http://www.baltimorespeakerseries.org/0809/speaker2.htm

Who is he?

Paul Rusesabagina is a Rwandan humanitarian, born in Murama along with eight siblings. He was raised by his Hutu father and Tutsi mother and attended a school run by the Seventh-Day Adventist Church and later went to Kenya Utalii College. As an adult, he and his children moved to Kigali, the capital, where Rusesabagina became acting manager of the Hotel des Milles Collines.

http://geography.about.com/library/cia/blcrwanda.htm

During the time that Rusesabagina was growing up, there was a communal election that gave the Hutus a large amount of power. To learn more about the election and more events from the time period, click here. There was increasing unrest between the Hutu and Tutsi, the two largest ethnic groups in Rwanda. Rusesabagina, although being half Hutu and half Tutsi, was not affected by this as a child. However, as the conflicts grew, prejudice began to arise against the Tusti.

How was he oppressed?

The Tutsi had been the higher class during colonial times, but when Germany and Belgium left Rwanda, the Hutu gained most of the political power. During Rusesabagina’s childhood, the Tutsi began to feel the oppression based on the rift created during the colonial times. There was prejudice and tension in the workplace. The Hutu were favored for political and military positions.

Beginning in September 1993, extremist radio broadcast, Radio Mille Collines, announced that they were planning the extermination of the Tutsi. On April 6, 1994, the Hutu president, Habyarimana, and the president of Burundi at the time were killed when the Rwandan’s plane was shot down near the Kigali airport. This began the infamous Rwandan genocide, a 100 day killing spree where Tutsis were brutally murdered.  Nearly one million people were died.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/26/rwandan-genocide-mastermind-captured-drc

How did he resist oppression?

When the violence started, Rusesabagina was captured by the soldiers and put on a bus. He escaped his death by bribing the soldiers to drop him at the Hotel des Milles Collines. There, he stayed for the 100 days and took in refugees that had escaped the massacre. Soldiers surrounded the hotel, shut off the water and electricity, and still Paul would not surrender. He bribed the soldiers into not attacking the hotel. At the end of the violence, the 1,200 refugees in the hotel were unharmed.

What has he accomplished?

After the violence ended, Rusesabagina wanted to spread awareness of this tragedy. After meeting director Terry George, his story was told in George’s Hotel Rwanda (2004), a critically acclaimed American movie.

Paul then created the Hotel Rwanda Rusesabagina Foundation to help women and children affected in the genocide. Its goal was to teach children about tolerance and peace. He also wrote an autobiography called An Ordinary Man. He has won a multitude of awards for his actions.

http://movieposters.2038.net/movieid-1235

What did his resistance achieve?

Because of Rusesabagina’s bravery, many innocent lives were saved. He has also spread awareness of the Rwandan genocide. Before Hotel Rwanda, most Americans had never heard of the tragedy. The HRRF is continuing to help African people affected by genocides. They are also focusing on genocides all over the world,  aiming to end violence. Paul is encouraging people to gain a more global view of the world and stand up against violence and oppression.

“I’ve become a humanitarian and I never thought I would become one. And, as a humanitarian, I wanted to take this message on a wider scale, to raise awareness of what happened in my country so that the international community can help others who suffer now” -Paul Rusesabagina

 

I wrote a full essay on this important figure in history. To read the full essay, click here.

 

Sources:

My Hero Project, Kathy Crockett (http://myhero.com/go/hero.asp?hero=Paul_Rusesabagina_06)

Wallenburg Medal and Lecture (http://www.wallenberg.umich.edu/rusesabag.html)

Hotel Rwanda Foundation (http://hrrfoundation.org/)