Naomi Tutu Lectures On Gender and Race

In an attempt to bring a diverse body of students together to work on a common project, numerous campus organizations pooled their resources, financial and otherwise, to bring Naomi Tutu, daughter of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, to speak on gender equality in regards to truth and reconciliation this past Thursday in the Washington Room. Over the last few years the Office of Multicultural Affairs, the Trinity College Black Women's Organization, the Women's Center and other groups have collaborated to bring various speakers to the Trinity campus in honor of Black and Women's History months. In the past, notable individuals, including Elaine Brown, head of the Black Panther Party, and Patricia Williams, author and columnist for liberal publication The Nation, among others, have been asked to speak on significant issues in the Trinity community. Tutu was one of a few people these organizations had in mind to participate this year, particularly because she continues to speak about the situation in South Africa where she believes there is still much to do to eliminate a long legacy of racial oppression.

Born in Krugersdorp, South Africa, Tutu graduated from Berea College in Kentucky with a B.A. in French and economics. After graduating, Tutu served as a consultant for a private firm and also did consulting work for South Africa, researching both educational and professional opportunities for black women. She then went on to teach courses on development, gender, and education in Africa at the University of Hartford, the University of Connecticut and Brevard College.

Tutu is the founder of the Tutu Foundation for Development and Relief in Southern Africa, which was established with the intent of not only preparing refugees for constructive roles in freeing South Africa but also providing them economic aid and the skills to be self-dependent.

Thursday night's presentation was not simply an introduction of Tutu's efforts in South Africa; it was a plea to thoroughly examine the immediate surrounding community. The lecture was a unique combination of two presentations she has used in the past: Building Gender Alliances Across Racial Lines in South Africa, and Truth and Reconciliation.

One point, applicable to all, was that one's history cannot be separated into the good and the bad. The fundamental building block of any just society is claiming all of its parts and accepting the truth. "If we don't claim them, they claim us ... and endanger our future." She continued to say that history has brought us to where we are today. South Africa, for example, cannot include Nelson Mandela as part of its history without including those who committed rape, torture, and other considerable crimes.

With this idea Naomi Tutu challenged Trinity faculty and students to identify issues such as racism, gender violence, and economic disparity on campus and to implement a truth and reconciliation plan in order to move forward. "We have to start somewhere. The leadership can come from you."

Laura Lockwood, director of Trinity's Women's Center, said "we have our problems. A truth and reconciliation plan is important to create a more just culture that accepts all differences. Naomi's words planted seeds to create change."

Additionally, Tutu spoke about the gender violence in parts of southern Africa and how issues such as rape became major concerns. She recalled how women of different social classes set aside their differences, culturally, financially, and otherwise to confront these problems. With this example, she encouraged women as well as men here at Trinity to do the same; to come together, identify problems such as sexual assault or homophobia and propose prescriptions to overcome them.

Tutu's message, though urgent, was spoken with light-hearted optimism despite the fact that the turnout was relatively small in comparison to Trinity's population: the audience filled approximately one-third of the Washington Room. Many students from various human rights classes, however, were in attendance, as well as members of the sponsoring organizations and some faculty. "I'm really happy that in the end she incorporated Trinity; it was a nice gesture," said Annette Iwamoto '08.

Adaeze Ekeson '07, a member of the Trinity College Black Women's Organization, summed up the event as "really interesting and really compelling" and was fascinated how "each step taken can [help] solve problems.