Desmond Tutu Influence

“Awaking on Friday morning, 20 June 1913, the South African Native found himself, not actually a slave, but a pariah in the land of his birth” (Gish 18). Desmond Tutu is one of the greatest rabble-rousers for peace that there ever was. He maintains huge political and religious influences even to this day. Most people in South Africa and many more countries hear his voice. His impact on fixing the apartheid system in South Africa was a major one. This apartheid system was very segregated towards whites and blacks in South Africa. Blacks were being forced to move to so-called “homelands.” The blacks had very little land to live with such many people. These people were being oppressed only because they had a different skin color then white people. Despite growing up in the poverty of South Arica, Desmond Tutu used his religious and political influences to help black South Africans that were being segregated by the government of South Africa.

Born is Klerksdorp, Transvaal, South Africa, Desmond Tutu was born under the name Desmond Mpilo Tutu. He attended multiple schools throughout his life, including Johannesburg Bantu High School. Tutu’s father was a schoolteacher while his mother was a domestic worker. Nowadays, Tutu rarely discusses his ethnic roots. While Tutu was in his early years, the government passed the Natives Land Act. Less than eight percent of the country was dedicated as “reserves” for blacks. The black peoples only had this land to live off of. On top of this, Desmond caught polio as a young kid. Polio is a very deadly disease, so hid life hung by a thread. Luckily, he survived but with long-lasting effects. To this day, his hands still shake due to having polio as a kid. “Life was actually quite full. It was fun…al...

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... and degrees in his lifetime, and the Nobel Peace Prize was one of them. This among many other medals shows his influence on the world.

Desmond Tutu grew up in the poverty communities of South Africa. He overcame this to become on of the most influential man through both religion and politics. He can make his voice louder than many others, and he can voice his opinions throughout the world. He holds a major role in the religious community, having been archbishop in many places. Many strong and powerful government officials believe what Tutu has to say, and they voice his opinion through politics. Desmond Tutu is still alive today. He still strives to help the world become a better place. He was a major key in fixing the South African apartheid system. Maybe even without him, that system would still be present today. Desmond Tutu is a very influential and great man.