Lumumba, Leadership, Legacy and the Long Arc of Justice

Painting by: Peter Tujibikile

"The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice." -MLK

My best friend sent me an Instagram post about Patrice Lumumba recently, and I immediately started thinking about leadership and what it truly means for humans to lead other humans.

For those who don’t know, Lumumba was a Congolese Pan-Africanist who served as the first democratically elected Prime Minister of the Congo. Before taking office, he was heavily involved in the Congolese National Movement, in association with an African nationalist party dedicated to the independence of Congo from the colonial chokehold of Belgium. And you know with any uprising, there’s drama. Not just from the opposition, but often within the movement itself. No, we can’t all just get along, especially when the fight involves control, which usually involves money. Anyway, Lumumba was elected by the people and then murdered by the very forces that feared his power. The coup that took his life was sanctioned by Eisenhower’s CIA, ignited by Belgium, and carried out by those with political agendas that clashed with Lumumba’s. His body was dismembered, dissolved in acid and Belgium kept his tooth as a trophy. Lumumba’s story isn’t unique. I’m sure we can all name too many leaders, at home and abroad, who step into roles of liberation, only to be cut down before their work is done. I can’t help but think about the Biblical story of Jesus, his life, crucifixion, and resurrection. I’ve been hyper-fixated on fallen leader stories like Lumumba's since I was a child. And here I am, in my grown age, still wondering: Why does a difference in belief so often result in violence or death? Why are basic human and civil rights still up for debate by humans, no less? And what about the leaders who seek power but don’t like people? The ones who lead with malice and hate and seem to walk through life unscathed?

I remember one day when I was little, riding in the car with my mommy. A lot of our deepest talks (and arguments) happened while she was behind the wheel. I was confused about how certain people could do awful things, steal, lie, harm others, and still carry themselves like nothing happened. We’re taught at a young age that there are consequences for our actions, so I couldn’t understand why they hadn’t faced any. My mom paused and said, “You know, I really believe God is giving them space and opportunity to repent and seek forgiveness. God is a God of second and third chances. I really believe He’s just waiting for them to take Him up on his offer hoping they’ll make things right.” 

That stuck with me.

We’ve all experienced leadership that’s left us scarred or inspired. There are strengths and flaws in all of us. I’ve seen both in my personal and professional life. Some leaders have broken my spirit, and some have reignited my purpose. But when one considers the weight of true leadership not just titles or optics, but the call to care for and carry others it becomes clear: the greatest leaders often risk the most. And maybe the reason their stories linger as legacy in our hearts is because they remind us that leadership without integrity is a title without substance. A performance. And even though GOD waits for this sort of leader to do the right thing, with every performance there is a closing number. 

Why this post now?

Lumumba’s legacy is still being uplifted and passed around Al Gore’s internet 64 years later while here in the U.S., some leaders are working overtime to erase stories like his from classrooms and consciousness. At the same time, I’m watching leaders who’ve left scars are falling. One by one. Sometimes, we have to release our human craving for immediate justice. Sometimes, we must trust that accountability moves on a divine clock. This is a word of encouragement because we all need it. There are consequences for every action, but the most powerful ones unfold beyond our reach. Be still. Heal. Keep living your life the best way you know how. And let God handle the rest…because He will.