This day in history: Desmond Tutu was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize
The world-famous icon of peace Archbishop Desmond Tutu received his Nobel Peace Prize on the 16th of October 1984 for the role he played in ending apartheid in South Africa.
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Desmond Tutu's fight against the apartheid regime in South Africa did not go unnoticed or unrewarded.
He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984 - a wonderful recognition of the struggle fought by him for South Africans.
Despite constant and intense harassment from the apartheid government, Tutu preservered and kept playing an important role in undermining and eventually bringing to an end apartheid.
Although apartheid only ended years after Tutu was given his award, the world focused on South Africa more harshly because of the publicity.
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However, instead of acknowledging Tutu, the then-president of South Africa P.W. Botha said Tutu is a mere political preacher and does not deserve such a reward.
This did not deter the peace fighter and he kept on fighting the good fight. In the end, apartheid had to be abolished.
Tutu became the first black Archbishop of the Anglican Church in South Africa and the first Black Secretary General of the South African Council of Churches.
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He was also chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
Today we celebrate this hero who calmly and fiercely fought for the rights of all South Africans and essentially, all humans.
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Source: Briefly News
