Oppression of People of African Descent - Research Paper Example

Imagine that you are an attorney representing any one of the following population groups: a) American Indians, b) African Americans or c) Black South Africans: Prepare a reparations lawsuit clearly outlining the reasons for compensation. List the crimes and violations committed, the harms caused and the setbacks and losses suffered. Use any historical (scholarly) sources together with some of your class readings to prove and argue that indeed colonization, slavery, genocide racism and apartheid were detrimental to these races as well as the remaining generations. Introduction Black South Africans faced much discrimination against them during the colonial period whose effects can be felt to this day. The period of apartheid was characterized by the racial segregation of the majority Africans by the government. The apartheid period lasted for forty-six years (1948-1994) and during this time, many sufferings were incurred on the part of the majority African inhabitants. This research paper will primarily look at the crimes and violations committed, harms caused to the majority south Africans, the setbacks that can still be felt, the losses suffered and finally clearly lay out the reasons why the black Africans in south Africa should be compensated. Birth of Apartheid Apartheid simply meant separation. It was more concern with putting apart the white and the black inhabitants. It can be seen that the separation had always existed in South Africa. This is evident in the 1913 Land Act, which suggested the separation of living areas for both whites and blacks (Lötter 21). The black inhabitants were forced to move to reserves while the whites were left to dominate and control all the available resources. In 1948, apartheid intensified after the white dominated Afrikaner National Party (ANP) won the elections.The goal of this separation was not only to separate Africans from the whites but also to separate Africans from one another by dividing them within their ethnic lines so that they could their political power. The inhabitants were separated into four groups, the majority blacks, whites, the colored people and Indians. The colored were a mixed race, which sometimes saw families being separated as parents could be classified as white while children were seen as non-whites, therefore, alienated. 80% of the land was given to the whites while the other majority races only occupied the remaining 20% (Lötter 14). To further emphasize on separation, the government made sure that the whites had separate and better public facilities apart from blacks’. Manifestation of Apartheid This is what characterized apartheid. What the whites did to demonstrate their dominance over the blacks after the 1948 elections. Apartheid was branded by massive land alienation; more than 3.5 million blacks were forcefully removed from their ancestral land and given to the whites. They were forced to reside in reserves, therefore, experiencing total poverty and homelessness. This was a clear violation of the rights of the black to own property and the forceful removal saw a lot of damage to property and death of resistant blacks (Lötter 9). In 1970, the government abolished non-white political representation and at the same time depriving the black inhabitants of their citizenship. This was a measure uncalled for as the blacks had every right to be citizens of South Africa and had to have some kind of representation. They were forced to become citizens of the Bantustans in which they resided. The white further stressed apartheid by separating all the public services. They were determined to avoid any contact between the whites and the other races so they made sure that they had different and separate public services (Lötter 36). The blacks were segregated from education, which was a fundamental right, which they were entitled to. Medical care was also to be acquired at different destinations with the blacks receive poor and undependable medical care while the whites enjoyed the luxury of big hospitals and qualified doctor with unlimited resources. The blacks were also banned from public locations such as beaches and parks. They were not allowed to be seen in these restricted areas and had to carry documents authorizing their presence in those restricted areas. The Africans had had enough of the apartheid and injustices against them. They were more conscious of their rights, had witnessed other African states fight against oppression in their countries, and had succeeded. Whenever they tried to resist and stand against apartheid, the government responded by using force and unacceptable means in order to seize the resistance. In doing this, many lives were lost as the people involved were killed. A lot of property was also damaged. For example, the leaders of the anti-apartheid movements, such Nelson Mandela, were arrested and tortured in order to instill fear in their followers (Allen 134). He was imprisoned for 27 years for his actions against the government and his stand contrary to apartheid. It is evident that any form of internal resistance by the blacks to fight for their rights was met with a lot of violence from the government. Many