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'@@ -36,29 +36,27 @@ | footnotes = | nationality = [[American]] }} -The '''Rev. William Cullen Wilcox''' (1850 – 1928) and his wife '''Ida Belle Clary Wilcox''' were [[American]] missionaries to [[South Africa]]. They "adopted" the teenager who was to be the first President of the [[African National Congress]] and the first black founder of a South African School. The Wilcoxs arranged for black South Africans to own land and as a result they were driven penniless out of South Africa in 1918. The South African Government conferred the [[Order of the Companions of O. R. Tambo]] for their work in 2009. +The '''Rev. William Cullen Wilcox''' (1850 – 1928) and his wife '''Ida Belle Clary Wilcox''' were [[American]] missionaries to [[South Africa]]. They "adopted" [[John Dube]], who was to be the first President of the [[African National Congress]] and the first black founder of a South African School. The Wilcoxs arranged for black South Africans to own land and as a result they were driven out of South Africa in 1918. The South African Government conferred the [[Order of the Companions of O. R. Tambo]] for their work in 2009. ==Lives== William Cullen Wilcox was born in [[Richfield, Ohio]] to Jeremiah Cullen and Julia Ann (born Wilder) Wilcox.<ref name="ancest">[http://records.ancestry.com/William_Cullen_Wilcox_records.ashx?pid=44620322 William Cullen Wilcox], Ancestry.com, accessed 1 August 2013</ref> William married Ida Belle Clary Wilcox in [[Northfield, Minnesota]] where she was born.<ref name=northfield>{{cite news|last=Cohn|first=Jacob|title=Professor Cherif Keita’s Documentary Film “Cemetery Stories” Links South Africa to Northfield|url=http://apps.carleton.edu/community/news/?story_id=939608|accessdate=1 August 2013|newspaper=Carleton College|date=25 January 2013}}</ref> They were to have eight children together.<ref name="ancest"/> -They were sent to South Africa as missionaries and they arrived in [[Inanda, KwaZulu-Natal|Inanda]] which is just north of [[Durban]] in South Africa in 1881. William Cullen was called in to talk to a minister's son who was misbehaving at the [[Adams School]] in [[Amanzimtoti]]. The son was [[John Dube]] and his father James Dube was the Congregational minister at Inanda.<ref name="oberlin">[http://www.oberlin.edu/external/EOG/Dube/Dube.htmJohn Dube], Oberlin College, accessed 1 August 2013</ref> +They were sent to South Africa as missionaries and they arrived in [[Inanda, KwaZulu-Natal|Inanda]], north of [[Durban]], in 1881. William was asked to talk to the son of Revened John Dube, the Congregational minister at Inanda, about his poor behavior at the [[Adams School]] in [[Amanzimtoti]]. <ref name="oberlin">[http://www.oberlin.edu/external/EOG/Dube/Dube.htmJohn Dube], Oberlin College, accessed 1 August 2013</ref> [[File:Ida-Belle-Clary-Wilcox.jpg|thumb|left|Ida Belle Clary Wilcox]] -In 1887 they were returning to the United States and John Dube and his mother persuaded the missionary couple to take Dube to America where he could further his education. The Cullens agreed on the condition that Dube was to maintain himself financially, however they advised him and William found him his first work on the road gang when he arrived in America.<ref name="oberlin"/> +In 1887 they were returning to the United States and Dube and his mother persuaded the missionary couple to take the younger Dube (also named John) to America where he could further his education. The WIlcoxes agreed on the condition that the child was to maintain himself financially.<ref name="oberlin"/> -In 1888 Wilcox was pastor in Keene Valley Congregational church in New York and he asked Dube to visit him where Wilcox could exploit Dube's printing skills to create a pamphlet called "Self Support among the Kaffirs" which argued for native South Africas to use self-help to better themselves. Wilcox went on a lecture tour and took the seventeen year old Dube with him.<ref name="oberlin"/> Dube gave a number of lectures whilst his wife, Mama Nokutela Dube, sang for those who came.<ref name=zuma>{{cite web|title=Zuma: Address by the President of South Africa, at the 100 year celebration conference of the women’s organisation of the united congregational church of Southern African KZN region (31/03/2012)|url=http://www.polity.org.za/article/sa-zuma-address-by-the-president-of-south-africa-at-the-100-year-celebration-conference-of-the-womens-organisation-of-the-united-congregational-church-of-southern-african-kzn-region-31032012-2012-03-31|publisher=polity.org.za|accessdate=1 August 2013}}</ref> +In 1888 Wilcox was pastor in Keene Valley Congregational church in <nowiki>[[New York (state)|New York]]</nowiki> and he asked Dube to visit him where Wilcox could use Dube's printing skills to create a pamphlet called "Self Support among the Kaffirs" which argued for native South Africas to use self-help to better themselves. Wilcox went on a lecture tour and took the seventeen year old Dube with him.<ref name="oberlin"/> Dube gave a number of lectures while his wife, Mama Nokutela Dube, sang for those who came.<ref name=zuma>{{cite web|title=Zuma: Address by the President of South Africa, at the 100 year celebration conference of the women’s organisation of the united congregational church of Southern African KZN region (31/03/2012)|url=http://www.polity.org.za/article/sa-zuma-address-by-the-president-of-south-africa-at-the-100-year-celebration-conference-of-the-womens-organisation-of-the-united-congregational-church-of-southern-african-kzn-region-31032012-2012-03-31|publisher=polity.org.za|accessdate=1 August 2013}}</ref> -As a result of the Wilcoxs help Dube was able to attend [[Oberlin College]] although he also had to find time to work. Dube never graduated but he gathered a basic higher education and he was also able to find out about printing. Dube return to Africa to found what became the [[Ohlange High School]] in 1901. Dube founded a newspaper and he was a founder and the first President of the organisation that became the [[African National Congress]].