The Rainbow People of God: The Making of a Peaceful Revolution

by Desmond Tutu

Letters, sermons, and other moving documents written by the Nobel Prize-winning Archbishop of Capetown--together with connecting narrative by journalist John Allen--provide a firsthand history of his long, courageous leadership of South Africa's anti-apartheid movement. 60,000 first printing. $60,000 ad/promo.

Genres: Nonfiction, Religion, History, Politics, Africa, South Africa, Biography

281 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

Desmond Mpilo Tutu was a South African cleric and activist who rose to worldwide fame during the 1980s as an opponent of apartheid. In 1984, Tutu became the second South African to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Tutu was the first black South African Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town, South Africa, and primate of the Church of the Province of Southern Africa (now the Anglican Church of Southern Africa). Tutu chaired the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and is currently the chairman of The Elders. Tutu was vocal in his defense of human rights and used his high profile to campaign for the oppressed. Tutu also campaigned to fight AIDS, homophobia, poverty and racism.

He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984, the Albert Schweitzer Prize for Humanitarianism, the Gandhi Peace Prize in 2005 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009. Tutu has also compiled several books of his speeches and sayings.

Reviews

[Nigel Howarth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amazing and inspirational guy. Incredible story. Format slightly repetitive since based around his preaches / writings. Probably would have preferred a standard biography.

[Andrew Spink · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have an (admittedly rather minor) claim to fame in relation to Desmond Tutu. When he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, I was one of the first people in the world to hear the news. As a student, I was active in the Anti-apartheid movement, and I was attending at meeting with its UK leader, Trevor Huddleston. Suddenly, he received a phone call from the BBC asking for his reaction to the news, and so those of us in the room with him also heard about it.
I read this book (again) in response to the sad news of his death this week. How do his speeches and sermons stand up to the test of time, after all these years? How does his anti-racism compare with the Black Lives Matter and consciousness of white privilege of the current age? I'm not qualified to write a proper essay on the topic, but I would say that his writings provide an interesting historical perspective on the current discussion and that his plea for love, forgiveness and justice is as relevant today as it was then. And just like then, the racist need to repent so that they can ask for forgiveness.
He was a great person and the world is poorer for his demise.

[André · Rating 5 out of 5]

Apartheid has left its stain. It's on every history book for present and future generations as a warning, so that it never happens again.
This book provides us with a short history of apartheid, through some of the most important speeches of Desmond Tutu, a key figure in unlocking the door to freedom in South Africa.
I have found no other possible rating but the five stars. Reading it from beginning to end, the reader will feel the descent into the sorrow that apartheid created in South Africa, and the hope and uplifting of spirits of oppressed South Africans to break it down and be free. "Black and white, together."

[Laura Phelan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Archbishop Tutu... what an amazing man. Providing hope and inspiration for his people and people around the world then and now in this era of re-emerging fascism. The victory is already won, but we must remain steadfast in our resolve to speak truth and act in love, even as the forces of evil provoke us to succumb to darkness. This book is a timely reminder of the power of faith and the requirement to stay political in service to God.

[Ian Swinden · Rating 4 out of 5]

An amazing book about an amazing man, the like of which occurs rarely in each generation. The book narrates the gradual, painful and often bloody path to the overthrow of apartheid and the birth of an inclusive democratic South Africa. Being a man of great Christian faith, large parts of the book are described in terms of his theology, to which non-Christians may find hard to relate.

[Christa Boaz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a really heavy book that took a while to get through, but left me with profound insight into the happenings in South Africa that I grew up with no knowledge of, and Tutu applied some really cool Biblical ideas.

[Lynn Rasor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiring!! A long, hard road to the end of Apartheid.

[Kevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's fascinating to follow Desmund Tutu's remarks through the history of South Africa. There's helpful historical context so you can understand what was happening at each moment in time.

[Treadlightly08 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those immensely valuable books which allow you to understand a period of recent history through the words of one who was there. From the Cold War to the Berlin Wall, the key events of the 1960s to the 1980s are often not well covered by popular history, as there are many people still alive who lived through the events in question. However, my generation was either not alive or too small to understand what was going on when apartheid was dismantled in South Africa in 1991, and this book is one of the best introductions I have found to understand the background to apartheid and how it was conquered. Desmond Tutu's speeches and letters are put in context with useful commentary which allowed me to understand the issues he was addressing on each occasion. Highly recommended.

[Nsquared · Rating 4 out of 5]

Archbishop Tutu's sermons and work against apartheid in South Africa resonate and remain timeless with the disaster that occurred last week in Charleston, SC. History repeats itself. On June 25, 1993 four men burst into a Sunday service with guns and and grenades. Eleven people were killed immediately. Tutu's words "Rampant evil is abroad. Evil men perpetrate vile deeds of darkness of violence, of death, with breathtaking impunity. They have reached the bottom of depravity in attacking and so desecrating a place of divine worship and adoration, God's sanctuary."

[Toby · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the young Tutu's polite letter to prime minister Vorster in 1976, through his outrage after Steve Biko's death and the continuing shootings of black South Africans, to his final joy at the fall of apartheid and the election of Nelson Mandella as president, this volume charts the steadfast hope of the archbishop throughout. Keep faith out of politics? I think not.

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. What an amazing look at racial reconciliation and the struggle for justice. Desmond Tutu is a world renowned man of God and worker of peace, and this book does an excellent job of using his speeches and writings to tell the story of South Africa’s struggle with apartheid. I found many of Tutu’s works to speak to current race issues today, and thoroughly enjoyed this book.

[Nyambura · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the truh of his speeches and writings.
Even now, as Anglicans (one of whom I used to be) get into fits because of non-issues like homosexuality, his voice still rings true. This book is a great resource for all those interested in his work.

[Justin Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book. Desmond Tutu is inspiring and moving in his insight, passion and grace. He is one of those figures who is loved but I find him a bit hypocritical in places. That said we all are... Great insight into the history of the anti-apartheid struggle

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Desmond Tutu should be read by everyone. South African history through the eyes of a very wise man!

[John Steinbeck · Rating 3 out of 5]

read this back when I thought I was going to work for the desmond tutu peace foundation. he is someone with whom a person may easily become obsessed.