Desmond Tutu Cruelty Essay

The Path of Peace

Cruelty takes shape in many forms. In South Africa, cruelty was displayed toward blacks during apartheid. The system of apartheid began in South Africa in 1948, when the National party came to power. It established a system of discrimination similar to the Jim Crow era in the United States. Apartheid was a law that prevented black South Africans from having the same rights and freedoms as white people(History page 1). During this time, many blacks were mistreated and unjustly abused by the white-controlled government for crimes that they did not commit. Although many Black South African leaders felt that the use of violence would help bring an end to this cruelty, other leaders such as Desmond Tutu supported a more peaceful
For several years, Desmond Tutu was a school teacher at Madipane High School (South African History Online Page 1) until beginning his education at St. Peters Theological college.(Encyclopedia Brittanica Page 1) In the late 1950s, Tutu had the opportunity to attend St. Peter's Theological seminary and later King’s College in England. This was an eye opening experience for Tutu. He had the opportunity to see what it was like to be treated equally by white people.(Hunt page 1) After becoming a priest, Tutu also began to work on his doctorate at the Federal Theological Seminary in eastern South Africa. However, he never finished it and went on to fight the social injustices of apartheid. Tutu continued to immerse himself in the field of education, and taught at many colleges and universities throughout his lifetime. Among them were Fordham University College and the College of William and Mary. Additionally, Tutu received several honorary degrees including an honorary doctorate of the laws from Harvard.(South African History Online page 1) Desmond Tutu would not have made such outstanding academic and career accomplishments had it not been for his incredible intelligence. He not only faced the political and social challenges of apartheid, but also the stereotype that he was not "smart enough" because he was
Throughout his life, Tutu went through many difficult experiences and came out on top. As a child, Desmond Tutu was diagnosed with tuberculosis. Tuberculosis is a serious disease that can cause serious problems in the lungs. Although he was aware of the deadly side affects of the illness, young Tutu maintained a positive attitude(House page 1). He relied on his strong faith in order to persevere through this difficult time. He believed that "hope...[was] being able to see... light despite the darkness"(Pinterest). After recovering from his illness, Tutu had trouble in school. He missed two years of school and was concerned about his academic future. However, through his hard work and determination, Tutu was able to graduate high school and get into medical school(although he could not afford it). Tutu also managed to earn both graduate and undergraduate degrees(South African History Online page 1). Tutu would not have been able to endure these struggles if it had not been for his