Dennis Brutus: the Olympic Struggle for Racial Equality

Today I was wondering about poets who've spent time in prison, and my attention was drawn to Dennis Brutus: South African Poet, Activist, Educator, with a cocktail of DNA/ancestry including indigenous Khoi; Dutch; French; German; Malaysian roots, born in Southern Rhodesia in 1924. 

He studied Law; joined the Anti-Coloured Affairs Dept., vocal in his opposition to Apartheid; co-founding the S.A. Non-Racial Olympics Committee, and successful in getting S.A. banned from the 1964 Olympic Games (after the Govt proudly announced no Black would be on the Olympic team, despite being far better athletes than those chosen). Easy enough to be in vocal opposition to things; but how far is one prepared to go to support one's beliefs & principles? 

Brutus went as far as he could in his efforts to end apartheid and speak up for racial equality; getting arrested for his efforts; shot in the back point-blank while trying to escape custody for meeting with more than 2 other people than his family members (sound familiar?). He nearly died waiting for an ambulance reserved for blacks to attend to him. Sentenced to an 18 months prison term, with 5 in solitary confinement; he broke rocks beside Nelson Mandela, who had the cell next to his on Robben Island. 

Forbidden to teach, write or publish work in S.A. his 1st collection: 'Sirens, Knuckles & Boots', 1963, was published in Nigeria, while still in prison. He left for England, then America, in 1966.

Honored 'Black Poet of Distinction 2008'; he turned down the racially exclusive award. 

There will come a time

There will come a time we believe
When the shape of the planet
and the divisions of the land
Will be less important;
We will be caught in a glow of friendship
a red star of hope
will illuminate our lives
A star of hope
A star of joy
A star of freedom

Dennis Brutus, Caracas, October 18, 2008

I love this little excerpt from a blogpost on his life & achievements: 

'The memory of Dennis Brutus will remain everywhere there is struggle against injustice. Uniquely courageous, consistent and principled, Brutus bridged the global and local, politics and culture, class and race, the old and the young, the red and green. He was an emblem of solidarity with all those peoples oppressed and environments wrecked by the power of capital and state elites' [from: http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/]. 

A timely tribute, as struggles continue, and flare up violently as they did with the murder of George Floyd, recently. The desire for equality should never be deemed a 'crime'. Thank you, Dennis Brutus for being true to your principles, and fighting so consistently to bring about unity. May your hope become a reality as the whole race issue is so very much uppermost in our collective consciousness; as we ever more open to discussing our view of history and those we once venerated with statues and memorials; all now under revision, with the prospect of a more mindful, and unified vision for the future. .