In the heart of South Africa, Apartheid cast its shadow for years to come, dividing not only the people but also the very soul of the nation. Apartheid, an Afrikaans term meaning "apartness," was a brutal, systematic system of racial segregation enforced by the white government against the non-white population of South Africa. From 1948 to 1994, the policy of Apartheid utilized measures such as racial segregation, voting restrictions, and violent suppression, while its guiding philosophy, deeply rooted in the country's history of colonization and slavery, viewed non-white citizens as a means to economic prosperity, creating a system of white supremacy that exploited non-white South Africans for the benefit of the white minority
For nearly 50 years, non-white South Africans were constantly oppressed and discriminated by systematic measures such as racial segregation, the inability to vote, and violent suppression of citizens' protests. This was directly caused by the National Party’s rise to power in 1948, which led to the policy of Apartheid encouraging “racial segregation and political and economic discrimination against nonwhites” (Britannica 1). In addition, “regulations created separate residency areas, job categories, public facilities, transportation, education, and health systems, with social contact between the races strictly prohibited.” (Stanford 2). These quotes from Britannica and Stanford EDU demonstrate the extent of the prejudice that was present in South Africa, as the different racial groups were prohibited from engaging in various activities without breaking the regulations that were part of the Apartheid policy. Furthermore, Nelson Mandela stated in an interview that “Universal suffrage on a common voters’ role in a united democratic and non-racial South Africa is the only way to peace and racial harmony”, allowing us to realize that the citizens were desperately seeking voting rights, thus magnifying the importance of suffrage in South Africa. These forms of discrimination and oppression left scars on Africa for years to come, and even to this day, there is a drastic divide in the socio-economic status of white South Africans and non-white South Africans.
The ideology of racial prejudice has been rooted in South Africa’s deep history of slavery and discrimination, as for hundreds of years, non-white South Africans were viewed as a tool to economically benefit white South Africans. For example, “White settlers had historically viewed Black South Africans as a natural resource to be used to turn the country from a rural society to an industrialized one.” (Blakemore 3). Additionally, “Starting in the 17th century, Dutch settlers relied on slaves to build up South Africa. Around the time slavery was abolished in the country in 1863, gold and diamonds were discovered in South Africa. That discovery represented a lucrative opportunity for white-owned mining companies that employed—and exploited—Black workers” (Blakemore 3-4). These quotes solidify the idea that non-white South Africans were utilized as a tool by the white South Africans for their own economic benefit. Specifically, when gold and diamonds were discovered, the Dutch settlers utilized the non-white South Africans to create mining companies that severely exploited workers, and treated them horribly.
Overall, the enduring legacy of Apartheid remains a somber testament to the nation's history, a history ruined by a systematic and brutal system of racial segregation that left scars on both the people and the soul of the country. Lasting for nearly five decades, Apartheid influenced oppression through measures such as racial segregation, voting restrictions, and violent suppression. Stemming from a guiding philosophy rooted in the dark history of colonization and slavery, the policy of Apartheid viewed non-white citizens as tools for economic gain, creating a system of white supremacy that exploited the non-white South Africans for the advantage of the white minority. Even to this day, the enduring effects of Apartheid continue to shape the country's social dynamics and economic landscape, serving as a reminder of the importance of confronting injustice and striving for equality.
Works Cited
“Apartheid | South Africa, Definition, Facts, Beginning, & End | Britannica.” Encyclopædia Britannica, 2023, www.britannica.com/topic/apartheid. Accessed 8 Mar. 2024.
Blakemore, Erin. “The Harsh Reality of Life under Apartheid in South Africa.” HISTORY, 26 Apr. 2019, www.history.com/news/apartheid-policies-photos-nelson-mandela. Accessed 8 Mar. 2024.
“Informal Housing, Poverty, and Legacies of Apartheid in South Africa | Urban@UW.” Uw.edu, 2022, urban.uw.edu/news/informal-housing-poverty-and-legacies-of-apartheid-in-south-africa/. Accessed 9 Mar. 2024.
“Apartheid.” The Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute, Stanford University, 2023, kinginstitute.stanford.edu/apartheid. Accessed 10 Mar. 2024.
“Nelson Mandela’s Life & His Statements Speaking out for Justice.” Un.org, 2020, www.un.org/en/events/mandeladay/legacy.shtml. Accessed 10 Mar. 2024.
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