The Racial Discrimination in South African Apartheid (Coursework Sample)

Apartheid in South Africa
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Apartheid in South Africa
Introduction
The existence of racism in South Africa has been a subject of debate for many decades. During the colonial period, the white minority in the country worked at segregating the people of South Africa. The issue led to the creation several activists groups that worked at eliminating the practice in the country. The existence of a multi colored nation paved way for the practice. Leaders such as Steve Biko Nelson Mandela were vocal in the fight against the ills of apartheid kin the country. Countries across the globe discriminated against the practice as they placed heavy sanctions on South Africa. Ideally, racism was a dominant factor that led to the segregation in social and public places. The whites were given better privileges compared to other races. The need to fight the practice was necessary to promote equal economic development in the country. The research paper answers the question, what was the impact of racial discrimination in South Africa?
Literature review
The majority black were the most affected individuals in the country. The racial segregation rules worked at oppressing the majority black people. Most of the social amenities allocated to the blacks had poor working conditions. The issue made the blacks becomes dissatisfied with the current system of the country. A visit at the black schools explained the key differences. Apparently, the school lacked enough resources that enable the children to gain quality education. The rise of black awareness in the country played a key role in creating the need of the majority race to fight the ills of apartheid. Ideally, the presence of charismatic leaders in the black society aided the fight against the social injustice practiced by the government.[Allen, John. Apartheid South Africa An Insider's View of the Origin and Effects of Separate Development. (New York, NY: iUniverse, Inc, 2015) 113.]
Economic imbalance is a key impact faced by the black society in South Africa during the period. Most of the Africans used to live in poor societal presence. The activity took place because of the unavailability of jobs. Majority of the people used to work in mines for low wages. The rise of poor residential places such as Soweto occurred because of minimal wage rates . The need to combat poverty amongst the black community was a key issue that affected the authorities. Majority of the blacks often worked long working hours to receive minimum pays. The issue created racial tension in the country as the government opted place security in the black residence to prevent the occurrence of strikes and revolts. The action led to further oppression of the black community in the country. In conclusion, economic imbalance was a key issue during the apartheid periods.[Bhorat, Haroon, and S. M. Ravi Kanbur. Poverty and Policy in Post-Apartheid South Africa. (Cape Town, South Africa: HSRC, 2016) 134.]
The white community in the country lived a prosperous life. The white majority government worked at ensuring that the Europeans received better jobs. The factor made most of them to live happy lives as the regular flow of income allowed them to live a luxurious life pattern. The social amenities of the white minority were better compared to the ones cultured and blacks used. The government worked at ensuring that the European schools were well constructed to support the existence of quality education. The activity made the majority blacks in the country to feel oppressed with the current system of the country. Ideally, the need to eliminate the practice would enable the blacks to gain access to such special services enjoyed by the Europeans. In conclusion, economic imbalance was a key issue that affected most of the blacks in South Africa.[Allen, John. Growing Up White in Apartheid South Africa. San Jose: Writers Club, 2012.]
The racial segregation practiced lowered the self-esteem of most Africans in the country. Majority of the blacks felt that they were inferior to the Europeans. The economic and political superiority that the whites had in the government was a contributing factor. The issue made most of the Africans feels that they were made to work for the Europeans in the country. Ideally, the era of colonialism was a key issue that led to the creation apartheid in the country as the Europeans were advocating for white supremacy. The activity led to the creation of black consciousness leaders such as Steve Biko that advocated the need of black consciousness in the country. The leaders worked at educating the blacks about their potential power in the country. Therefore, apartheid affected the self-esteem of Africans in the country.[Gibson, James L. Overcoming Apartheid: Can Truth Reconcile a Divided Nation? (New York: Russell Sage Foundation, 2014) 144.] [Oomen, Barbara. Chiefs in South Africa: Law, Power & Culture in the Post-Apartheid Era. (Oxford [u.a.]: Currey [u.a.], 2005) 177.]
The laws of the country worked at discriminating Africans during the period. Apparently, the white majority government worked at promoting the use of excessive force in suppressing political and activism movement in the country. The occurrence of incidences such as the Sharpeville massacre is a perfect illustration. The police fired live bullets to a group of protesters leading to the death of many black South Africans. The incidence was aired live in international media. The activity explained how the South African government abused human rights with impunity. Ideally, most people felt that the system in the South African government treated Africans as second class citizens. This is because of the increased abuses against the majority black society that participated in building the economy of the country. Therefore, the laws of the country worked against the Africans and the coloreds.[Sonneborn, Liz. The End of Apartheid in South Africa. (New York: Chelsea House, 2010) 109.]
Apartheid led to the rise of key political figures in the country. Leaders such as Nelson Mandela, Steve Biko and Albert Luthuli rose from the activity. The tough stand that the leaders took against the practice made them to be recognized for their countless efforts to combat apartheid in the multiracial nation. On the other hand, the government worked at oppressing the effort taken by the leaders in combating the inhuman practices. The government assassinated Steve Biko because of his stand against apartheid. Nelson Mandela spent many years in prison fighting against the increased practice of racial segregation in the country. Religious leaders such as Desmond Tutu took the initiative of promoting non-violence fights against the apartheid practice. The actions of leaders such as Mandela made him a global icon. Therefore, apartheid led to the rise of charismatic leaders in the country[Henrard, Kristin. Minority Protection in Post-Apartheid South Africa: Human Rights, Minority Rights, and Self-Determination. (Westport, Conn. [u.a.]: Praeger, 2012) 166.]
The poor living conditions that the Africans and coloreds faced led to the rise of unemployment and crime in the black residential areas. Majority of the blacks resorted to robbing others because of unemployment. The activity led to the increase of crime in most residential areas across South African. Increased cases of unemployment amongst thousands of educated black South Africans were common. The government worked at ensuring that the South Africans did not receive the white collar jobs. Instead, the jobs were reserved for the whites regardless of the academic qualifications. The need to observe academic qualifications was part of the academic system of the country during the period. The government ensured that the blacks had limited access to the job opportunities for the benefit of the white minority that controlled the economy of the country. Consequently, apartheid led to the rise of unemployment and increase in crime amongst the black community.[Jung, Courtney. Then I Was Black: South African Political Identities in Transition. (New Haven [u.a.]: Yale Univ. Press, 2010) 115.]
Research methodology
The use interviews in the research aids in the collection of results. The activity involves the formation of a reliable research group that has perfect public relation skills. The ability of the research group to conduct effective research depends with the communication skills. Apparently, the interviews aid in the collection of accurate information from the target. The activity relies with the ability of the researchers to collect a direct feedback from the target. The information is recorded to be used for future preferences. Ideally, the use of interviews is vital in the collection of direct testimonies in regards to the effects of apartheid in the country. In this case, the research would target a group of elderly individuals that lived during the apartheid era. The inclusion of the correct target area aids in the collection of accurate and reliable results.
The use of questionnaires makes up a perfect way of conducting the research. The activity relies on the ability of the research team to come up with a reliable way of collecting the correct source of information. This depends on the ability of the research team to come up with the correct target area. The creation of the correct target area relies on the ability of the research team to develop a reliable framework in which they could formulate the correct set of reliable questions that permits the delivery of the correct information. Ideally, the use of the correct queries enables the team to collect different opinions that relate to the incidences that people went through during the apartheid period. Ideally, it is preferable because it enables the collection of the correct set of information that is necessary fo...