Lighting the Dark

For my first post I have been inspired by something, or should I say someone, I discovered whilst doing some research for a new volunteer role I have taken on for the Black Country Talking Newspaper and Magazine. It is an excellent charity that makes local news accessible for the blind or visually impaired in the region. 

In my attempt to find an interesting story for listeners, I came across a remarkable man named Jacques Lusseyran. He was a French author and political activist born in 1924. However, blinded at just age 8 whilst at school, the will power and courage this man promoted is even more impressive. 

Perhaps because his blinding happened at a young age, he was was able to adapt and see how his life could continue in a positive light. Concerned by the uprising of Adolf Hitler, he decided to learn German so he could understand the German radio broadcasts. 

Aged just 17 in 1941, following the German invasion of France in 1940, Lusseyran started the resistance group the Volunteers of Liberty. After a pro-resistance campaign in July 1943 he was arrested and sent to Buchenwald concentration camp. During his time there his knowledge of the German Language gave him an advantage and he even helped developed a feeling of resistance within the camp. 

Emancipated in 1945 he survived the war, and went on to be an author and teach French Literature in the United States. One of his books included his autobiography, And There Was Light, which still serves as a source of motivation to this day. It demonstrates a man who 'considered his blindness a great blessing', and used it to create light in his world of darkness. It is for this reason that I've chosen to share this with you; although very different to WWII we are still living in a war-ridden world, so it is heroes like Jacques Lusseyran that need to continue making an impact on the lives of individuals if we are to hope for change on a bigger scale. There is always hope, I believe it is a value of humanity. 

His autobiography is available on Amazon, as a paperback and audiobook. 

Please leave your comments, I would love to know if you had knowledge of Jacques Lusseyran before reading this, and how the story of him makes you feel today!