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Anti-Apartheid History
Similar to the cause of the Civil Rights movement in the United States, South Africa maintained a government system in favor of whites. Racial discrimination in many areas was taking place in South Africa. In attempt to resolve this issue, the Anti-Apartheid Movement took place in South Africa from the 1940’s to the 90’s. Numerous of organizations and leaders were involved, such as the African National Council, South Africans Student Organization, Nelson Mandela, Steve Biko and many more. All colored South African groups had a general goal of having an equal South Africa. The history of the anti-apartheid movement covers injustice practices, events that provoked the movement, and the leaders that helped the movement become a success.
The Anti-Apartheid Movement occurred as a response to certain injustices in the areas of land and politics. One practice of injustice was in the area of land. In 1951 the Groups Areas Act took place; this means that neighborhoods were allocated based on race. The British forced blacks (sixty-seven percent of South Africa's population) to leave mineral-rich land to reserves which the British held to be of little value. That left only seven point three percent of the land (later grew to thirteen percent) set aside for the reserves, while whites (only twenty-one percent of the population) held eighty percent of land. Since blacks lost a majority of land, they would work on white owned farms for low wages. This is unfair because it was originally their land, and to be forced out for economic reasons is not humanly kind. The government is supposed to make the lives of their people easier, whereas South Africa’s government had the whites in favor. Another area of injustices was through politics. Only South Africans of European descent could vote and hold public office. Ultimately, you have a fraction of your country making decisions for you, and it’s a majority rule with less than third of the countries vote. In conclusion, the Anti-Apartheid Movement transpired due to unfair injustices in land and politics.
Specific events provoked the Anti-Apartheid Movement to take charge at this moment. A few of them were the Bantu Homelands Act, Abolition of Passes and Coordination of Documents and the Separate Amenities Act. One event that provoked the movement was the Bantu homelands act. This reserved land for black South Africans in 1951 to be classed as independent nations, thus millions of blacks stripped of citizenship. Obviously, black South Africans were highly upset but it only gets worse from there. Another event that took place to provoke the movement is the abolition of passes and coordination of documents act in 1952. Many racial groups in South Africa- specifically women and people of color- were required to carry "pass books" which contained a photograph, information about places of origin, employment tax payment and criminal records. Most of South Africa was enraged by this point, but specifically blacks. Black South African’s worked for low wages, and was required to pay multiple taxes which go unpaid because of the economic issue that occurred with the apartheid system. A third event that provoked the movement was the separate amenities act which was practiced in 1955. Parks, beaches and many other public places were segregated. For three straight years, frustration grew with laws that were making the apartheid system stronger. Being black in South Africa started to become harder to live there with multiple laws to work against you. Overall, each event greatly provoked the movement because people were considerably frustrated.
Many people were important to carry the Anti-Apartheid Movement. A few of them were Nelson Rolihiani Mandela and Bantu Stephen Biko. One major leader that helped the Anti-Apartheid Movement was Nelson Mandela. He worked with the armed Branch of the African National Council, also known as the ANC in 1961. They made plans to bomb places that were important for the apartheid system, like electricity towers and government offices but planned the bombing to avoid injuring or possibly killing anyone. Even though numerous individuals would say this was not an effective strategy to end the unfair treatment that black South Africans received during apartheid, I would have to say that it was because it showed how the apartheid related places were decreasing to slowly diminish the system physically. Three years later, Mandela was sentenced to life in prison and imprisoned at Robben Island where he continued his work, teachings, and gained attention and anti-apartheid popularity. Another interesting, well known leader is Steve Biko. Biko was the co-founder of South African Students organization in 1968, and one year later became the president. In 1972 he led the Nations Black consciousness movement, and co-founded the black people’s convention, while being expelled University of Natal due to his political activism. The following year, Steve was banned by apartheid regime to write or speak publically, talk to media representatives or more than one person at a time, and many other restrictions too. Steve Biko created the Zimele Trust Fund to aid political prisoners and their families in the 70's. Since he wanted to make life slightly better for his people, Biko was very active with helping black South Africans the best he can. As you can see, Steve Biko was exceedingly involved with the anti-apartheid movement. Unfortunately, he died in 1977 from injuries in police custody. In the end, Nelson Mandela and Steve Biko greatly contributed to the Anti-Apartheid Movement.
One man who is considered to be the founder of the Anti-Apartheid Movement is Ernest Urban Trevor Huddleston. Even though Huddleston was born 1993 in Bedford, England, he originally traveled to South Africa to be the “Priest-in-Charge” of the Anglican Mission in Sophiatown from 1943 to 1956. In 1955, Ernest was awarded the Isitwalandwe/Seaparankae by the African National Congress (ANC), for superb endowment and sacrifice to the liberation struggle. Translated, Isitwalandwe means “the one who wears the plumes of the rare bird”, and traditionally granted to the bravest warriors of the people who exemplified qualities of leadership and heroism. Trevor Huddleston, Nelson Mandela, Helen Joseph and Ruth First (all Anti-Apartheid activist), became associated with protest against involuntary removals in Sophiatown. Like most Anti-Apartheid activist, Huddleston encountered conflict with authorities. All in All, the movement was created by a successful leader.
In conclusion the movement was a response and provoked to unfair injustices. The Anti-Apartheid Movement was led by many incredible leaders like Nelson Mandela, Steve Biko and Trevor Huddleston. Similar to how the South Africans made a change in their lives you can too by using identical techniques such as negotiation and nonviolent action such as peaceful protest and civil disobedience.
Bibliography
"Nelson Mandela." Bio. A&E Television Networks, 2015. Web. 06 Mar. 2015.
