BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Albert Luthuli's contribution to the anti- apartheid struggle in the 1 9 50s and early 1 9 60s was
prodigious. While his organizational involvement was often limited due to the repeated government
banning orders, he remained the symbolic colossus of the liberation movement throughout. His moral
authority stood in stark contrast to the government's approach of brutal repression and this contributed
to the international isolation of Pretoria. Luthuli was the first global icon of the South African liberation
movement. His acceptance of the Nobel Peace Prize brought the cause of the ANC to international
prominence and provided succor during some of the darkest days of the antiapartheid struggle. His
commitment to peaceful methods of protest also won the ANC the sympathy and support of many
White South African liberals.

Source A

An extract from "The Road to Freedom is via the Cross", a public statement issued by Albert Luthuli on
I November 1952 in response to a government order to revoke his chieftaincy.

What have been the fruits of my many years of moderation? Has there been a reciprocal tolerance or
moderation from the government? No ! On the contrary, the past thirty years have seen the greatest
number of laws restricting our rights and progress until today we have reached a stage where we have
almost no rights at all:

No adequate land for our occupation, our only asset, cattle, dwindling, no security of homes, no decent
and remunerative employment, more restriction to freedom of movement through passes ... in short we
have witnessed ... an intensification of our subjugation to ensure and protect white supremacy.

It is with this background ... [that] I have j oined my people in the new spirit that moves them today, the
spirit that revolts openly and boldly against inj ustice and expresses itself in a determined and non-
violent manner.

Source B

The Black Christ, a painting by the White South African artist Ronnie Harrison, 1 961. It depicts Chief
Luthuli being crucified by Prime Minister HF Verwoerd and Minister of Justice John Vorster.
Source C

A speech by President of South Africa Jacob Zuma, who delivered the Chief Albert Luthuli Centenary
Lecture in Kimberley on 7 September 2012.

The membership saw outstanding qualities in [Luthuli] and was convinced that he would take the ANC to
greater heights. He did not disappoint them ...

While Inkosi [the Zulu word for "chief"] Luthuli was under his severe ban, he was informed that he had
been awarded the 1 960 Nobel Prize for Peace award ... His acceptance speech helped focus world
attention on apartheid and its evil atrocities against Africans. He also emphasized reconciliation and
unity. He made the fundamental point that it would have been easy for the feelings of resentment at
white domination to have been turned into feelings of hatred and a desire for revenge against the white
community. He praised the ANC leadership which had preached non racialism and restraint in the face of
extreme provocation ... Inkosi Luthuli obtained a long standing ovation after his moving acceptance

speech. He rose to sing the National Anthem, locating himself in Oslo as a proud African. He made every
African, in the continent and the Diaspora, extremely proud of themselves ...
We have noted some works doubting President General Luthuli's commitment to the armed struggle.
Dominant records indicate that he was a pacifist whose hand was "twisted" to accept the armed struggle
even though he did not believe in it. When he took over as President the policy of the ANC had not
changed from petition politics. However, when conditions changed and radicalism set in, he was ready to
embrace the new approach. Inkosi Luthuli was a man of peace, but he was also a militant leader. Like all
ANC leaders, he detested violence. The armed struggle was adopted as a last resort, in the face of an
intransigent, aggressive state that was hell-bent on perpetually riding roughshod over the rights of the
black majority.

Source D

S. Couper, a Christian minister from the USA who worked at the Groutville Congregational Church
(Luthuli's former parish). He is a senior honorary lecturer in the school of religion at the University of
KwaZulu-Nalal. "My People Let Go". International Congregational Journal. Vol 5, issue 1 (2005).

Luthuli's keen intellect and powerful personality held together in solidarity against incredible odds
Indians, Whites, Blacks, Communists, Liberals, Christians, Muslims, modernists and traditionalists within
the ANC thus enabling the survival and future growth of the anti-Apartheid struggle and the creation of
the present day democratic South Africa. In 1 960 the Nobel Committee selected Luthuli from the midst
of obscurity to proclaim to the world the height to which humankind ought to strive ...

As President- General of the ANC for seventeen years, [he] was a secular politician, yet he argued that he
was first and foremost a Christian ... Perhaps the greatest paradox of Luthuli's life is his consistent
advocacy of non-violence previous to and during his last seven years of ANC leadership and the ANC 's
sanctioned and sponsored use of violence ... Clearly, the decision to resort to violence led his followers
to turn away from Luthuli as the leader of the ANC despite his retention of the titular position as
General-President. Luthuli's people had let him go.

Use the above source and answer the following question,

1.According to Source A, what were the results of Luthuli's "many years of moderation"? [3]

2. What is the message of Source B? [2]

3. With reference to its origin, purpose and content, assess the values and limitations of Source D for
historians studying C hief Luthuli's involvement in the freedom struggle. [4]
4. Compare and contrast the views of Chief Luthuli expressed in Sources C and D. [5]

5. Using the sources and your own knowledge, to what extent do you agree with the claim that Chief
Luthuli took the ANC "to greater heights"? [6]