South Africa Quiz #1 Review: Study Guide
“Black Consciousness”
-see #5 on “Cry Freedom” video guide
“Cry Freedom” events
Afrikaner- descendants of Dutch imperialists; native-born South Africans
Alexandra- township frequently raided by Peri-Urban Police; one of the most neglected and impoverished townships of South Africa today
ANC- African National Congress; born in 1912; organization to advocate for unheard voices, seeking equality amongst everyone; advocated human and civil rights; Nelson Mandela becomes beloved leader during Apartheid
Apartheid- South African policy where white minority rule black majority, legalizing racism and segregation in every sector of society; began 1948 and ended 1994
Banning- see #3 on “Cry Freedom” guide
Boer War- War of the “white farmers”, lasting from 1899-1902. Determined which empire controlled South African colony and gold mines
“Coloured” –Bi-racial population in South Africa
Donald Woods- newspaper editor during Apartheid who risked his life and his family’s to publish manuscript of Steve Biko’s death, brutality of Afrikaner government. Became Black Consciousness advocate and activist
Emancipation of Slaves 1834- British mandate that freed slaves in every colony of Great Britain, including South Africa
Façade- an illusion of something
Great Trek- mass movement of 5,000+ Afrikaner families that moved to the heart of South Africa in hopes of moving further away from British settlements and establishing autonomous settlements of their own
Jimmy Kruger- Minister of Police during Apartheid; mastermind behind Steve Biko’s brutal treatment and death; racist Afrikaner who encouraged police brutality in township raids, prison treatments, etc.
Johannesburg- city that monitored movements of Alexandra, Soweto, and Sharpeville townships
Kaffir definition (x2)
Original: Arabic word meaning “infidel” (non-believer in Islam)
Apartheid: racial slur meant to dehumanize
Mark/Johannes Mathabane: Author and main character of Kaffir Boy. Used alias “Mark” for his and his family’s protection since memoir was published during Apartheid
National Party: Political party representing Afrikaner population. Won election of 1948 and launched Apartheid.
Operation Clean-up Month- Mission claiming to clean up townships from shebeens, gangs, criminals, passbooks out of order, squatters, etc
Real purpose sought to terrorize township communities and searched for organization leaders
Pass laws- laws that enforced citizens to carry passbooks, keeping them in order at all times
Passbooks- form of identification all South African citizens had to keep on their persons; used to control population movements, containing work permits and permission for blacks to travel into the city for work
Peri-Urban Police- special unit created to specifically monitor any and all activity in Alexandra, Johannesburg
Steve Biko- Anti- Apartheid activist in the 1960s and ‘70s that died at the hands of security police brutality Founder and supporter of Black Consciousness Movement and worked with students to organize student protests in Soweto, Johannesburg
Township raids-Police interrogations and terrorizing of township communities
Used to establish constant fear, controlled movements, high arrests, humiliations, and deaths
Truncheon- police night stick/baton
Witwatersrand 1886- City where gold was originally discovered in South Africa (Afrikaner city)
Questions to Review:
1. Summarize the events of “Kaffir Boy” from beginning to end.
(Review and read Kaffir Boy passage to respond to questions referencing the various events that occurred in the reading)
2. Discuss the outcome of the 1948 Election.
The constant tension and animosity build-up on behalf of Afrikaners came to fruition when they won the general whites-only election and instituted one of the most racist regimes. Still clouded with discrimination and perceiving black and Coloured South Africans as subhuman, each decade led to a furthered abuse of power and additional heinous acts against anyone of color and/or anyone who challenged their authority.
3. Describe the purpose and intentions of the ANC.
The ANC was originally created in 1912 as an organization designed as the voice of the people. Members served as strong advocates for equality of all peoples, fighting and petitioning for civil/human rights. The ANC later serves a critical role in the anti-apartheid resistance movement with Nelson Mandela as their most dynamic leader. The ANC was a strong advocate of civil disobedience.