"Steve Biko." Bio. A&E Television Networks, 2015. Web. 06 Mar. 2015.
http://www.anc.org.za/show.php?id=2745
Similar to the cause of the Civil Rights movement in the United States, South Africa maintained a government system in favor of whites. Racial discrimination in many areas was taking place in South Africa. In attempt to resolve this issue, the Anti-Apartheid Movement took place in South Africa from the 1940’s to the 90’s. Numerous of organizations and leaders were involved, such as the African National Council, South Africans Student Organization, Nelson Mandela, Steve Biko and many more. All colored South African groups had a general goal of having an equal South Africa. The history of the anti-apartheid movement covers injustice practices, events that provoked the movement, and the leaders that helped the movement become a success.
The Anti-Apartheid Movement occurred as a response to certain injustices in the areas of land and politics. One practice of injustice was in the area of land. In 1951 the Groups Areas Act took place; this means that neighborhoods were allocated based on race. The British forced blacks (sixty-seven percent of South Africa's population) to leave mineral-rich land to reserves which the British held to be of little value. That left only seven point three percent of the land (later grew to thirteen percent) set aside for the reserves, while whites (only twenty-one percent of the population) held eighty percent of land. Since blacks lost a majority of land, they would work on white owned farms for low wages. This is unfair because it was originally their land, and to be forced out for economic reasons is not humanly kind. The government is supposed to make the lives of their people easier, whereas South Africa’s government had the whites in favor. Another area of injustices was through politics. Only South Africans of European descent could vote and hold public office. Ultimately, you have a fraction of your country making decisions for you, and it’s a majority rule with less than third of the countries vote. In conclusion, the Anti-Apartheid Movement transpired due to unfair injustices in land and politics.
Specific events provoked the Anti-Apartheid Movement to take charge at this moment. A few of them were the Bantu Homelands Act, Abolition of Passes and Coordination of Documents and the Separate Amenities Act. One event that provoked the movement was the Bantu homelands act. This reserved land for black South Africans in 1951 to be classed as independent nations, thus millions of blacks stripped of citizenship. Obviously, black South Africans were highly upset but it only gets worse from there. Another event that took place to provoke the movement is the abolition of passes and coordination of documents act in 1952. Many racial groups in South Africa- specifically women and people of color- were required to carry "pass books" which contained a photograph, information about places of origin, employment tax payment and criminal records. Most of South Africa was enraged by this point, but specifically blacks. Black South African’s worked for low wages, and was required to pay multiple taxes which go unpaid because of the economic issue that occurred with the apartheid system. A third event that provoked the movement was the separate amenities act which was practiced in 1955. Parks, beaches and many other public places were segregated. For three straight years, frustration grew with laws that were making the apartheid system stronger. Being black in South Africa started to become harder to live there with multiple laws to work against you. Overall, each event greatly provoked the movement because people were considerably frustrated.
Many people were important to carry the Anti-Apartheid Movement. A few of them were Nelson Rolihiani Mandela and Bantu Stephen Biko. One major leader that helped the Anti-Apartheid Movement was Nelson Mandela. He worked with the armed Branch of the African National Council, also known as the ANC in 1961. They made plans to bomb places that were important for the apartheid system, like electricity towers and government offices but planned the bombing to avoid injuring or possibly killing anyone. Even though numerous individuals would say this was not an effective strategy to end the unfair treatment that black South Africans received during apartheid, I would have to say that it was because it showed how the apartheid related places were decreasing to slowly diminish the system physically. Three years later, Mandela was sentenced to life in prison and imprisoned at Robben Island where he continued his work, teachings, and gained attention and anti-apartheid popularity. Another interesting, well known leader is Steve Biko. Biko was the co-founder of South African Students organization in 1968, and one year later became the president. In 1972 he led the Nations Black consciousness movement, and co-founded the black people’s convention, while being expelled University of Natal due to his political activism. The following year, Steve was banned by apartheid regime to write or speak publically, talk to media representatives or more than one person at a time, and many other restrictions too. Steve Biko created the Zimele Trust Fund to aid political prisoners and their families in the 70's. Since he wanted to make life slightly better for his people, Biko was very active with helping black South Africans the best he can. As you can see, Steve Biko was exceedingly involved with the anti-apartheid movement. Unfortunately, he died in 1977 from injuries in police custody. In the end, Nelson Mandela and Steve Biko greatly contributed to the Anti-Apartheid Movement.
One man who is considered to be the founder of the Anti-Apartheid Movement is Ernest Urban Trevor Huddleston. Even though Huddleston was born 1993 in Bedford, England, he originally traveled to South Africa to be the “Priest-in-Charge” of the Anglican Mission in Sophiatown from 1943 to 1956. In 1955, Ernest was awarded the Isitwalandwe/Seaparankae by the African National Congress (ANC), for superb endowment and sacrifice to the liberation struggle. Translated, Isitwalandwe means “the one who wears the plumes of the rare bird”, and traditionally granted to the bravest warriors of the people who exemplified qualities of leadership and heroism. Trevor Huddleston, Nelson Mandela, Helen Joseph and Ruth First (all Anti-Apartheid activist), became associated with protest against involuntary removals in Sophiatown. Like most Anti-Apartheid activist, Huddleston encountered conflict with authorities. All in All, the movement was created by a successful leader.
In conclusion the movement was a response and provoked to unfair injustices. The Anti-Apartheid Movement was led by many incredible leaders like Nelson Mandela, Steve Biko and Trevor Huddleston. Similar to how the South Africans made a change in their lives you can too by using identical techniques such as negotiation and nonviolent action such as peaceful protest and civil disobedience.
Bibliography
"Nelson Mandela." Bio. A&E Television Networks, 2015. Web. 06 Mar. 2015.
"Steve Biko." Bio. A&E Television Networks, 2015. Web. 06 Mar. 2015.
http://www.anc.org.za/show.php?id=2745