Apartheid in Modern South Africa Essays - South Africa, Free Essays

Apartheid in Modern South Africa Essays - South Africa, Free Essays Apartheid in Modern South Africa subject = History title = Apartheid in Modern South Africa Apartheid is the legal segregation of races promulgated in the Republic of South Africa. The discovery of gold and diamonds in South Africa during the 19th century, ultimately lead to racially segregated compounds for mine workers becoming the fore fathers of apartheid(Kanfer 79). By the 1920s de facto apartheid was the predominant feature of life in South Africa (79). Apartheid, fought against for many years, until now was still a main factor in South Africa life. Today apartheid approaches its final years as political supporters of anti-apartheid such as President Nelson Mandela continually fights for a multiracial South Africa. The struggle against racial separatism, apartheid, still however continues today as there are many people supporting pro-apartheid movements. The hope for a non-apartheid South Africa, although achieved through bitter battles and political ploys, has today become a reality. The political support of the antiapartheid movement was perhaps seen greatest in 1991. Written in TIME Magazine by Greenwald, Former President F.W. de Klerk in February of 1991 opened Parliament with a pledge to legalize the militantly antiapartheid African National Congress and released A.N.C leader Nelson Mandela from jail (56). De Klerk also showed his intentions to "bring a swift end to legally sanctioned racial segregation" (56). "He called on Parliament to repeal immediately the remaining pillars of discrimination that dictate where blacks can work and live" (56). De Klerk also asked lawmakers to discontinue the Group Areas Act which segregated black and white residential areas and the Land Acts, which prevents blacks from owning land outside of specially assigned homelands (56). The Population Registration Act which forces South Africans to register by racial groups for political and economic purposes was phased out under de Klerks plans as the act is a major underpin for the apartheid system (56). Indeed, 1991 was the year of a great step forward for an antiapartheid South Africa. Yet another leap forward for a non-apartheid South Africa was the election of President Nelson Mandela in May 1994. Nelson Mandela, the leader of the African Nation Congress, fiercely opposes apartheid. After the first all-race elections in April 1994, the South African population took its leap forward in electing Nelson Mandela who would further antiapartheid movements. The continuing support for apartheid can be seen in many organizations such as the neo-Nazi Afrikaner Resistance Movement. These conflicting battles for support of apartheid are not without their bloodshed in modern South Africa. On March 1994, violence rang out in South Africa about apartheid as three pro-apartheid supporters were shot by black soldiers (Lacayo 49). These three people were indeed members of the neo-Nazi Afrikaner Resistance Movement (49). In TIME Magazine, Lacayo writes that these attempts to defend a remnant of apartheid is doomed as South Africa transforms itself into a multiracial state (49). Weeks before South Africas first all-race elections in April 1994, thousands of armed white extremists had an incurred with demonstrating residents in their demand to be allowed to vote (49). The eventual outcome of massive gun fire left as many as twelve people dead (49). These remanents of pro-apartheid movements can be seen throughout South Africa. The political end of South Africa looks in support of antiapartheid whereas the few who dont, condone violent actions taken place against the antiapartheid supporters. Violence will plague South Africa so long as people remain racist. But help from people such as South African President Nelson Mandela and former President of South Africa F.W. de Klerk will keep South Africa on its road ahead as the ultimate goal for the multiracial, antiapartheid South Africa is within reach. Greenwald, John. "The Twilight Of Apartheid." TIME Magazine Multimedia Almanac. CD-ROM. Cambridge: SoftKey, 1995. Kanfer, Stefan. "Cries of the Beloved Country." TIME Magazine Multimedia Almanac. CD-ROM. Cambridge: SoftKey, 1995. Lacayo, Richard. "Apartheid Apocalypse." TIME Magazine Multimedia Almanac. CD-ROM. Cambridge: SoftKey, 1995. Trevelyan, Mark. "Mandela thanks Commonwealth over apartheid." Reuters 9 Nov. 1995

Actor Bill Cosby essays

Actor Bill Cosby essays Bill Cosby was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on July 12, 1937. He was the oldest of four boys. He had three brothers, and their names were: James, Russell, and Robert. His father ran away near Christmas time when he was very young and he had to get a job to help support the family. In school he was the class clown and was sent to a special school for rowdy boys. In his new school his teacher was Mary Forchic. She saw that he was a great comedian and she put that into her lessons to make them more understandable for Bill. She made the lessons fun for him and made it easier to learn. He said that she made him what he is today. After a couple years he went back to his old school and even though his grades were dropping he still kept it together. Bill was starting to look up to comedians on the radio and the TV. They were comedians like Sam Levenson, Sid Caesar, and Carl Reiner. Even though his grades were poor in junior high, when he took the standardized tests he was accepted to Central High School, which was a school for all the gifted children in Pennsylvania. Now being six feet, he was on the high school football team. But in the first week of football he broke his arm. Since there were few blacks in the school and he was slightly a target of biggotous remarks he went back to getting attention by clowning around in class again. He was later sent to Germantown Highschool where all his neighborhood friends went. He was back with his friends but his grades started to drop. He was left back twice. He was also too old to participate in the city track meets (which he could easily win). Bill dropped out of h igh school. He went to be a shoemaker=s helper, but the shoemaker didn=t like it when he nailed the ladies heels onto the mens shoes! Then Bill decided to join the Navy. There he found discipline and no room to joke around. He spent four long years in the Navy but he says that it made him more mature and able to control himself ...