A bloodbath in Soweto
Cours : A bloodbath in Soweto. Recherche parmi 300 000+ dissertationsPar Jade Lascoux • 1 Mai 2017 • Cours • 650 Mots (3 Pages) • 801 Vues
A bloodbath in Soweto
- During the late 70s, Afrikaaners led South Africa. They implemented a regime which was named Apartheid.
- In Soweto, a thousand of schoolchildren protested against discrimination based on skin color.
- The protest turned into a bloody riot because the policemen shot at unarmed schoolchildren.
- So, the latter retaliated by throwing stones at the merciless policemen.
- Many were injured / wounded and died.
- It was like a war. It was chaotic.
Racial Segregation
- A little boy named Hector Pieterson once lived in Soweto. During the 1976 uprising, he was killed by the police. H.P became a martyr.
- Soweto is a township: it’s a black living area where dire poverty reigns.
- In this area, there isn’t running water or electricity so it is underprivileged.
- The railroad symbolizes a border with the white living area.
- Normally, a train is supposed to crate links between people. It allows people to travel. But her exchanges seem impossible.
Sharpeville
- received $8M from state funds = a facelift.
- less racism but eco. Poverty (low wages, high rents)
- clashes with the police / burnt cars.
- Massacre (21/03/1960)
- Reason for the demonstration: VS the Pass system & VS poor living conditions
- Escalations and consequences: the police opened fire on 20,000 people → 69 died & 200 were injured.
- NOW, every March 21st, people commemorate the anniversary of the massacre.
The Natives Act
- identification book / reference book / pass / “dompas”: stupid pass → aim at regulating and supervising the movement of black workers.
- The pass prevented black people from that freedom of movement. They couldn’t work wherever they wanted and travel whenever they wanted.
- The pas hindered black people from their free movement.
- If they trespassed the law, they might be deported to their native homeland or arrested.
- They got their pass at a labour bureau in order to be law-abiding.
Goodbye Bafana
- In this scene from Goodbye Bafana, we can see black South African inmates, among them Nelson Mandela, and a white warden, in Robben Island.
- They are arguing about the attack / car bombing orchestrated by the ANC and which killed 17 white civilians.
- The warden wants Nelson Mandela and the ANC to lay down arms but N.M replies that in order to earn their freedom, they must take over.
- They only path to freedom is power and that’s why, they are ready to resort to violence.
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