Apartheid

» Posted by Luísa

Apartheid was a policy of racial segregation developed in South Africa, prepared by the direct descendants of pioneers who colonized the African continent, mostly European [Dutch, French and German], called Afrikaans.

The European colonizers had a design that would create a perfect society, and they also believed they were chosen by God. They began to put into practice the separation between white and black, this separation that lasted until the 90's. In 1948, the apartheid became official. The law was based on the principle of conservation and cultural purity, because the Europeans thought that they were the superior race. Among the restrictions imposed by whites on blacks, are, of course, the non-access to vote and prohibition from applying for office.
This context of pure prejudice has changed only in the 50's. It was motivated by the African National Congress and led by Nelson Mandela.
In 1960, a demonstration against apartheid in a peaceful manner had serious consequences: 60 blacks were killed by the police. This news of violence against blacks won the world, thus won the support of public opinion. In 1973, the UN General Assembly condemned the actions that occurred in South Africa and classified as crime.

Through the pressures suffered by black people, the president Frederik de Klerk changed some laws that restricted the black participation in politics and he reformulated them because of its racist essence, however, Apartheid only ended in 1994 when Nelson Mandela reached the presidency.

Visit this site to know more: http://www.apartheidmuseum.org/

Sources:
- http://www.brasilescola.com/geografia/apartheid.htm
- http://www.africanaencyclopedia.com/apartheid/apartheid.html
- http://www.ibge.gov.br/ibgeteen/datas/discriminacao/apartheid.html