Wangari Maathai

The Undeniable Power of Wangari Maathai

Wangari Maathai holding her Nobel Prize. 10 December 2004Nobelprize.orgIn 1998, David Granger, the editor-in-chief of Esquire asked the great actor Paul Newman to name his heroes, and Newman offered a surprising insight:“ ‘I'm embarrassed, but I have no heroes that I know of. Everybody that I know or have read about is seriously flawed. Including myself’ ” (Paul Newman qtd. In Granger). Newman's struggle in finding a hero is caused by the scarcity of heroic traits among ordinary human beings. This is why they are called heroes. Heroes are not easy to find in everyday life because not everyone possesses these specific traits. Newman is like many others who are trying to find a hero unafraid to do what they believe in as well as have the willpower to continue to do what is right. In other words, he is looking for a hero who is determined and brave. In the same article Granger includes his personal definition of a hero: “...people who met their moment and sometimes left us speechless at what a human being is capable of” (Granger). Granger states the impact that a hero imposes on people, believing a hero is one who leaves us in a state of positive admiration. However, despite the fact that few of us are heroically perfect, there are people who have the bravery and determination that attract admiration. I believe a hero impresses us with determination to continue and bravery to ignore danger. I also believe a hero is one who is brave and is not afraid to follow his or her dreams, no matter the size of the struggles that may lie ahead. All heroes have certain inspirational traits, two of which are determination and bravery that awe us to the point of admiration. One hero who recently demonstrated her might was Wangari Maathai.

Modern society has witnessed the struggles and passing of the great Kenyan eco-activist, Wangari Maathai. She confronted backward Kenyan politics to give her fellow Kenyans a vision of prosperity and peace with nature. She was a hero in the most classic sense of the definition, demonstrating "courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities" (Oxford Living Dictionary). Maathai was repeatedly threatened with brutal beatings and was hospitalized in 1999 with a head injury she received after defying orders to cease tree planting. Unfrightened, Maathai continued to plant trees and spread the word that all Kenyans could and would redeem their native environment. Maathai was born in 1940 in Kenya where sexist attitudes were common. She was not supposed to get an education, but because her older brother acknowledged Maathai's mental potential, she went to school. Maathai traveled to America for college and earned a bachelor's and master's degree in biological sciences, and then, upon returning to Nairobi, earned a doctorate in veterinary anatomy. All of this showed early determination. After her education, Maathai founded The Green Belt Movement. This movement created a greener Africa. Maathai led a large group of women who planted trees in order to restore water and establish streams in Africa. The movement gave the women who were planting trees much-needed jobs and it also gave them food-farming knowledge, which they otherwise would not have received. Even though Maathai’s movement was created to benefit the country, the Kenyan government constantly sought to stop her. Only the strong will to succeed pushed Maathai through to her goal. Determination and bravery are two character traits that a true hero must possess. The scale and significance of one’s bravery is determined by one's willingness to face and endure danger and extremely unpleasant situations. While the odds against her success and the certainty of physical harm were immense, Maathai displayed this determination and bravery that mark her as a true hero.

Barak Obama's children helping water an African Olive tree with Wangari Maathai in Nairobi. 28 August 2006tributes.comBy always being ready to put herself at risk in order to help others, Maathai demonstrated the characteristics of bravery. For most of her life Maathai fought the Kenyan government which sought to destroy the trees she planted for the environment. Despite her many attempts to teach the people in power the significance of trees and a healthy environment, the Kenyan government sought to vigorously oppose the movement not only by hurting the trees but also by physically harming the women. Maathai had to choose whether she wanted to give up or face danger. She decided to face danger and said,“We are going to shed blood because of our land. We will” (Taking Root). When Wangari Maathai says this she does not mean to beat others but rather wisely submit to the violent beaters she was confronting. While protecting her land, Maathai and her followers were beaten to the point at which they bled. In this instance, Maathai bravely disregarded her personal safety in order to protect the people of Africa and their delicate land. Although Maathai never did anything illegal, she was constantly imprisoned by the government. According to J. Kile, she was, “Like many heroes in our past, [and] spent countless times in jail and prison as a political prisoner, most of which ended with eventual release due of a lack of charges” ("Wangari Maathai"). Maathai was put into jail as a result of her commitment and knowledge because male government officials saw her as a threat to their plans. Despite the nonstop punishment for being a strong-willed woman, Maathai continued. Wangari Maathai demonstrated a brave character in facing government home invasions, threats, and beatings. Always doing what was best for the environment and the people who lived in it, Wangari Maathai never had a second thought about enduring danger.

