What was Apartheid?
Apartheid was a system of racial segregation and discrimination in South Africa between 1948 and 1991. Some people have described Apartheid as the combination of every type of systematic racism that a government can create. It was like the American treatment of the Native American, the Japanese during World War II and the African American all rolled into one.
Apartheid
It started in 1948 when the HNP (Herstigte Nasionale Party) Pledged to implement a policy of strict racial segregation in all aspects of everyday life from Restaurants ,public transportation,public restrooms, and even entrances to museums and libraries.
The cause of all of this was because some White south Africans felt threatened by black or (Colored) political aspirations also whites feared “Black On White Crime” The HSP took advantage of this.
Why did it start in 1948?
-It started in 1948 after the national party gained all power in south Africa, The white government began enforcing existing policies of racial segregation as soon as they came into power, These policies were known as “Apartheid”.
What happened in South Africa in 1948?
-In 1948 the National Party made up of white Afrikaans descendents of the original Dutch settlers won the most seats on its policy of racial segregation known as “Apartheid”.
What is Imperialism?
-A policy of extending a country’s power and influence through diplomacy or military force.
Which European powers ruled over South Africa before it was an independent nation?
-South Africa was Under British Control/Rule.
Who was Cecil Rhodes?
-He was a British businessman, Mining magnate (a wealthy and influential person, especially in business) and politician in South Africa. He served as the Prime Minister of the Cape colony from 1890 to 1896. He was a strong believer in British Imperialism.
Who are the Afrikaans?
-Afrikaans were a Southern African ethnic group descended from Dutch settlers first arriving in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. They traditionally dominated South Africa’s agriculture and politics prior to 1994.
When did South Africa get its independence?
-South Africa gained its independence from the British On May 31,1961.
Even though South Africa was an independent nation its people were not free, They were still under a system of racial segregation. The apartheid ended in 1994 and that’s when south Africa really gained its independence.
What happened in 1994?
-In 1994 there was an election that resulted in a former freedom fighter and political prisoner Nelson Mandela being elected President. This radical change of government in South Africa was an official end to Apartheid. African National Congress came into power and retained power until 2014.
The apartheid system was ended through a series of negotiations between 1990 and 1993, The negotiations took place between the governing national party, The African national congress , and a couple political organizations.
Who was Nelson Mandela?
-A major key player in the end of the apartheid was a South African anti-apartheid revolutionary and human rights activist known as Nelson Mandela. He led ANC (African National Congress) in its negotiations with the governing national party and various other South African political organizations.
He continued on to be the country’s first black head of state and first elected in a fully representative democratic election, He also served as president of south Africa from 1994 to 1999.He passed away at the age of 95 from a long-term respiratory infection.
This song by U2 was written at the time when apartheid was ending and the entire free world was calling for justice in South Africa.
Silver and Gold
Personal Reflection
I think the apartheid was a very uncivil and embarrassing event for the human race, It shows just how disgusting and low-life human beings can be. This event illustrates how unjust human rights were back in the day and how unfair the system was. I personally think the situation should’ve have never been allowed to reach the point that it did. I believe these ugly events and racist policies of the past are to blame for the racism and discrimination we’ve witnessed in the past couple of decades to the current day. The echoes of apartheid and african slavery still echo in the racial injustices we see today. All human beings are equal regardless of color shape or form, therefore we all share equal rights and we all need to respect this god given right. Race if anything should be our common humanity not a boundary dividing people from one another and driving them to judge one another. Nobody can judge you but God.
Sources:
http://www.history.com/topics/apartheid
http://www.historytv.co.za/za/history-za/
https://www.britannica.com/topic/apartheid http://www.sahistory.org.za/article/history-apartheid-south-africa
S • Apr 12, 2019 at 2:23 pm
thank you for your research on this topic