Resolving+the+Problem


 * Contributed by: Zach M.

Apartheid: A Brief Overview**



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 * A black South African presents his government-issued passbook.**

Apartheid was the legislation of ideas that were already popular in South African culture. Since the turn of the century, black South Africans were heavily discriminated against. In 1948, during an election campaign, the National Party introduced apartheid as an official policy. It approximately 42 years and much personal suffering, by Nelson Mandela and others, to obliterate it.


 * Nelson Mandela**



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Rolihlahla Mandela was born to a Thembu chief in 1918. A teacher later gave him the more European name, Nelson. His career choice, however, was to become a lawyer. He was a prominent member of the African National Congress, an ethnically diverse political group. In 1951, he became the president of the group.

In the 1950s, Mandela and Oliver Tambo became essential members of the antiapartheid movement. Their actions were triggered by the danger of the ANC being banned. In 1956, he was accused of treason, and later acquitted. Several more demonstrations followed in the 1960s, and in 1964, Mandela was given a life sentence for crimes against South Africa. He was sent to Robben Island, where he wrote his autobiography, //Long Walk to Freedom//.


 * The End of Apartheid**

The end of apartheid rule occurred in steps. During the 1970s and 1980s, the South African government issued a series of policies which attempted to allow previous political minorities to have greater government influence. However, black South Africans, a population majority, were still excluded (Davis).

On December 16, 1989, in a first open move against apartheid law, President F.W. de Klerk released five former members of the United Democratic Front from prison on Robben Island. However, they were not released because of their innocence, but rather because it was decided that they were given an unjust trial. Still, the fact that the government did not try to prosecute them again showed progress (Wren).

In 1990, President F.W. de Klerk freed Mandela and repealed apartheid. However, he refused to ever condemn it. He said that it became morally wrong when "it became an impairment on the dignity of people" (Gray). However, he still strongly supported what he called "grand apartheid," or voluntary ethnic separation. In an interview with TIME, de Klerk says: "Our cherished ideal was self-determination. Grand apartheid was the concept of 'separate development,' bringing full political rights to the Zulus, the Xhosas and others: self-rule taking into account the diversity of identities. America is the only exception where the melting pot works. In the rest of the world, nation-states that have clear majorities of one ethnic group within the country have been the pattern" (Gray).


 * The Nobel Peace Prize**



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 * Nelson Mandela and F.W. de Klerk present their Nobel Peace Prizes.**

In 1993, Nelson Mandela and F.W. de Klerk were joint recipients of the Nobel Peace Prize. However, at that time, the relationship between Mandela and de Klerk were strained. Mandela was disappointed because he believed that the National Party was behind some turbulence among young black South Africans, and de Klerk was disappointed because he felt that the world unjustly labeled him as a 'bad guy' because of his family's influence in founding apartheid (Gray).


 * Election Day**

In 1994, South Africa held their first multiracial elections. The race was between the incumbent F.W. de Klerk and Nelson Mandela. Because black South Africans, who make up 75% of South Africa's total population, were allowed to vote, Mandela was sure to win. He was the first black president in South African history. Mandela famously says "I was not a messiah, but an ordinary man who had become a leader because of extraordinary circumstances" (Brink).



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 * Nelson Mandela at his inauguration in Pretoria.**


 * An Imperfect Solution**

Apartheid was a result of many years of social prejudices. Therefore, to quote a popular cliché "it was not going to disappear over night." It could be compared with slavery in America: even though slavery was repealed in the mid-19th century, it took over 100 years for black Americans to gain full political and social rights. In South Africa, it may not take a century for equality, but it should not be assumed to be a simple matter.

In 1996, Mandela ratified a new constitution, with a strong central government. It included majority rule with guarantees to the rights of minorities. However, since his successor has taken over, some problems which were taken care of by Mandela have reappeared. In fact, Thabo Mbeki has largely been regarded as somewhat of a failure. The African National Congress claims that the South African government favors economic expansion over working for individual rights. "Millions of South Africans still live in the same tin-roof townships to which they were confined under apartheid" (Perry).

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