Anti-Apartheid Pin
Apartheid was a system of racial segregation in South Africa enforced from 1948 to 1994. Under apartheid, white minority rule was maintained, while blacks and other ethnic groups had their rights and movements restricted. Apartheid was adopted after World War II by the Afrikaner-dominated National Party and Broederbond organizations.
Apartheid was introduced after the general election of 1948, and inhabitants were categorized into four racial groups, black, white, colored, and Indian. From 1960 to 1983, millions of non-white South Africans were evicted from their homes and forced into segregated neighborhoods. Education, medical and other public services, and beaches were segregated, and blacks were provided with inferior services as compared to those offered to whites. In 1970, non-white political representation was abolished, and blacks were deprived of their national citizenship, instead becoming citizens of one of 10 tribally based self-governing homelands called bantustans.
There was substantial internal resistance to Apartheid, as well as international opposition that resulted in long-standing arms and trade embargos against South Africa. Starting in the 1950s, the government began imprisoning anti-apartheid leaders, but opposition continued to grow more effective. This, coupled with the international sanctions, made it increasingly difficult for the government to maintain the regime.
In 1990 President Frederik Willem de Klerk began negotiations to end apartheid, and he began releasing several political prisoners in late 1989 and early 1990, including Nelson Mandela. Although the official abolition of apartheid occurred in 1991 with repeal of the last of the remaining apartheid laws, nonwhites were not allowed to vote until 1993, and in 1994 multi-racial democratic elections were held, which were won by the African National Congress under Nelson Mandela.
Apartheid was introduced after the general election of 1948, and inhabitants were categorized into four racial groups, black, white, colored, and Indian. From 1960 to 1983, millions of non-white South Africans were evicted from their homes and forced into segregated neighborhoods. Education, medical and other public services, and beaches were segregated, and blacks were provided with inferior services as compared to those offered to whites. In 1970, non-white political representation was abolished, and blacks were deprived of their national citizenship, instead becoming citizens of one of 10 tribally based self-governing homelands called bantustans.
There was substantial internal resistance to Apartheid, as well as international opposition that resulted in long-standing arms and trade embargos against South Africa. Starting in the 1950s, the government began imprisoning anti-apartheid leaders, but opposition continued to grow more effective. This, coupled with the international sanctions, made it increasingly difficult for the government to maintain the regime.
In 1990 President Frederik Willem de Klerk began negotiations to end apartheid, and he began releasing several political prisoners in late 1989 and early 1990, including Nelson Mandela. Although the official abolition of apartheid occurred in 1991 with repeal of the last of the remaining apartheid laws, nonwhites were not allowed to vote until 1993, and in 1994 multi-racial democratic elections were held, which were won by the African National Congress under Nelson Mandela.
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The item in my collection is an Anti-Apartheid pin from South Africa of the type worn by protesters.
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