Archbishop Desmond Mpilo Tutu

Archbishop Desmond Mpilo Tutu was born in 1931 in Klerksdorp, South Africa. Following his father's example, Tutu became a schoolteacher in 1954 but left his post in 1957 and was ordained an Anglican parish priest in 1961. Among his many pioneering church positions, he became the first black archbishop to lead South Africa's 1.6 million Anglicans. A leading opponent of apartheid who vehemently opposes violence, Tutu supported peaceful negotiation and international sanctions against the South African government. Tutu won the 1984 Nobel Peace Prize, and was appointed chair of South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 1995.

Resources for Teachers and Students

Reflections on Working Towards Peace