Archbishop Tutu was one of the most prominent voices against apartheid. He called for international sanctions, led peaceful marches, and used his position to give moral clarity to the struggle. His approach combined unwavering principle with disarming humor and warmth.
In 1984, Tutu received the Nobel Peace Prize for his nonviolent opposition to apartheid. The award brought international attention to South Africa's injustice and strengthened the anti-apartheid movement worldwide.
"If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor." Truth and Reconciliation
After apartheid ended, President Nelson Mandela appointed Tutu to chair the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). This body heard testimony from victims and perpetrators of apartheid-era violence, offering amnesty to those who fully disclosed their crimes.
The TRC hearings were often harrowing, yet Tutu guided them with pastoral care. He wept with victims, confronted perpetrators, and held fast to the belief that truth-telling was essential for healing. The Commission's work became a model for post-conflict societies worldwide.
Ubuntu Philosophy
Central to Tutu's worldview was Ubuntu - the African concept that a person's humanity is realized through their relationships with others. "I am because we are," Tutu explained. This philosophy shaped his approach to reconciliation: we cannot be fully human while others suffer injustice.
Continuing Witness
Even after retiring as Archbishop, Tutu continued speaking out on global issues including poverty, AIDS, LGBT rights, and climate change. He never lost his ability to laugh, to hope, and to call the powerful to account.
Desmond Tutu died on December 26, 2021. His legacy lives on in the countless lives he touched and in the ongoing work for justice and reconciliation worldwide.