Voting Station

Donald Woods

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Commentator

The Resume

    (December 15, 1933-August 19, 2001)
    Former editor of the East London Daily Dispatch
    Exposed the assassination of Stephen Biko
    Died in London, England from lung cancer

Why he might be annoying:

    He smoked.
    Consequently, he had a lung and kidney removed due to cancer.
    Some black people in in South Africa originally thought he was trying to exploit Steve Biko's death and make a profit.
    He looked nothing like Kevin Kline, who portrayed him in 'Cry Freedom.'

Why he might not be annoying:

    In addition to Afrikaans (obviously), he was also fluent in Xhosa.
    He attended law school in Cape Town University.
    He was censored in South Africa after Biko's assassination.
    He was placed under house arrest.
    He and his family faced death threats after Biko's death.
    One of his children was hurt trying to put on a shirt doused in acid. The shirts were sent in an anonymous package as part of a death threat.
    He fled to Britain disguised as a priest.
    He was the first private citizen to address the U.N.
    He set up a trust fund to get black South Africans to go to universities in the U.S. and the U.K.
    After apartheid ended, he visited South Africa several times.
    He helped reform journalism standards in South Africa in the 1990s.
    He voted in the first all-race election there.
    Even though the lines outside the voting booths were long, he did not use his celebrity status to cut ahead in line.
    He kept in touch with Stephen Biko's family.
    His final visit to South Africa was to attend the wedding of Stephen Biko's son.
    The Bikos never believed that he was trying to exploit Steve's death.
    He was named Commander of the British Empire.
    The black community in South Africa honored him with a tribal name.
    Upon dying, he said his biggest regret was not living long enough to see his grandchildren grow up.

Credit: Corrupt200


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 8 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 6 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 5 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 15 Votes: 46.67% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 16 Votes: 56.25% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 10 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 19 Votes: 52.63% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 21 Votes: 52.38% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 21 Votes: 42.86% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 27 Votes: 48.15% Annoying
    In 2007, Out of 76 Votes: 48.68% Annoying
    In 2006, Out of 106 Votes: 44.34% Annoying
    In 2005, Out of 404 Votes: 42.82% Annoying
    In 2004, Out of 59 Votes: 42.37% Annoying