By the mid-eighties, Desmond Tutu had already won the Nobel Peace Prize. He was determined to bring down the Apartheid state with Christian love and nonviolent resistance. Tutu had speaking engagements around the world, calling on different nations to impose sanctions on South Africa to pressure the government to end segregation, to end racist laws, to restore justice to his people. His effort was none too popular with the folks in power.
But his supporters were determined. In 1986 Tutu was made the Archbishop of Cape Town – the first black man to hold that position. Just like some churches have manses for pastors to live in, the Anglican Church in South Africa had an official residence for the Archbishop. It’s just that… the part of town where that residence was had been designated as a white’s only area by the government. It was a fancy, upper crust kind of place. And it was his place now; he moved right in. He had a playground and a swimming pool built on the grounds and invited any and all members of the diocese, Black and white, to come and enjoy the land.
The government fought back – they wanted to control the story, to get good press to sway the international community. So, secretly, the government sent out operatives to gather up thirty black folks who were unemployed. They said, “we’ll pay you to protest Tutu at his residence.” Their protest signs claimed that they were only unemployed because of economic sanctions. And Tutu wanted more sanctions?!
Tutu heard that there were protesters at his home so he rushed back right away. When he arrived, he met the protestors and invited them into his garden. He got to know them; he listened to them; he laughed with them. By the time the media showed up, the protest signs were left on the ground. Tutu and the “protesters” were having a lovely time, sharing tea and cookies.
Resources:
*https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desmond_Tutu
*https://www.npr.org/2021/12/26/1047748076/desmond-tutu-dead-remembrance