Activist Chronicles Life Stories in Europe

Rose B. Styron, a fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Carr Center and a prominent human rights activist, held an informal conversation about her life experiences with an small audience in the Kirkland House Senior Common Room last night.

At the event—sponsored by the Harvard College Human Rights Advocates, the Institute of Politics, and Kirkland House—Styron told stories about joining protests with college students in Germany, being invited to a secret meeting of Poland’s underground resistance movement with author Kurt Vonnegut, and attending the Amnesty International World Concert Tour with Peter Gabriel and Bruce Springsteen. "It was the most fun I’ve done with anything in my life," Styron said.

Stryon, who started out as a poet, said she first became interested in human rights after an Afro-Asian writers’ convention in Russia and then joined Amnesty International.

"I’d met all these writers [who] had all of their incredible, dreadful experiences, and were such extraordinary writers and human beings themselves that I got drawn into their stories," she said. "And when I came back here to the United States, I couldn’t get anything done for them, and then found Amnesty International."

Tyler A. Brandon ’12, co-organizer of the event along with Joanna I. Naples-Mitchell ’10, said that Styron’s experiences could help Harvard students learn more about human rights campaigns.

"She brings her personal experiences from working for over three decades across the entire world and many continents," Brandon said. "She gives students insight into those missions and what you can do with the resources we have at our disposal at Harvard with a passion for human rights."

Former Harvard Advocates Co-President Quinnie Lin ’09 said that Styron’s stories have already had an impact on her career choices.

"I heard her speak last year during my senior year of college and her words were part of what inspired my career choices as a human rights activist," Lin said. "It’s hard to sometimes get a sense of these real heroes like Rose Styron who go out and do human rights work in the field."

Last night’s talk marks the second time Styron was invited to have an informal conversation with Harvard students.

"I think the event tonight was very inspiring just like it was last year," Lin said. "I never cease to be amazed when I hear her speak."