One reason is that as a well-established, or at least tenured professor of English, I’ve been constantly forced to deal with skeptical queries about my expertise on Sudan, dismissive characterizations of my background, even outright contempt.
I will say that explaining this mid-life transformation has often been frustratingly difficult, and hence the present essay. I don’t think I have a very good answer as to why, and when I’m asked, I typically retreat into a literary explanation, suggesting a reading of the profound, parable-like short story by Ursula LeGuin, “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas.” I won’t presume to summarize this powerful examination of the most basic human decisions, but suffice it to say that the story presents the terms in which I think of my own moral life. The fact of such deep engagement with work on Sudan still surprises me I catch myself wondering, “how does this very peculiar turn of events connect with all that I did before in my life?” I began working on Sudan when I was 49 years old and had not been politically active-accepting faculty politics at Smith College, where I have taught for 35 years-or engaged in any sort of advocacy work. I haven’t nearly the knowledge about them that I do of Sudan, and I squander what credibility I may have by speaking about issues I know less well. Although often asked by news organizations, I don’t offer opinions-at least for publication or broadcast-on other African countries, or other foreign policy issues. Sudan has become what I do, and what I care most about in worldly affairs. But the constant temptation to lay down the burden, to pass on whatever mantle I wear, continually gives way to the pull on my heart of the Sudanese people, in ways evermore powerful. I’m certainly not tempted to move on to another country or another issue, in part because of the grim realities and lack of progress toward this present goal. At the same time, were greater Sudan actually, magically to achieve a just and inclusive peace, my advocacy days would be over. It is the most daunting and perhaps dispiriting of advocacy tasks, but I’ve not been tempted to give up-tempted, perhaps, but never so much as to end my efforts.
Eric Reeves on himself and Sudan, September 2014įor more than fifteen years I’ve worked long hours every week attempting to bring a just peace to greater Sudan, now including Sudan and South Sudan.
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