9.2 Civil Rights and Anti-Apartheid Movements

Civil rights and anti-apartheid movements fought against racial segregation and oppression in the US and South Africa. These struggles used nonviolent tactics like boycotts and protests to challenge discriminatory laws and practices, pushing for equality and justice.

Leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela became symbols of resistance, inspiring millions to join the fight. Their efforts, along with grassroots organizing and international pressure, led to significant legal and social changes, dismantling oppressive systems and promoting reconciliation.

Racial Segregation and Oppression

Jim Crow Laws and Segregation in the United States

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• Jim Crow laws enforced racial segregation in the Southern United States from the late 19th century until 1965
• Mandated separate public facilities for whites and African Americans (schools, restaurants, bathrooms)
• Restricted voting rights for African Americans through poll taxes and literacy tests
• Segregation extended beyond legal realm into social norms and practices
• Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) Supreme Court case upheld "separate but equal" doctrine
• Brown v. Board of Education (1954) overturned Plessy v. Ferguson, declared segregation in public schools unconstitutional

Apartheid System in South Africa

• Apartheid implemented systematic racial segregation and discrimination in South Africa from 1948 to 1994
• Classified population into racial groups (White, Black, Colored, Indian)
• Restricted movement of non-white South Africans through pass laws and created separate living areas
• Banned interracial marriages and sexual relations between racial groups
• Soweto Uprising in 1976 marked significant resistance against apartheid policies
• Student protests against Afrikaans language instruction in schools led to widespread demonstrations
• Police responded with violence, resulting in hundreds of deaths and increased international attention to apartheid

Civil Rights Leaders and Organizations

Prominent African American Civil Rights Leaders

• Martin Luther King Jr. led nonviolent civil rights movement in the United States during the 1950s and 1960s
• Organized Montgomery Bus Boycott and March on Washington
• Delivered iconic "I Have a Dream" speech advocating for racial equality and integration
• Rosa Parks sparked Montgomery Bus Boycott by refusing to give up her bus seat to a white passenger
• Act of civil disobedience became catalyst for broader civil rights movement
• Served as secretary of the Montgomery chapter of the NAACP

South African Anti-Apartheid Leaders and Organizations

• Nelson Mandela co-founded African National Congress (ANC) Youth League in 1944
• Imprisoned for 27 years due to anti-apartheid activism
• Became South Africa's first democratically elected president in 1994
• African National Congress (ANC) formed in 1912 to promote rights of black South Africans
• Banned by apartheid government in 1960, operated underground and in exile
• Returned to legal status in 1990 and won first democratic elections in 1994
• Desmond Tutu, Anglican archbishop and anti-apartheid activist, advocated for nonviolent resistance
• Awarded Nobel Peace Prize in 1984 for his efforts against apartheid
• Chaired Truth and Reconciliation Commission after the end of apartheid

Resistance and Protest Tactics

Nonviolent Resistance in the Civil Rights Movement

• Civil Rights Movement in the United States employed various nonviolent tactics to challenge racial discrimination
• Sit-ins at segregated lunch counters (Greensboro, North Carolina)
• Freedom Rides to challenge segregation in interstate transportation
• Voter registration drives to increase African American political participation
• Montgomery Bus Boycott lasted 381 days, ending with desegregation of city buses
• Economic impact forced city to integrate public transportation system
• Demonstrated effectiveness of collective action and economic pressure

Boycotts and International Pressure Against Apartheid

• International boycotts targeted South African goods and services
• Sports boycotts excluded South Africa from international competitions (Olympics, cricket)
• Cultural boycotts discouraged artists from performing in South Africa
• Economic sanctions imposed by various countries and organizations
• Divestment campaigns pressured institutions to withdraw investments from South Africa
• Combined international pressure contributed to eventual dismantling of apartheid system

Reconciliation and Healing

Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa

• Established in 1995 after the end of apartheid to address human rights violations
• Chaired by Archbishop Desmond Tutu
• Provided forum for victims to share their experiences and perpetrators to seek amnesty
• Three committees: Human Rights Violations, Amnesty, and Reparation and Rehabilitation
• Aimed to promote national unity and reconciliation through truth-telling and forgiveness
• Criticized for limitations in addressing systemic inequalities and providing reparations
• Served as model for similar commissions in other countries (Canada, Sierra Leone)