Apartheid History
Apartheid certainly represents some of the darkest times in the history of South Africa as well as the larger world. In the several decades it existed, a white minority exploited and oppressed a black majority in a violent and suppressive manner. Indeed, the very word "apartheid" means separation and being "apart." The brutality in question lasted from just after World War II in 1948 and eventually (and finally) ended in 1994. While the scars are still healing in South Africa and many social/racial problems still exist, a full generation has passed since Apartheid fell.
Historical Summary
Apartheid was the brainchild and creation of the National Party and the Broederbond organization but was actually a continuation of what was started by the Dutch when they controlled the area. There was a significant amount of blowback and strife that followed as the black populace oppressed by Apartheid rejected and roiled against the regulations...
External countries reacted to the South African practice by using arms and trade embargoes against the country not unlike what the United States continues to do with the country of Cuba since Fidel Castro took over and continues under the rule of Raul Castro (History Channel, 2014).
Some "reforms" were done in the 1980's but they were piecemeal and incomplete in nature as they did not address the larger framework that was oppressing blacks in the country. The things done to blacks included forced relocation of blacks from their established homes to neighborhoods that were segregated. Blacks and whites were separated by force with the blacks being the ones that moved against their will. Rightful citizenship claims were banned and blacks were disallowed from representing their people in politics of any level. The regulations and laws that created Apartheid were first created by Cecil Rhodes. The man that started bringing Apartheid to an end was…