4. Discuss the façade of the Afrikaner regime. What illusion did leaders try to create versus what actually happened? Give two examples of this façade.
To keep international attention and pressure at bay, the Afrikaner regime monitored the media very closely so that the international community was not aware of the levels of brutality and legalized racism occurring in the country. In order to justify their actions, they created illusory responses to deceive their recipients in and outside of South Africa. So long as the world did not perceive a legitimate concern in South Africa, the Afrikaner government could continue their governance and abuse of power without being held accountable. Examples of façade include: the cause of Biko’s death, why the township in Cape Town from “Cry Freedom” was raided, the use of minimal scholarships provided for black and Coloured South Africans, use of passbooks, etc.
5. What does it mean to be banned? How did banning continue to limit the movements of the majority?
To be banned, one of severely limited in their movement, with whom they could speak, what they could say, write, etc.
Banning was a way to control the population, especially leaders who were trying to reach the majority of the population in the anti-apartheid resistance movements.
6. How did missionaries change their ‘tune’ towards natives in South Africa? What happened because of this?
Missionaries spent the most time with the students and as they were originally sent to proselytize and spread Christianity, teach English, British curricula, and civilize all students, after slaves were emancipated, they had to teach black and Coloured students how to be good servants and remain submissive to the European presences. As they continued to work with diverse students, they discovered the potential of all students no matter their race or color, so they advocated for a better education and resources for the non-white students. The empire responded with a disregard for teaching non-whites skills, new ways of thinking, establishing professional careers and threatened to bring missionaries back to Great Britain if they couldn’t continue the mission in which they were sent to South Africa to accomplish.
7. What were the purposes of 1)townships? 2)Passbooks?
Townships: Segregate non-whites from whites; easily control and monitor populations assigned to each township
Passbooks: Used to control movements of population; used to terrorize and find fault with passbook orders, which resulted in imprisonment.
8. What is Apartheid? Who did it directly affect? Why was this created?
Apartheid: The South Africa policy that legalized racism, where the white minority ruled the black majority. Apartheid is an Afrikaans word that directly translates to “apartness”.
It affected all non-whites or anyone who challenged or threatened the Afrikaner government.
It was created to further empower Afrikaners, keeping them powerful in a rich country while exploiting the majority of the population. It was representative of the discrimination that whites continued to express to non-whites by means of oppressive laws, teaching servitude, brutality, township raids, etc.
9. What triggered the Boer War? Discuss the events of the Boer War and how native South Africans were pulled into the middle of this affair.
The Boer War ensued over control of the gold mines in Witwatersrand as well as establishes which empire had control of the South Africa colony.
You want to be able to discuss war of attrition used by British, use of concentration camps and how black and Coloured South Africans threw their support behind the British because if the British won, they would still be emancipated. If the Dutch won, slavery would be instituted again and Dutch treated them more poorly than British. Dutch slaves had no choice but to fight on behalf of the Dutch soldiers.
10. How did the Boer War, loss of control of the gold mines, remaining second in the social hierarchy, and British presence lead to the creation of Apartheid?
Afrikaners continued to build resentment and hostility towards British. Unable to take it out on British, Afrikaners could abuse and mistreat natives of country without any reprimand or discipline. This continues to lead to abuses of power and mistreatment of humans, which only comes to fruition when Apartheid is instituted in 1948.
11. What were the conditions of the townships? Use at least three descriptors.
Townships mirrored ghettos, slums, shantytowns, etc. as the most neglected living quarters of the country. Poverty is extremely high, as well as disease, crime, unlivable standards, etc.
12. How were Steve Biko’s efforts critical to the resistance movement against the Afrikaner government?
He was a strong promoter of Black Consciousness, positively influencing students to stop accepting the hardships of the oppressive governments. He was a leader amongst the people and inspired them to join the resistance, knowing the risks, to create an equal South Africa for all persons, not just the white elites. He was a strong advocate of civil disobedience to expose the brutality of the Afrikaner government and using the power of media to promote change and create a future for all persons, equal and capable, despite race.