Mount's Lecture Series: Introducing Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Reverend Naomi Tutu

Anna Hsia and Ryen Sayki

Getting ready for Black History Month is exciting here at the Mount. There was a lecture on Archbishop Desmond Tutu taught by Dr. Charles Strauss, a history professor here at the Mount. Dr. Strauss spent some time in South Africa while studying at the University of Cape Town.

Where he earned his master’s degree and his experiences did not go to waste. His lecture was very informative as he discussed the history of South Africa, Apartheid, and, of course, Archbishop Desmond Tutu. 

Archbishop Desmond Tutu (7 October 1931 – 26 December 2021) was a prominent South African Anglican bishop and theologian. He served as the Archbishop of Cape Town from 1986 to 1996, being the first Black African to hold the position. He was also well-known for his work as an anti-Apartheid and human rights activist.

Apartheid was a system of racial segregation and discrimination enforced by the National Party from 1948 to 1994. This system divided the population into racial groups and imposed laws that restricted the rights of the non-white majority while privileging the white minority.  

As an anti-Apartheid activist, Tutu protested for racial equality, human rights, and economic justice. Following his Christian faith, he advocated for peaceful protests and nonviolent resistance against the injustices of Apartheid.

He chaired the Truth and Reconciliation Commission from 1996 to 1998, designed to address the systemic oppression and violence experienced during Apartheid through truth-telling and reconciliation. For his efforts in advancing human rights and social justice, Archbishop Tutu was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984. 

When asked about this event, Dr. Strauss expressed his desire for attendees to recognize that South Africa is more than just a country at the bottom of the continent of Africa.

He emphasized the importance of understanding the struggles its people went through. Dr. Strauss also aimed to inspire us with the messages coming from Desmond Tutu, particularly his emphasis on hope, reconciliation, and justice, grounded in his belief in the equality of all people. “Maybe we could all take his message seriously—not just as something a historical figure said—but as a motivation for right now, right here. His courage and his objection to neutrality can do things in our lives in 2025,” Tutu stated.  

Dr. Bowlen, the Director of the Inclusive Excellence and Belonging Initiative, coordinated this event, while Dr. Strauss served as the speaker. Both did an outstanding job in creating an opportunity for the Mount community to learn about South Africa, its history, and Archbishop Tutu. This lecture is part of the university's year-long focus on the Catholic social teaching principle of solidarity. 

This event was merely a precursor to the main event, featuring Rev. Nontombi Naomi Tutu, Archbishop Tutu’s daughter will be coming to the Mount to speak. She will deliver a keynote address titled "Creating Understanding through the Principles of MLK," connecting her father’s legacy to that of Martin Luther King Jr. This event promises to be a fantastic way to honor Black History Month here at the Mount.  

Students, staff, faculty and people from the Mount Community gathered in Knott Auditorium to attend a funny and thought-provoking talk by Reverend Nontombi Naomi Tutu, titled “Our Shared Humanity: Creating Understanding Through the Principles of MLK.”  

Rev. Tutu is a motivational speaker, human rights activist and began her lecture by sharing African proverbs she once struggled to understand but later realized were deeply significant in her life. One proverb that kept on being repeated was, “A person is a person through other people.”  

Ryen Sakyi (C'27) eflected on this proverb saying, “A person is a person through other people means that whenever you interact with somebody, you make them more of a person. Whenever you are interacting with someone, you can either dehumanize them or make them feel like somebody. You could praise them or respect them. You can treat them like a human and you could treat them like trash. But no matter what you are a person also; you can treat someone like another person or not so.”  

Mountain Echo staff writer Anna Hsia (C'26), attended the lecture and reflected on this proverb. She viewed this proverb as; "We are all interconnected. What we believe in, our values, and how each of us lives different lives impacts society. We can learn, grow, and even empathize with each other through our shared human connection." Hsia also added, "This shows the responsibility we have for others, showing that our actions and decisions not only affect us, but also impact others.”  

We live in a very divided country, whether it deals with religion or background, we are still, regardless, interconnected. Rev. Tutu said, “We get scared of differences and we allow that to separate us from each other.” However, the key is not to isolate ourselves because those who do are foolish to keep others away. Rev. Tutu reminds us that life is all about differences. She states, “Our differences are what gives us different options. Our differences are what enriches our life.” She also emphasizes, “The opportunity to spread our horizon to learn from one another and teach each other is the kind of community we can build.” 

In times of hardship, Rev. Tutu says that the wise reach out. She emphasizes that our shared humanity is vital for humanity in building a just and compassionate world. She reminded the audience, “We are all humans, and shared humanity will enable us to build better community to share our gift in a way that makes our world better.” She encouraged everyone to “strive for justice, building community wherever we go,” reinforcing the idea that embracing diversity and reaching out to others, especially in times of hardship, is the key to creating a more inclusive and harmonious society. 

If you have the chance to listen to Rev. Tutu, the Mountain Echo highly recommends taking the opportunity to hear her speak, as her message of humanity, justice and community continues to inspire reflection and action.