Maathai was a woman of determination, therefore she was a hero. Being a child from Kenya, Maathai was familiar with watching other women defer to men. Despite this, Maathai disregarded what others did. For one, she completed her education, which traditionally was only for men. Once Maathai decided she would get her education, she never shied away. Her PhD was awarded and she assumed the chair of the Department of Veterinary Anatomy at the University of Nairobi ("Wangari Maathai" Biography Today). Maathai was often considered less than, or not as knowledgeable solely because she was a woman, but she overcame this prejudice by setting goals. Striving toward a goal shows determination. After every goal she established, Maathai would strive towards this goal until it was accomplished. While Maathai faced issues with the government for planting trees, she often held seminars. This was another sign of determination. These seminars were made to empower the women that she worked with and remind them of the significance of planting the trees. She said, “I know they are harassing you. In fact, we are planting trees for our country, a legacy for our children as our ancestors left a legacy for us. So let us not be pushed around” (Taking Root). She is reminding the women of the reason why they are planting trees: to benefit their country. Maathai's determination was so compelling that she inspired the women to keep fighting despite the harassment they were facing, and to finish what they started. A hero must be determined. Maathai's seminars were acts of determination. Because determination is a trait that she possessed, Wangari Maathai is a hero.

Oprah Winfrey and Wangari Maathai at a Dedication and Tree Planting ceremony. 25 November 2008Daily NationWangari Maathai displays the two most important character traits of a hero: bravery, which was seen when she put herself into danger in order to save the environment, and determination, because she always completed her goals despite the challenges that came in her way. Maathai’s involvement in The Green Belt Movement came with many challenges where her heroic traits were exemplified. Maathai’s bravery was seen in many situations where she put herself in danger: she even faced a beating that resulted in a coma but protecting the land of Africa from old colonial plantation methods was more critical than her own safety. From her many encounters with the government, she proved herself determined. Maathai grew up in a very sexist time where the president once mocked her by saying, “Along comes a certain woman…[he is heard and seen laughing]... According to African traditions women must respect their men” (Taking Root). Moi was referring to Maathai 's strong, untraditional will. Ignoring President Moi's irrational claims, Wangari Maathai put her education to work, and continued directing The Green Belt Movement. Maathai’s deeper education gave her the knowledge to be able to mindfully conduct The Green Belt Movement. Maathai’s leadership has inspired many of her peers with whom she worked, one of whom remarked: “Wangari has given me the strength to know if I fight for something, I can make it happen ” (Taking Root). As a consequence of her involvement in creating a better Africa, Maathai taught the women how important it is to stand up for one’s rights and to fight for what one believes. Maathai’s heroic actions have inspired me to be a better person. What I also noticed is that while Maathai was best known for her actions in preserving the environment, she was always kind to the ones around her. She always avoided unnecessary violence. Because of Maathai I have made it my goal to be more kind. Before I heard about Wangari Maathai, I would unfairly judge people and store downgrading comments in my mind. Now that I have learned about Maathai’s struggle-filled life and her constant positive outlook on others, I have made it my duty to eliminate these judgments from my head and help people that I would not have helped otherwise. Maathai has changed my life and will continue doing so. There are not many true heroes that have done as much good for the world as Maathai has. Wangari Maathai was even awarded a Nobel Peace Prize for her significant contributions. Wangari Maathai is one hero who has most definitely earned her spot on the international list of heroic figures.

Works Cited

Granger, David. "Boy, Do We Ever Need a Hero." Esquire, Nov 1998. Vol. 130, number 5, p. 26.

“Hero.” Oxford English Dictionaries.” Oxford Dictionaries English, Oxford English Dictionaries, https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/hero Accessed 24 Feb. 2018.

Kile, J. “Wangari Maathai.” Moral Heroes, 6 Oct. 2010, www.moralheroes.org/wangari-maathai. 21 December 2017.

Taking Root. Lisa Mertan and Alan Dater, directors.  Marlboro Productions, 2008. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wjs0F8FdSCw.

"Wangari Maathai." Biography Today, Jan. 2010, p. 1. EBSCOhost, 21 December 2017.