Desmond Tutu: A Biography

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Description

History will remember Desmond Tutu, who has been called South Africa's Martin Luther King, Jr., as a great leader in the struggle against apartheid. In this new biography, which includes original quotations from the author's interviews with Tutu, readers will follow the steady progress of a boy and man who has held an irrepressible faith in humankind and his God. They will learn about his family, schooling, important mentors, and extraordinary career trajectory in South Africa and abroad. Now retired, Tutu's accomplishments and contributions to the world can be fully appreciated. The clear explanation of the policy of apartheid, how it affected Tutu and his family, and how he helped to bring it crashing down will affect and inform students as no history alone can. They will marvel over his sparkling wit and effervescent personality, his nonviolent stance in the face of intense racial hatred and harassment, and his persistence against enormous odds. This will be an effortless, enjoyable, enlightening and inspiring read.

Reviews

The reader gets to know the man with the quick wit and sparkling personality as well as his strong stance on change without violence, even though he faced intense racial hatred and harassment. Students will learn firsthand about apartheid and how it affected Tutu and his family. * Multicultural Review *
[I]ncludes original quotes from Gish's own interviews with Tutu as it follows his progression from boy to man, the evolution of his social consciousness, and his struggles against apartheid. His perseverance against all odds makes for a particularly strong account. * MBR Bookwatch *
Many quotes, actions, feelings and attitudes of Tutu's should satisfy older teen and adult research needs. * Catholic Library World *

Author Bio

STEVEN D. GISH is Associate Professor of History at Auburn University of Montgomery in Alabama and specializes in South African and African history.