What is Apartheid?

From 1948 to 1991, South Africa had a legal segregation system in place called apartheid. Apartheid meant that blacks and other non-whites lived in overcrowded townships (suburbs) and were treated like second-class citizens. Only 10% of the country's population was white but they were in charge. Black Africans made up 87%, coloreds (mixed race people) made up 9%, and Indians made up 2.5% of the population.

This video shows what living under apartheid was like for many black Africans:

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1DD2NKB8wM

In the 1960s when the Civil Rights Movement was going on in the United States, a lot of Black Africans also began fighting for their rights in South Africa. The Soweto Uprising, for example, was one of the major events that really jump-started the anti-apartheid movement ("anti-" means against). Students just like you were so important in starting this movement.

In 1989 change finally started to come about and the process of taking apart apartheid began. In 1990, Nelson Mandela, a jailed anti-apartheid activist, was released from prison and in 1992 Black Africans were able to vote for the first time. Look at the pictures from that day -- it is amazing to see people waiting in such long lines because they wanted their voices to be heard and their vote to count.


The first multiracial government was elected in 1994. Nelson Mandela—winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993—became the new president, and things began to change in the country. Things are improving but South Africa still faces challenges in terms of being able to end racial discrimination and provide access to education for all.