“Without forgiveness, there’s no future.”

Archbishop Desmond Tutu is a world-renowned human rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize recipient. Beginning with his opposition to apartheid in South Africa, he worked tirelessly to spread peace, justice, and democracy and to end racial divisions throughout the world.

In 2009, President Obama awarded Archbishop Tutu the Presidential Medal of Freedom—the highest civilian honor—for his significant contributions to the nation and the world. The Archbishop’s great friend Nelson Mandela perfectly sums up his legacy: “sometimes strident, often tender, never afraid and seldom without humor.”

Additional resources:

• Desmond Tutu addresses UN Special Committee 1985 (audio)
• Tutu and his role in the Truth & Reconciliation Commission (South Africa History Online)
• Desmond Tutu: South Africa anti-apartheid hero dies aged 90