Anti-apartheid hero Archbishop Desmond Tutu dies aged 90

December 27, 2021 10:38 AM

Desmond Tutu, the South African cleric and social activist who was a giant of the struggle against apartheid, has died aged 90, prompting tributes from religious leaders, politicians and activists from around the world.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu (1931-2021) on Apartheid, War, Palestine, Guantánamo, Climate Crisis & More [Democracy Now]

‘A True South African Giant’: Tributes for Desmond Tutu, a Force for Harmony [NY Times]

‘We and the Palestinians have lost an indomitable fighter’: mourning the loss of Archbishop Desmond Tutu [Mondoweiss]

posted by Ahmad Khani (61 comments total)

That time Tutu appeared as a defence witness for 1981 Springbok tour anti-apartheid protesters in NZ. Needless to say, and in spite of not actually being present to witness the events IRL, after 20m of rousing oratory, the protesters were released.
posted by phigmov at 10:55 AM on December 27, 2021 [7 favorites]

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posted by ahimsakid at 11:05 AM on December 27, 2021

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One time in 2009 Craig Ferguson devoted an entire episode to interviewing him, which may seem like an odd combination but actually went so well the show won a Peabody for it.
posted by axiom at 11:07 AM on December 27, 2021 [12 favorites]

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posted by interogative mood at 11:17 AM on December 27, 2021

One of those people so legendary you forget they're a real person, subject to the rules of dying like the rest of us.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 11:19 AM on December 27, 2021 [9 favorites]

The NYT also has this recollection from a former South Africa bureau chief.

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Arab world mourns Tutu, tireless campaigner against apartheid in South Africa and Palestine [Arab News]


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posted by Ahmad Khani at 11:54 AM on December 27, 2021 [2 favorites]

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posted by hijinx at 12:15 PM on December 27, 2021

This is indeed a loss for the reasons cited above and more.

Also, the Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu -- two of the giggling-est Nobel Peace Price winners ever. More proof we all need to giggle more
posted by y2karl at 12:18 PM on December 27, 2021 [9 favorites]

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posted by cmfletcher at 12:19 PM on December 27, 2021

Owen Jones

When courageous fighters for justice die, mainstream figures seek to sanitise them and strip them of their radicalism.

So let's remember Desmond Tutu as the implacable champion of the oppressed - and the fervent opponent of tyranny - that he actually was.

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posted by lalochezia at 12:23 PM on December 27, 2021 [16 favorites]

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posted by riverlife at 3:47 PM on December 27, 2021

I met him once, in the early 90s. My junior year at university, he came to speak and afterwards he spent a good deal of time chatting with students. I feel lucky that I was allowed to meet him. Thousands of people had shown up to see him.

While I don't remember the exact conversation we had, it was longer than 30 seconds, he complimented me on my given name, and I must have said something funny because he giggled. As I was excusing myself so he could speak to the next student waiting, he placed his hands round my face and gave me a blessing. I'm not even a believer, but I felt blessed.

He had a very sweet spirit, and was a man who liked people, that was very clear. I'm not sure how much of that can be cultivated vs. being an inborn gift, but he had those qualities.

I hope his journey was peaceful.

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posted by droplet at 3:52 PM on December 27, 2021 [25 favorites]

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posted by The Nutmeg of Consolation at 4:38 PM on December 27, 2021

. May his memory be for a revolution, as his life was for a blessing.
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posted by The Great Big Mulp at 8:33 PM on December 27, 2021

Bishop Tutu has a small place in British slang, which refers to a 2:2 grade university degree as a "Desmond". I hope he was aware of that, because I think it might have made him smile.
posted by Paul Slade at 11:45 PM on December 27, 2021 [3 favorites]

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posted by Too-Ticky at 12:14 AM on December 28, 2021

Was walking down the road in central London in the early 90s and a car pulled up 50 years ahead and DT got out of it and entered the building. Even doing nothing special and with no press around he was beaming that smile.

I do hope this is not an omen for 2022.
posted by epo at 2:49 AM on December 28, 2021 [1 favorite]

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posted by Mister Bijou at 3:13 AM on December 28, 2021

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posted by evilDoug at 6:45 AM on December 28, 2021

A giant in the anti-apartheid movement, totally devoted to justice.
posted by etaoin at 6:47 AM on December 28, 2021 [2 favorites]

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I have been to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and I have witnessed the racially segregated roads and housing that reminded me so much of the conditions we experienced in South Africa under the racist system of Apartheid
posted by adamvasco at 7:34 AM on December 28, 2021 [2 favorites]

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posted by LobsterMitten at 6:22 AM on December 29, 2021

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I was a photography assistant for an artist who was doing a bed jump photo project - people jumping on beds in various places.

He jumped.
posted by mcbeth at 5:08 PM on December 29, 2021 [5 favorites]