casualties were left and at the same time causing a huge amount of damage to property. In the end, the government had to ban any resistance activity, depriving the black citizens of their right to express their feelings and fight for an equal share to the country’s resources (Allen 136). Apartheid in South Africa was also characterized by a number of acts that were aimed at limit all the economic, political and educational acts of the black South African citizens. The Mixed Marriage Act of 1949 forbids marriage between the white and other races (Du, Bois & Bois-Pedain 148). The Immorality Act of 1950 was aimed at sanctioning any type of sexual relations between the whites and the other races and another act that further limited the other races chances to prosperity was the Population Registration Act, which demanded that each individual register according to their race (Du, Bois & Bois-Pedain 151). All this legislations were meant to undermine the other races while only advocating for the success of the whites. Another reason why the apartheid victims should be compensated is because of the damage done to their land. For a long time land had been their source of livelihood and a long period of land erosion and mismanagement had led to total land degradation, therefore, losing their basis of living. This is seen as the black citizens are drowned in poverty due to lack of productive means to support themselves. This is without a doubt a setback to their development. Apartheid was so merciless that the national community had to play the part in its end. The national community could no longer stomach what the south African government was putting its citizens through, apartheid had reached its maximum and the black South African had lost his identity and all right that a human being should be entitled to, so they put sanctions on south African, which demanded for the end of apartheid (Harlan 9). State organizations also responded to apartheid, repression and violence made it uneasy for the South African government to maintain apartheid, hence it begun to decline. The pressure from the international community and the state organizations played a key role in freeing the Africans from the apartheid (Allen 197). Opposition from the blacks and all the other segregated groups characterized the whole of 1980’s, resistance was not welcome by the government and it was met with violence. Therefore, this period witnessed many African deaths as they struggled to release themselves from the shackles of apartheid. Young black and able bodied men who had taken the course of to bring revival to their people met their sudden death (Harlan 16). Women and teenagers later joined this revolution to deliberate their nation from the York of colonialism that made them be prisoners in their own country. The whites had the largest share of their land and all good job positions like banking, teaching, and CEOs were all left for the whites. In 1990, the government finally caved in to the pressure that it was getting from all angles and Nelson Mandela was released from prison. They started to talk about equality and accommodating the other races whom they had always despised. However, apartheid was abolished in 1991, but it was not until the democratic elections of 1994 that this was confirmed (Allen 229). This implies that it was until 1994 that South Africa achieved its independence. It is also a fact that South Africa is the African nation that gained its independence last. Summary and Conclusion Apartheid, in South Africa, was one of the darkest moments in the history of that country. Apartheid lasted for almost half a century was characterized by both racial oppression and segregation. The white made a lot of effort to ensure that the other inhabitants of South Africa had inferior services compared to them; they were completely dedicated to separate themselves from the other races. Land alienation was also rampant during this period. Blacks were forcefully evicted from their ancestral land and replaced by the whites while they were moved to congested reserves. There were also many deaths as many blacks lost their lives in an attempt to fight for their rights. Resistance was banned any attempt to resist was met with violence leading to many deaths. In general, the other races were stripped of all their fundamental human rights and put through tough conditions. Poverty and low living standards were the results of apartheid (Harlan 14). This lawsuit aims at getting the compensation for the apartheid victims as the effects led to many setbacks, losses and suffering, crimes and violations against blacks and finally all the injustices caused. Works Cited Allen, John. Apartheid South Africa: An Insiders View of the Origin and Effects of Separate Development. New York, NY: iUniverse, Inc, 2005. Print. Du, Bois F, and Bois-Pedain A. Du. Justice and Reconciliation in Post-Apartheid South Africa.Cambride: Cambridge University Press, 2008. Print. Harlan, Judith. MamphelaRamphele: Challenging Apartheid in South Africa. New York: Feminist Press at the City University of New York, 2000. Print. Lötter, Hennie P. P. Injustice, Violence and Peace: The Case of South Africa. Amsterdam: Rodopi, 1997. Print. Read More