<ref name="oberlin"/> +With the Wilcox's help, Dube was able to attend [[Oberlin College]] although he also had to find time to work. Dube never graduated but he gathered a basic higher education. Dube return to Africa to found what became the [[Ohlange High School]] in 1901. Dube founded a newspaper and he was a founder and the first President of the organisation that became the [[African National Congress]].<ref name="oberlin"/> -In 1909 the Wilcoxs created a company owned by 300 black South Africans and the two of them. The company was called the ''Zululand Industrial Improvement Company'' and this led to them supplying land to thousands of black people in Natal. This was not looked on well by the local government.<ref name=zuma/> +In 1909 the Wilcoxes created a company called the ''Zululand Industrial Improvement Company'', which was ''''owned by 300 black South Africans and the themselves. The company led to acquiring land for thousands of black natives in [[Natal Province|<nowiki>[[Natal]]</nowiki>]], which was met with disapproval by the local government.<ref name=zuma/> -They not only objected to the [[Natives Land Act, 1913|Natives Land Act]] of 1913 but they encouraged others to object to it too. This act restricted the ability of people to buy land based on their race. The Wilcoxs organised blacks to oppose this law which not only denied new land but also denied the use of the land to those who already owned it or who were renting it. [[John Dube]] wrote an article in his paper about it and he was amongst five people who were sent to Britain to try and overturn the law once it came in to force in South Africa.<ref>[http://www.sahistory.org.za/topic/natives-land-act-1913 Natives Land Act], SAHistory.org.za, accessed 1 August 2013</ref> +The Wilcoxes objected to the [[Natives Land Act, 1913|Natives Land Act]] of 1913, which restricted the right of people to buy land based on their race. They organised blacks to oppose this law which not only denied new land but also denied the use of the land to those who already owned it or who were renting it. As a result of their opposition, the couple were driven to bankruptcy in 1918 by the administration and white colonial South Africans who were afraid of what might happen if the native population was allowed to own land. They returned to America where their situation was described as destitute.<ref name="premier">{{cite news|title=Premier Honours Struggle Allies|url=http://www.witness.co.za/index.php?showcontent&global[_id]=30830|accessdate=1 August 2013|newspaper=The Witness|date=12 November 2009}}</ref> -They were driven to bankruptcy in 1918 by the administration and white colonial South Africans who were afraid of what might happen if the native population was allowed to own land. They returned to America where thir situation was described as destitute.<ref name=premier>{{cite news|title=Premier Honours Struggle Allies|url=http://www.witness.co.za/index.php?showcontent&global[_id]=30830|accessdate=1 August 2013|newspaper=The Witness|date=12 November 2009}}</ref> - -William and Ida Wilcox died poor in [[Glendale, California]] in 1928 and 1940 respectively and they were buried in the [[Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale,]].<ref name=nkele>{{cite news|last=Nkele|first=Amaka|title=The Reverend John Langalibalele Dube|url=http://afrostylemag.com/cover3/articles/The-Story-of-William-and-Ida-Wilcox.php|accessdate=1 August 2013|newspaper=AfroStyleMag.org|date=2010}}</ref> +William and Ida Wilcox died in poverty in [[Glendale, California]] in 1928 and 1940, respectively. They were buried in the [[Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale,]].<ref name="nkele">{{cite news|last=Nkele|first=Amaka|title=The Reverend John Langalibalele Dube|url=http://afrostylemag.com/cover3/articles/The-Story-of-William-and-Ida-Wilcox.php|accessdate=1 August 2013|newspaper=AfroStyleMag.org|date=2010}}</ref> ==Legacy== -The contribution of the Wilcox's to South African history was lost when they were driven out of the country but it has been rediscovered. Their contribution was recognised when the Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Dr [[Zweli Mkhize]], visited Los Angeles to honour them in 2009. Various politicians and the grandson of the missionary couple Reverend Jackson Wilcox attended. Mkhize said "William and Ida Belle Wilcox ­sacrificed all that they had in solidarity with the South African ­people."<ref name=premier/> Their work was awarded the [[Order of the Companions of O. R. Tambo]] also in 2009 - this is highest South African honour available to foreigners.<ref name=northfield/> The Wilcoxs was also honoured in a speech by the South African President [[Jacob Zuma]] in 2012.<ref name=zuma/> +The Wilcoxes contribution to South Africa's history was recognised when the Premier of [[[[KwaZulu-Natal|KwaZulu-Nata]]<nowiki/><nowiki>l]], Dr </nowiki>[[Zweli Mkhize]], visited Los Angeles to honour them in 2009. Various politicians and the grandson of the missionary couple, Reverend Jackson Wilcox, attended the ceremony. Mkhize said "William and Ida Belle Wilcox ­sacrificed all that they had in solidarity with the South African ­people."<ref name=premier/> Their work was awarded the [[Order of the Companions of O. R. Tambo]] also in 2009 - the highest South African honour available to foreigners.<ref name=northfield/> The Wilcoxes was also honoured in a speech by the South African President [[Jacob Zuma]] in 2012.<ref name=zuma/> ==References== {{reflist}} '