TOPIC: Relying on the knowledge that you have already gained about South Africa, especially through reading Mandela�s Long Walk to Freedom, consider the ways in which life for Africans continued and changed under apartheid, making use especially of Mathabane�s autobiographical
account, Kaffir Boy. Which aspects of social, economic and political life remained the same, which changed, and in what ways exactly? Bring in other materials as well such as the documentaries you have watched and your reaction to the Ernest Cole exhibit.
Essay on Apartheid in South Africa
The racial segregation
that took place in South Africa has undoubtedly affected almost every aspect of
its people, particularly the black South African. In fact, this ideology has
affected their home, education, as well as their employment. One of the most
well-known accounts that best captured this social injustice is the book
“Kaffir Boy”.Written by Mark Mathabane, “Kaffir Boy” talks about various themes
related to the apartheid of South Africa. Having a first-hand experience of
this, the author explores the themes of injustice, racism and discrimination,
abuse of power, poverty, as well as lack of opportunity among many others. The
author grew up during the system of racial segregation as he thoroughly
explained how his family’s lives changed and were affected by apartheid.
In the first few chapters of Mathabane’s book, he
shared the different ways in which black South African are discriminated and
segregated. In fact, the book starts with a sing that reads: “White Only”. This
was plastered in the city of Alexandra which is a place reserved exclusively
for white South Africans. The plastered signs similarly warned that those who
enter the area without any permit will be prosecuted in accordance to the Bantu
Consolidation of 1946. The Bantu Consolidation of 1946 was a policy that
mandated particular urban spaces or location as “white space”. This means that
the premises can only be accessed by white people. This act was a part of the
grand apartheid which people are segregated based on their color and race.
Under this regulation, non-whites are placed in a separate land from the
whites. According to Mathabane, blacks were provided small lands despite the
fact that they were the majority. Their white counterparts on the other hand, were
provided larger space which was typically located near or within the city. More
than this, the author explains that black South Africans were not given the
right to own a house or a property. Additionally, one has to carry a permit in
order to enter a “white-only” zone.[1]
This ideology of racial segregation also extended
not only residential areas but in public places as well. This was mandated by
the Reservation of Separate Amenities Act of 1953. This law mandates an
official racial division in public places such as parks, beaches, rest rooms,
and even public transport. The only areas excluded from this law were the
streets and main roads. Under this law, blacks were given different facilities
than that of the whites in order to prevent “mixing”. In practice however, the
public amenities allocated to the blacks were often dilapidated and dirty.[2]
Education was another aspect affected by the
apartheid. Much like public facilities,
the blacks were provided a separate schools and universities. However, most of
the subjects in the black curriculum include manual labor subjects which will
prepare them for low-skilled jobs. Apart from this, the schools for black South
Africans were considerably dilapidated and at the same time, students were
required to pay for their own tuition fees. This was largely different from the
schools of white South Africans in which the curriculum followed the Western
standards. Apart from this, education as mandatory as the fees were provided
and shouldered by the government.[3]
These were just some of the injustices related by Mathabane
in his book. Without a doubt, the racial discrimination has limited the
opportunity of many black South African, and at the same time it has prevented
them from enjoying their basic human rights and privileges.
Bibliography
Mathabane, M. Kaffir
Boy: The true story of a black youth’s coming of age in Apartheid in South
Africa. (NY: Penguin), 10
[1] [1]
Mathabane, M. Kaffir
Boy: The true story of a black youth’s coming of age in Apartheid in South
Africa. (NY: Penguin), 10.
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