Sharpville Massacre
Kekeletso Mphuthi
Human Rights Day (21 March, the date of the Sharpeville Massacre in 1960)
During the Apartheid era in South Africa, black people were oppressed beyond humane standards. They were deprived of racial equality with the whites. Also, they were exploited off from their land. Furthermore, they were restricted from certain privileges. All this caused retaliation by the blacks both politically and socially, and the eventual result was the Sharpeville Massacre.
The Sharpeville massacre was a haunting historical response by black people against the Apartheid oppression. For almost fifty years black South Africans had strived for their struggle against oppression and exploitation with the greatest patience. They had put their faith in the whites’ change of heart, believing that one day the white man 's supposed commitment to Christian charity, democracy, and justice would bear fruit, but nothing was done. For most of this time they were not asking for equality, never mind claiming the right to run the country, all they asked for was a better deal under the system of white "trusteeship", but even this was ignored. The deals they continued to get from the white government continued to get worse.
In 1913 the Land Act was put into effect to cause them to lose most of their possessions, followed by losing their voting rights in the Cape in 1936. After this incident they went to London to beg for mediation, however they were advised to return to South Africa. After this they went to the League of Nations and Versailles in hopes of getting support from the international community. Yet, once again their efforts were ignored. By this time the African National Congress (ANC) had been founded. The founding of the ANC was greatly influenced by the non-violence philosophy of Ghandi, it was then greater influenced by the African American Booker T. Washington, who believed in black development within the country and segregation of the people. The ANC leaders were also
Human Rights Day (21 March, the date of the Sharpeville Massacre in 1960)
During the Apartheid era in South Africa, black people were oppressed beyond humane standards. They were deprived of racial equality with the whites. Also, they were exploited off from their land. Furthermore, they were restricted from certain privileges. All this caused retaliation by the blacks both politically and socially, and the eventual result was the Sharpeville Massacre.
The Sharpeville massacre was a haunting historical response by black people against the Apartheid oppression. For almost fifty years black South Africans had strived for their struggle against oppression and exploitation with the greatest patience. They had put their faith in the whites’ change of heart, believing that one day the white man 's supposed commitment to Christian charity, democracy, and justice would bear fruit, but nothing was done. For most of this time they were not asking for equality, never mind claiming the right to run the country, all they asked for was a better deal under the system of white "trusteeship", but even this was ignored. The deals they continued to get from the white government continued to get worse.
In 1913 the Land Act was put into effect to cause them to lose most of their possessions, followed by losing their voting rights in the Cape in 1936. After this incident they went to London to beg for mediation, however they were advised to return to South Africa. After this they went to the League of Nations and Versailles in hopes of getting support from the international community. Yet, once again their efforts were ignored. By this time the African National Congress (ANC) had been founded. The founding of the ANC was greatly influenced by the non-violence philosophy of Ghandi, it was then greater influenced by the African American Booker T. Washington, who believed in black development within the country and segregation of the people. The ANC leaders were also
Bibliography: 1. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharpeville massacre-Wikipedia, the free enclyclopedia(date accessed-30 April 2013) 2. www.rebirth.co.za/apartheid_sharpeville_massacre.htm- The Apartheid Sharpeville Massacre(date accessed-31 April 2013) 3. My grade 9 History Book and loose notes 4. www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVMPlVBm29Y-1960 The Sharpeville Massacre-YouTube(date accessed-30 April 2013) 5. FET NCS Series, S.G., M.M., G.P., 2006, New Generation History Grade 11 Learner’s Book, Durban, South Africa. Chapter 8 pg294-295. 6. Heinemann, B.C., C.D., L.M., T.N., Spot on History Learner’s Book Grade 11, Gauteng, South Africa. Module 5 pg282, 283,284.