KOFI ANNAN - AN EARLY EXAMPLE OF BLACK MALE LEADERSHIP
Growing up in the 80s and 90s I came to admire the work and contributions of a great man - Nelson Mandela. He became someone that I saw as a true hero and a black man dedicated to the greater good of all people. I still believe today that there should be a world holiday in his name. While Nelson was alive, the Rwandan Genocide also occurred, where up to 2 million Africans died, mostly Tutsi men and women, killed by the Hutu majority. At this time, Kofi Annan, a black man who rose through the ranks of the United Nations, became the Head of Peace Keeping. He later became the first black man to serve as UN Secretary General - the group's top post, where Kofi worked to change the riddled perspective of UN leaders into one that represented honesty, peace, and commitment to justice. He was a soft spoken man that led with diplomacy and care. An approach I don't always achieve in my life, but really learned from as a young teenager and adult during his leadership period. This approach, while often successful, was equally damning in that some would say Kofi left a legacy of more unfinished business than he would have liked. Despite this, history shows that there hasn't been another UN leader with more of a humanitarian commitment than Kofi. His winning of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2001, in my belief, sealed that perspective. Kofi was a great man and inspiration to many B Dads that aspire to impact change. We wish you well on the next journey Kofi and thank you for the time you gave us.
For a thorough and respected look at Kofi's life, the New York Times posted a great peace on his life and legacy. You can find that article here - https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/18/obituaries/kofi-annan-dead.html
